Happy Fourth of July! Looking for a fantastic fireworks display? Let us help you plan for the big day. Whether you’re looking for patriotic music, family fun, food, fireworks or all of the above, there’s something here for you. Check back for updates and additions.
Arvada’s “Celebration of the Spirit of America”
July 4: Festivities begin at 3 p.m. with a military display, classic car show, live music, children’s activities, booths and games, refreshments and more followed by a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex, 10664 W. 58th Ave., 720-898-7400, arvadafestivals.com
Aurora’s Fourth of July Spectacular
July 4: “Light Up the Night” festivities begin at 5 p.m. with live music by the Spin Band, children’s activities including face painting and balloon artists, food vendors and more. Fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Suggested viewing locations include east of Potomac Street, south of Sixth Avenue, north of Mississippi Avenue and west of Buckley Road. Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 Alameda Parkway, auroragov.org
Black Hawk
Celebrating its 20th year of patriotic pyrotechnics, Black Hawk transforms into “Boom Town” at dusk Monday, July 4, offering the largest fireworks display in the state. Visitors can celebrate Independence Day all weekend with live music from the Boom Town Band, gaming and other Fourth of July festivities in the City’s numerous casinos, and the fireworks show Monday evening to end the Independence Day weekend. For more information, visit www.cityofblackhawk.org or call 303-582-2292.
Breckenridge
July 2-4: The 28th annual Breckenridge July Art Festival is July 2-4 at Main Street Station. July 4 activities include a parade, 10K trail run, the Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike Race and more along with a free concert by Rusted Root at 2 p.m. The National Repertory Orchestra performs at 8:30 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center followed by fireworks. Lawn seating is free and reserved indoor tickets are available for the NRO concert. gobreck.com
Cheesman Park
July 4: Bicycles, tricycles and wagons are welcome at the fifth annual Cheesman Park Fourth of July Kids’ Parade. Bike decorating materials are provided at 9 a.m., the parade begins at 10 a.m. Activities including face painting and balloon artists continue until 11 a.m. Parade participants include a bagpiper, Denver Police Mounted Patrol, a fire truck, the Mile High Freedom Marching Band and Uncle Sam. Free. East Eighth Avenue and Franklin Street, 303-694-6721
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
July 3: Second annual free Independence Eve community concert and fireworks display, 8 p.m. Works by Key, Copland, Bernstein, Tchaikovsky and others are included. Civic Center, Broadway and Colfax Avenue, coloradosymphony.org
Gunnison-Crested Butte
July 1-4: Weekend activities include concerts, performances of “Oklahoma,” a gallery crawl, parade, farmers markets, a one-third marathon, pancake breakfast, hot air balloon rally, fireworks and more. 800-814-8893, gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
Castle Rock’s Rocky Mountain Freedom Festival/Rockin’ the Fourth: Red, White & Boom!
July 1-4: The Rocky Mountain Freedom Festival is July 1-3 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and includes a carnival, live music from more than 30 bands and a state barbecue championship. Admission is $5 per day or $10 for a weekend pass. Free for children under 5, adults 60 and over and members of the military with ID. Wristbands for unlimited carnival rides are $25, $20 at rockymountainfreedomfestival.com. A fireworks show wraps up the festival at approximately 9:45 p.m. July 3. The annual Rockin’ the Fourth: Red, White & Boom! celebration is at Metzler Ranch Community Park on July 4. Start time is 9-9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Castle Rock,crgov.com
Estes Park
July 4: Festivities include a pancake breakfast 7-10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains, 920 Big Thompson Road. Price is $6 for adults, $3 for children. The “Coolest Car Show in Colorado” is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in downtown Bond Park. Admission is $5 adults, $2 for children and students, children under age 6 get in for free. $10 family rate. Proceeds benefit the Estes Park Museum. A patriotic concert with the Estes Park Village Band performs at 7 p.m. in the Performance Park Amphitheater. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. over Lake Estes. Estes Park, 970-577-9900, visitestespark.com
Family Festival and Fireworks Show
July 4: The 16th annual Fourth of July Family Festival and Fireworks Show is at Belleview, Progress and Cornerstone Parks near the intersection of Belleview Avenue and Windermere Street. Cornerstone activities include open batting cages, bungee trampoline, games, face painting, miniature golf and live music with the Windjammers, times vary. A fishing derby is 9-11 a.m. at Progress Park, registration is at 8 a.m. Belleview Park hosts a miniature train and children’s farm, duck races, watermelon eating contest and a bounce house, times vary. Fireworks begin about 9:30 p.m. from the baseball fields at Cornerstone Park. littletongov.org
Fort Collins
July 4: Old Town Square is the host of a variety of activities including a beer garden, live music, vendors, face painting, a pie-eating contest for ages 10 and under, a bungee trampoline and more, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. An Old Fashioned celebration with historic activities, games and food is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Avery House, 328 W. Mountain Ave. Fireworks begin about 9:30 p.m. over Sheldon Lake. 970-484-6500, downtownfortcollins.com
Frisco
The town of Frisco has a Fantastic 4th of July event. On Sunday the 4th, start the day with the Kids Fishing Derby, cheer on the Main Street parade, listen to the pre and post parade concerts in the park, and end with the grand finale of Fabulous Fireworks over Frisco Bay Marina, all encompassed by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and Frisco, CO, The Main Street to the Rockies. Check-out Frisco’s Web site for additional information and times.
