Have a Blast at These Family-Friendly Fourth of July Events

With the Fourth of July landing on Monday, this weekend has been full of celebrations — with more to come today, from serious fireworks displays and red, white and blue picnics to neighborhood block parties and choral-themed festivals. Check out the Westword calendar for concerts or our food- and freedom-inspired list for even more ways to have a blast on July 4. 

Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Cherry Creek North
Through Monday, July 4
Free
No Fourth of July holiday in Denver is complete without a stop at the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival. City dwellers and folks from along the Front Range descend on the ever-changing Cherry Creek North neighborhood to see works from hundreds of local and national artists and to check out the rest of the action, including installation works, interactive exhibitions, live music, food vendors and the fest's "Artivity Avenue," which offers crafts just for kids. The theme this year is "Alive With Art"; visit cherrycreekartsfestival.org for all the details. 

Frisco's Fabulous Fourth of July
Through Monday, July 4
Town of Frisco
Free (charges for some activities)
This mountain town really likes to get down for the Fourth of July. The fun starts Saturday with a family adventure course with mud pits, slack lines, cargo nets and other crazy obstacles. Three Dog Night plays a free concert Sunday night, and Frisco hosts a pancake breakfast Monday to fill bellies before the kids' fishing derby. A fireworks display will fill the sky above Dillon Reservoir at 9:30 p.m. on Monday night (best place to see it: Frisco Bay Marina). See details on townoffrisco.org.

GALA Choruses Festival 2016
Denver Performing Arts Complex and various downtown locations
Through Wednesday, July 6
Free to $25 per show
Celebrate the gift of song with GALA Choruses Festival, the largest LGBTQ performing-arts event in the world. Denver is again hosting this international gathering of professional choruses, choirs, performance groups and ensembles that will offer everything from music celebrating the life of Harvey Milk to a show-tunes showdown. Along with scheduled performances at the many theaters within the Denver Performing Arts Complex, some of the more than 6,000 singers promise free, pop-up choral shows downtown. For a full list of fest events, visit the organization's website. 

Fourth of July in Winter Park
Hideaway Park and other locations near Winter Park
Through Monday, July 4
Free (charges for some activities)
A summer mountain paradise, Winter Park is pulling out all the stops this weekend, with everything from fitness classes in the sunshine to a pancake breakfast, fishing derby, an afternoon BBQ and fireworks, of course, after the Flying Heels Rodeo in Granby. On Monday there will be live music, parades and more pancakes in and around downtown Winter Park, which finishes the holiday with Lance Gutersohn's Fourth of July Bash. To see all the weekend's options, visit Winter Park's website. 

Fourth of July Englewood Family Festival 
Belleview Park, Pirates Cove Family Aquatic Park
Monday, July 4
Free (charges for some activities)
Going strong for more than twenty years, the daylong Englewood Family Festival puts an emphasis on "family," with activities ranging from miniature train rides to batting cages. Pirates Cove will be open for those who want to swim, and a bouncy castle will be set up in the park alongside various food vendors. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit the city of Englewood's website. 

Northglenn July 4th Festival
E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park
Monday, July 4, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Free
This day-to-evening festival has all the bases covered: Enjoy an early-morning pancake breakfast and then burn it off with a four-mile run, or wander the community bake sale and take in the sights of the sharpest rides at a neighborhood car show. There's also a bike, trike, wheelchair and patriotic-pooch parade, with live music and fireworks in the evening. Visit the City of Northglenn's website for more on this action-packed Independence Day of family fun. 

Stapleton Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast & Parade
Central Park 
Monday, July 4, 9 a.m.
Suggested donation $3 to $12
Get a head start on the holiday with a sweet breakfast benefiting the Stapleton Stingrays swim team. Pancakes, sausage and juice will be served up before the neighborhood parade gets started; all are welcome to bring bicycles, tricycles and wagons to take part. Keep the party going with a swim: Park pools open at noon. For more information, visit the Stapleton community website.

Wheat Ridge Fourth of July Picnic and Parade
Panorama Park
Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.
Free
Wheat Ridge's Fourth of July festivities focus on pedestrians and cyclists with a red, white and blue parade heading down West 35th Avenue at 10 a.m. Independence Day-inspired decor is all the rage for this people-powered walk, which ends at Panorama Park. That's where field-day games will offer some friendly competition before the community picnic takes over in the afternoon. This is a BYO-spread situation, so be sure to bring blankets and a basket of goodies to enjoy in the sun. For more info, visit the Wheat Ridge Facebook event page. 



