First Friday Las Vegas and Lucky Lady Lucy bring the heat to Downtown with the first public burn in Las Vegas History
Popular Las Vegas-based arts festival will fire up the crowds with March’s event ‘Burn Vegas Burn’
First Friday Las Vegas, the celebrated arts festival in downtown Las Vegas, is pairing up with the Lucky Lady Lucy team and the city of Las Vegas to hold the city’s first public burn, inspired by the annual Burning Man Festival, on Friday, March 2, 2012. Burn Vegas Burn will feature “Lucky Lady Lucy,” a 20-foot tall wooden showgirl sculpture, which will be ceremoniously blazed in the first public burn in Las Vegas history at 8 p.m.
Mirroring the spectacle featured at the Burning Man Festival, First Friday will wow the downtown crowd and give a taste of the energy and community-building that Burning Man is known for. The festivities will extend beyond First Friday and over the weekend with Art Car parades, after parties and programmed events throughout Downtown.
The March First Friday will be unlike any other festival Las Vegas has seen and “spectacle” doesn’t even begin to describe what the crew has in store. Fire art performances by Flameology, Nytronix and The Brotherhood of the Flame will bring the energy of the public burn to crowds throughout the festival.
“Burning Man is one of the most amazing yet misunderstood events in modern times. Before I went for my first time last year I shared a lot of the misconceptions that many have, but when I arrived it was immediately apparent that what takes place at that festival each year is desperately needed in societies around the world. People leave all of their differences and egos aside and come together to build a community like I have never felt – total strangers helping one another, appreciating each other’s talents and celebrating individuality and creativity. And the art is beyond your wildest imagination.” said First Friday managing partner Joey Vanas. “If it wasn’t for my experience at Burning Man we would not have taken over First Fridays – it’s actually the reason we’re here.”
Cast members from the Los Angeles-based production “The Burning Opera: How to Survive the Apocalypse” will perform during this high-energy event. The theatrical performance combines rock opera and vaudeville.
An Art Car Extravaganza will be headlined by The Dancetronauts, a performance group that provides top-of-the-line sound system technology, world-renowned DJs, cutting-edge stage lighting and visual effects and an array of professional dancers, fire performers, artists and the infamous Dancetrohotties who will add to the evening’s festivities.
After the March 2 First Friday event, the Plaza Hotel will host an Art Car party with the Dancetronauts as well as the world’s most unique and artfully designed vehicles. Following the Art Car event the after-party will move into the Plaza Theatre where guests can dance into the wee hours of the morning.
On Saturday, March 3 in El Cortez’ Jackie Gaughan Parkway, the Dancetronauts and other art cars will be at it again with performances from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. before party-goers make their way to the bars and clubs of Fremont East.
Hotel packages are available; please visit www.firstfridaylasvegas.com for package details. There are a limited amount of rooms packaged for this event; first-come, first-served.
For a video sneak peak at the March First Friday Las Vegas event, please check the website www.firstfridaylasvegas.com or find First Friday on Facebook www.facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas.
A fundraising event to help build “Lucky Lady Lucy” will be held at InsertCoin(s) on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. Donations can also be made online at www.Indiegogo.com/LuckyLadyLucy.
ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS
First Friday Las Vegas has been a mainstay of arts and culture in downtown Las Vegas for nine years. In 2011, just shy of the October nine year anniversary, the arts and culture festival welcomed a new ownership group, First Friday Las Vegas, LLC, comprised of Zappos.com executives Tony Hsieh, Fred Mossler and Steve Hill, as well as downtown developer Andrew Donner and marketing executive Joey Vanas. The outdoor event features several areas throughout Downtown Las Vegas that showcase artists of all calibers and genres, supplementing with live music, food and other celebratory events.
