Pahrump's annual Freedom Festival, the town's weekend-long celebration of Independence Day, will be hosted this year by the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, according to Pahrump Town Board Chairman Laurayne Murray.

The festival, traditionally put on by the International Association of Fire Fighters, was in need of a nonprofit organization to host the event.

Murray announced May 13 that the Chamber was preparing to put together a panel to take over the festival and would assign various charitable organizations responsibilities to ensure at least a two-day event.

"The wheels are in motion," Murray said.

Fortunately the town's traditional fireworks show, famous for being the largest in Nevada, has already been approved and will be put on by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale Sunday, July 5.

This year's Freedom Festival promises to be bigger and better than previous years thanks to Mullco Productions' willingness to provide the entertainment.

James Mulleague, representing the Las Vegas-based company, offered an "entertainment package" to supplement the festival.

In addition to providing entertainment, Mulleague said he took it upon himself to contact charitable organizations his company has worked with in the past to find volunteers to help support the event.

He immediately received a response from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"They do have a chapter in Nye County, and in Pahrump," Mulleague explained. "I guess they haven't been very active here, but on their agenda is to move into Nye County with some great new programs." As far as the entertainment scheduled, Mulleague said there were plans to provide continuous contests, concerts and events from start to finish of the festival.

Although he did not give specifics, the performers he said he'd contacted have all agreed to contribute a portion of the proceeds earned from CD and T-shirt sales to local charities.

"We have some pretty name groups for the Friday night concert," Mulleague said.

Among others yet to be confirmed, Mulleague said these included Searchlight and Paul Epic.

In addition, Mulleague said his company is working closely with "Vegas Rocks" magazine, which will promote the groups who will perform at the festival as well as help sponsor bands that perform in the Friday night concert.

"They are very big in promoting concerts around Clark County and are wanting to get involved in Nye County," Mulleague said. "They are going to run articles in their June magazine and want to come up here and take pictures."

The Saturday night concert will be a show put together by the production company called Liberty Rocks which will be touring nationally and whose sponsors include Budweiser and Sobe.

"We have chosen this festival to be the new tour kick-off," Mulleague said, adding that Pahrump is replacing Nellis Air Force Base as the starting location.

In addition, Miss Nevada, Miss Las Vegas, and a former Miss America have all said they'd be willing to come to Pahrump for the event.

"I had a very surprising response for Harley-Davidson," Mulleague added. "They would like to do a family bike run to end here. And their bike runs do draw people."

Finally, he said several radio stations had expressed interest in doing remote broadcasts from the festival.

Mulleague also proposed a "Pahrump Idol" concert for which the prize would be the opportunity to sing live in the Liberty Rocks concert Saturday night.

"We will help organize any contests," Mulleague said. "Best costume, best apple pie, we can provide supplies and help. So we're trying to get this going, we're just waiting for the word from you."

The word was given by the board unanimously when it passed a motion to allow Mullco Productions to work with the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce.