How does Colorado celebrate Independence Day?
With a horseshoe tournament in Winter Park, a twangfest in Boulder, a pie-eating contest in downtown Denver.
And fireworks, of course, across every sky.
This weekend’s party commemorates everything American, and there’s an event for just about everyone’s taste. The prices are right, too: Many of this weekend’s big offerings are free.
Our good advice? Look beyond your own municipal borders for new ways to celebrate a fun Fourth. This list offers plenty of opportunity.
Bandimere Family Festival
Sat: Fourth of July celebration with Jet Car Nationals, games, drag racing and more, 3 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. $18, $16 senior and military, $12 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. $10 parking. C-470 and Morrison Road, Morrison,
Boom Town
Sat: City of Black Hawk’s fireworks display.
Breckenridge Celebration
Sat: Fourth of July parade, kids activities, fireworks and more. Riverwalk Center, 970-453-2913,
Breckenridge Art Festival
Today-Sun: The festival features a wide array of art, including painting, metal, wood, glass, ceramics, sculpture, photography and jewelry, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Main Street Station and The Village at Breckenridge, South Main Street and Park Avenue, 970-547-9326,
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Today-Sat: The 19th annual festival showcases visual, culinary, performing and interactive arts for the whole family, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Today-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Festival Nights: Music on Fillmore Street, 8-10 p.m. July 3-4. Free. Cherry Creek North, from East Second and Third avenues, 303-355-2787,
Cherry Days Festival
Today-Sun: Hometown fun includes pancake breakfast, sidewalk sales, cherry cook-off, art shows, carnival, dance, 5K run/walk, parade and more. Paonia, 970-527-3886,
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Today: Watch Fort Carson’s fireworks from the Cheyenne Mountain State Park amphitheater with guitar music of Adam Gardino and the Acme Bluegrass Band. Kid’s activities all day. $6 per car. 410 Jl Ranch Heights, Colorado Springs, 719-576-2016.
Days of ’92 Mining Competitions
Today-Sat: Hard rock mining competitions beginning at 9 a.m. each day. On July 4th a parade at 10 a.m., beer garden and vendor and craft booths (both days). Dance to live music at 9 p.m. on July 3 and after the fireworks on July 4 at the Creede Elks Club. Fireworks at dusk from Inspiration Point. Creede, 719-658-2374
Estes Park Celebration
Sat: Features Arabian Sport Horse Championships, vintage car show, live music and more. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 800-443-7837,
Family Fourth at the RanchM
Sat: Carnival games, historic re-enactments and patriotic music, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $6, $4 seniors and ages 13-18, $2 ages 12 and under, free for active-duty and retired military with an ID. Rock Ledge Ranch, North 30th Street and Gateway Road, Colorado Springs, 719-578-6986
Fire Up the Cliffs
Sat: KVFD BBQ, live music, annual Mud Shuffle and Calcutta, and fireworks. Kremmling, 970-724-3472,
Fireworks Extravaganza
Sat: The village of Grand Lake hosts a fireworks show at dusk. 970-627-3402,
Fireworks Feast
Today: Whole Foods Market hosts its annual outdoor party featuring live music, entertainment and food, 5-9 p.m. City of Glendale’s fireworks display starts at dusk. 870 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale, 303-564-3845
Fourth of July Downtown
Sat: Festivities include live music, a beer garden, pie-eating contest, petting zoo, games and more. Fireworks over Sheldon Lake at 9:30 p.m. 970-484-6500, Fort Collins,
Fourth FEST
Sat: The Colorado Rapids and Commerce City celebrate Independence Day with live music, picnics, kids interactive zone and more, 5 p.m. Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire match at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City, 303-825-4625
Fourth of July Celebration
Sat: Festivities include a parade, Air Force jet flyby, concerts, a kids bicycle rodeo, and spectacular fireworks on Aspen Golf Course. Aspen, 970-925-9000
Fourth of July Festival
Sat: Golden Lions Club celebration hosts a farmers market, raffle, music and more. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Lions Park, 10th and Maple streets, Golden, 303-384-9923
Fourth of July Picnic
Sat:The Salvation Army hosts its annual community picnic for veterans, the homeless and families, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 2136 Champa St., 303-860-5565
Fourth of July Twang Fest
Sat: Gold Hill Inn hosts its annual Independence celebration featuring music by Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams, Jeff and Vida Band, and Finders and Youngberg, noon-5 p.m. $15 music, $27 music and food. 401 Main St., Boulder, 303-443-6461
Fraser Valley Fourth of July Celebration
Sat: Family fun includes sporting games, horseshoe tournament, picnic, live music and more. Fireworks at dusk. Fraser Sports Complex, County Road 5 at U.S. 40, Fraser, 970-726-4118, winterpark-info.com
Freedom Run
Sat: 5K run to benefit Mount Evans Hospice in Evergreen, 8 a.m. $25, $12 children in advance. $30, $15 children race-day; Evergreen Middle School, 2059 Hiwan Drive, Evergreen 303-674-6400,
Frisco Green Art Festival
Sat-Sun: Juried art fair in conjunction with the Town of Frisco’s July 4 celebration, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 304 Main St., Frisco, 954-472-3755,
Fun at Bent’s Fort
Sat: Activities include a parade, games, Frontier cooking and more, 1:30-4:30 p.m. $3, $2 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Colorado 194, La Junta, 719-383-5010,
Georgetown Old-Fashioned Fourth of July
Sat: Parade, bingo, 5K race and stroll, bucket-brigade races and more, 8 a.m. Fireworks display at dusk. 303-569-2888
Granby Celebration
Sat: Independence Day parade and fireworks. 970-887-23110,
Jamestown Fourth of July Celebration
Today: Pancake breakfast, parade, live music, kids games and more, 7:30 a.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. 100 Main St., Jamestown, 303-442-5847
Kiowa 4th of July
Sat: Fireworks begin at dusk at the Elbert County Fairgrounds. Bull riding from 3-6 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Just north of Highway 86 on the Kiowa Bennett Road.
