Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas will fill with flags, food trucks and tributes on Saturday, October 17, as the 12th annual Military, Veterans & First Responders Appreciation Day returns from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, family-friendly celebration honors military personnel, veterans, first responders and their families with live entertainment, food vendors and special tributes.
Actor and comedian Jeff Leach will host the day's festivities, according to fox5vegas.com. The lineup also includes Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Brad Garrett, Las Vegas DJ Bonics, former Las Vegas Raiders standout and Jim Thorpe Award winner Trey Taylor, and country rock band Thrillbilly Deluxe, all slated to appear or perform at the celebration. Las Vegas Athletics are also expected to make an appearance, as previewed in a segment on ktnv.com's Morning Blend by founder Laura Coleman and Howie Northrup, who is associated with the Combat Warrior Motorcycle Club.
Free Food and Family Activities Fill the Park
The event will be held at Craig Ranch Regional Park, located at 628 W. Craig Road in North Las Vegas, fox5vegas.com reports. Guests can expect live performances, food vendors, family activities and special tributes throughout the day, with free food set aside for all veterans, military personnel and first responders, according to the station's report. The event's nonprofit host, Armed Forces and Military Appreciation Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, also describes the gathering as including a free cookout for military members, veterans, first responders and their families, per its own site.
A separate preview from vegas24seven.com lists a slate of interactive experiences planned for 2026, including a car show, the Wheels 4 Warriors showcase, a riderless horse tribute to the fallen, a Battle of the Branches competition and a dedicated Kid Zone for younger attendees. The outlet describes the celebration as a community-driven, nonprofit event that operates through sponsorships, community donations and volunteers rather than ticket sales.
Last Year's Turnout Set the Tone
The gathering has become an annual fixture in North Las Vegas. Last year's edition, held at the same Craig Ranch Regional Park location, honored active-duty military personnel, veterans, first responders and their families with a day of live music, classic cars, local vendors and family activities, according to news3lv.com. Admission was free for all attendees in 2025, and complimentary meals were provided for military personnel, veterans and first responders who showed valid identification.
That 2025 celebration also featured the Vegas Cruisin' Classic Car Show and a Battle of the Branches tug of war hosted by Jeff Leach and Piff the Magic Dragon, alongside a kids' activity zone, the station noted. With this year's event expanding to include a riderless horse tribute and the Wheels 4 Warriors showcase, organizers appear to be building on that format as the celebration marks its 12th year honoring Southern Nevada's service members and the families who support them.