Green Valley Ranch Amphitheater
July 4: Families are invited to bring a picnic dinner for a concert featuring contemporary rock and pop, R&B, funk and Motown with Soul School at 8 p.m. Fireworks follow at about 9:30 p.m. Free. The concert is the first in the Summer Concert Series continuing July 13 with the Manuel Molina Band and his Latin Dancers, 7-8:30 p.m.. 4890 Argonne Way, 303-595-8747, skylinetalent.com/concert_series.htm
Highlands Ranch
July 4: The annual Family Pet and Bike Parade begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by the Community Parade and 5K Run/Walk. Festivities continue until 7 p.m. at the Town Center with music, games, food, beer and a pet-adoption fair. A concert with the Cruisin’ Cats is at 7 p.m. in Civic Green Park. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. at the corner of Highlands Ranch Parkway and Blake Drive. 303-791-2500, HRCAonline.org
Indian Hills
July 4: Indian Hills Fire/Rescue have scheduled a day of activities beginning with a pancake breakfast, 7-11 a.m., auto extrication and airlife helicopter demonstrations, a parade at 11 a.m., food and live music in the afternoon. Fireworks begin at about 9:20 p.m. Everything is free except for the pancake breakfast. Donations accepted for other activities. All events are at or nearby the Indian Hills Fire Station, 4476 Parmalee Gulch Road, Indian Hills, ihfr.org
Lafayette
July 4: Children’s activities, food concessions, games, live music and entertainment is followed by fireworks, 4-10 p.m. Bands include The Modniks, the British Invasion and California Sounds. The boathouse will be open for paddle boat and canoe rentals, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. A free shuttle service runs 4-10 p.m. from Centaurus High School (10300 S. Boulder Road) and Flatirons Church (350 S. Boulder Road). Waneka Lake, 1600 Caria Drive, Lafayette, 303-666-9555, lafayettecolorado.com
Paonia’s Cherry Days
July 1-4: Festivities of the 65th annual Cherry Days include a book sale, Classic Car Show, bike rides, dinners, beer and wine tastings, a silent auction, works by local artists, food, a barbecue, live music and more. hcn.org
Park Hill
July 4: The second annual Fourth of July parade begins at 2:30 p.m. with floats, cars, bikes, Civil War re-enactors and a Union Army color guard. The parade heads down East 23rd Avenue between Dexter Street and Kearney Street in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. parkhillparade.org
Parker’s Let Freedom Sing, 2011
July 4: A combination Fourth of July celebration and 30th birthday bash for the town of Parker, 6-10 p.m. Activities include bounce houses, slides, sporting cages, a climbing wall, obstacle course and more. Rocky Mountain Brassworks perform at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Free, onsite parking is $5. Families are welcome to bring a picnic or purchase food and refreshments from vendors. Salisbury Park, 9200 Motsenbocker Road, Parker, 303-841-0353, parkeronline.org
Performance Now Theatre Company
Through July 3: Presents the musical “1776.” Showtimes are 2 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $25, $22.50 students and seniors, $19 children. Group rates available. Special military ticket is $17.76. Parking is free. Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, 303-987-7845, performancenow.org
Pikes Peak Arts Fest
July 2-4: The seventh annual family celebration includes booths from more than 90 artists along with live music, food, a beer-and-wine garden, children’s activities and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Free. America the Beautiful Park, Colorado Avenue and Cimino Drive, Colorado Springs, pikespeakartsfest.com
Redstone
July 4: Promising “the best small-town Fourth of July parade in Colorado!” Children can decorate their bikes at the Redstone Inn at 11 a.m. The parade begins at noon with an F-16 flyover. Head to the Crystal Club for water fights, using firehoses and fireman supervision, at 1 p.m. The Ducky Derby is at 2:30 p.m. Homemade pies will be served. redstonecolorado.com
Superior
July 4: The Superior Downhill Mile Bike Race, 7 a.m. $20, $10 ages 17 and under. Register online at active.com before 11 a.m. July 3. The Superior Fourth of July Parade, “America’s Heroes,” follows at 8:30 a.m. Festivities continue with a pancake breakfast, games, children’s activities and more until noon in Community Park. Rock Creek Parkway, townofsuperior.com
U.S. Air Force Academy
July 4: Gates open at 4 p.m. for the Austin Healey Car Show and children’s activities including bounce houses. The Colorado Springs Philharmonic performs at 7 p.m. followed by the Air Force Academy Band at 8. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Free admission. Refreshments available 4-9:30 p.m. The Academy’s radio station, KAFA, will broadcast the music on 97.7 FM and on the usafa.org/KAFA.aspx website. Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, usafaservices.com
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