Lakewood on Parade
Today: Features games, rides, live music and more. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Jefferson County Sports Stadium, 400 Kipling St., Lakewood,
Leadville’s July 4 Celebration
Sat-Sun: Festivities include the Firecracker 5K, Bluegrass Festival, luau and more. Leadville, 888-532-3845,
Let Freedom Sing “Red, White and Brews” Music Festival
Sat: Wendy Woo and others will perform at Parker Town Hall at 6 p.m. 21020 E. Main St., 303-841-0354,
Light Up the Night
Sat: Aurora’s annual Fourth of July Spectacular features a performance by the Air Force Academy Falconaires Jazz Band and Air Force Academy Concert Band, 7 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, 303-739-7756
Loveland’s July 4 Celebration
Sat: Activities include car show, live music, dance performances and more. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. North Lake Park, 29th Street and Taft Avenue, Loveland, 970-962-2727
Mile High Rendezvous
Today-Sun: Western-style entertainment featuring Michael Martin Murphey, Riders in the Sky, Don Edwards, and Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams. Family fun includes dance performances, storytelling, cowboy poetry, authentic chuck wagon and more. Fireworks today at dusk. $3, free for ages 12 and under. Mile High Market Place, Interstate 76 and 88th Avenue, 303-289-4656
Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration
Sat: Festivities include performances by the Denver Concert Band, reading of the Declaration of Independence, games, crafts, wagon rides and more, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7, $4 students and seniors, free for children age 5 and under. Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St., 720-865-0804
July 4th Family Festival in Northglenn
Sat:Scheduled activities include a pancake breakfast, a bake sale, a kids’ fun area with inflatables and a military recognition. Pedal boats will be available for rent throughout the day and during the fireworks show. E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park, across from Northglenn City Hall, 11701 Community Center Drive.
Peak to Peak Music Festival
Sat: Live music, parade, pub crawl and fireworks. Nederland, 720-236-5190
Pikes Peak Arts Fest
Today-Sun: Fine art, craft, microbrew and more, 4-8 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. America the Beautiful Park, Colorado Springs, 719-637-8049,
Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast
Sat: Performances by Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Open Space and Mountain Parks singing rangers, the Skip-Its jump-rope team and more, 8 p.m. Fireworks at dusk. Folsom Field, University of Colorado, Boulder, 303-441-3155
Red, White and Blue Fun
Sat: Gunnison-Crested Butte hosts a pancake breakfast, run/walk/crawl race, parade, music, fireworks and more. 800-814-8893,
Royal Gorge July 4 Celebration
Today-Sun: Musical performances by The Geezers, live demonstrations by the Nature and Raptor Center, face painting and more, 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Cañon City, 719-275-7507,
Run for Independence
Sat: 5K run/walk and pancake breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Winter Park Resort 970-736-4118,
Salute to the USA
Today: The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa celebrates Independence Day with live music, beer garden, carnival games, petting zoo and more, 5 p.m. Fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Harry A. Nottingham Park, Avon, 970-748-4032,
Sea to Shining Sea
Today: In their Arvada Center debut, music director Michael Butterman and the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra present patriotic classics, 7:30 p.m. $10-$28. Arvada Center, 6901 Wads- worth Blvd., Arvada, 720-898-7200
Singles Picnic and Fireworks
Sat: Annual picnic for adult singles (ages 40-60) at the Foothills Golf Course Pavilion from 4-9 p.m. $15 per person for hamburgers, hotdogs, macaroni salad, fruit, chips, cookies, ice tea and soda. Sand volleyball, horseshoes, bocce ball, croquet and dancing. Bring a chair for viewing Pinehurst Country Club’s fireworks. Cash bar. 3901 S. Carr St.,
Sounds of America
Sat: The Colorado Symphony Orchestra performs, 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at 9:40 p.m. $17, $15 seniors, $12 children ages 4-12. Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Englewood, 303-806-0444,
Spirit of America
Sat: Arvada hosts family fun featuring live music, classic car show, kids park and and more, 3 p.m. July 4. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex, 10664 W. 58th Ave., Arvada, 720-898-7400
Stars and Bars Boat Parade
Sat: The Dillon Yacht Club invites boaters to decorate their boats and set sail on Lake Dillon. Boats line up at 11:30 a.m. Parade begins at noon. Dillon Marina, Dillon, 303-629-6342,
Symphony in the Valley
Sat: Free patriotic music concert at Two River Park from 8-9 p.m. with fireworks immediately following. Devereaux Road and Centennial St., Glenwood Springs, 970-945-4490.