Niwot's Fourth of July Celebration
Niwot
Monday, July 4, 7:30 a.m.
Free
Niwot does things a little differently, and its annual Fourth of July event is no exception. After a pancake breakfast, there will be a pre-parade bicycle-decorating event, music from the Niwot Semi-Marching Free-Grange Band and more. There's also a mid-day parade with classic civic vehicles on display, but it's Boulder's own Bongo the Balloon man — a real artisan of balloon craft — that gives Niwot's Independence Day party a style all its own. See the town's website for more details. 


Highland 4th of July Parade & Picnic
Hirshorn Park
Monday, July 4, 8 a.m.
Free
This kid-centric event invites little ones to bring bicycles, tricycles and scooters to a fun morning of red, white and blue celebration. Along with an Independence Day parade, children can enjoy field-day games, water-balloon fights, a bouncy castle and so much more. To cool things off, a massive ice cream sundae will be built by Little Man Ice Cream for all to enjoy. For more on this early-morning Fourth of July celebration, visit the ice cream shop's website. 

Green Valley Ranch Summer Concert Series and Fireworks Spectacular
Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
Monday, July 4, 6:30 p.m.
Free
Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and head to Green Valley Ranch for its outdoor concert series and fireworks celebration. The evening begins with a live set from Paizley Park, a band created to honor the life and work of Prince. Headlining the show is the Mary Louise Lee Band, fronted by Denver's own first lady. After sunset, enjoy a classic Fourth of July fireworks display. For more information on this summer-long music series, see the event's website. 

4thFest at Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Monday, July 4, 5 p.m.
Tickets starting at $39
This fest has it all: an inflatable obstacle course, wandering magic show, human hamster balls, bungee trampoline, parachute run races, face painting and so much more. Live music from the School of Rock Denver House Band is the perfect introduction to the main event, a soccer game between the Colorado Rapids and the Portland Timbers. After the throwdown on the field, headliners 888 will keep the party going until the big finish — a grand fireworks display. For more information, visit the Colorado Rapids website. 

July Fourth Fireworks over Lake Estes
Estes Park, Between U.S. Highways 34 and 36
Monday, July 4, 9:30 p.m.
Free
For an Independence Day escape from city heat, head to the hills of Estes Park, where the crystal-clear, light- and pollution-free sky provides the perfect backdrop for a Fourth of July in the great outdoors — and a stunning setting for fireworks. Check out the town's website for more on what this not-so-secret hideaway has to offer.

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
Monday, July 4
$29.99 and up (free with season pass)
Enjoy a day at Denver's theme and water park in the heart of the city before cooling off in the evening with fireworks, which start when the park closes at 10 p.m. Get more info at elitchgardens.com.

Keep reading for more family-friendly events today.
But, wait! Here are ten more fireworks displays on Monday, July 4: 

City of Golden's Fourth of July Fireworks
Lions Park, Golden
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Check the city's website for details on events earlier in the day.

Parker's Let Freedom Sing! 
Salisbury North, Parker
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Live music starting at 6 p.m.; see the town's website for more details.

4th of July at Waneka Lake
Waneka Lake, Lafayette
Fireworks at dusk
Events begin at 4 p.m.; check out the city's website for additional information.

4th of July in Thornton
Carpenter Park Fields, Thornton
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Beer garden opens at 4 p.m.; for a full schedule, visit Thornton's website.

Arvada Independence Day
Harold D. Lutz Sports Complex, Arvada
Fireworks at 10 p.m.
Live music and other activities begin at 4 p.m. Go to the City of Arvada's website for more details.

Castle Rock Fireworks Show
Santa Fe Quarry Butte, Castle Rock
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
For more details, visit Castle Rock's website. 

Nederland Old Fashioned Fireworks & Festival
Chipeta Park, Nederland
Fireworks after dark
For more information, see the Nederland Fireworks & Festival Facebook page.

Fort Collins Fourth of July Celebration
City Park, Fort Collins
Fireworks at 9:35 p.m.
Events run all day; check the City of Fort Collins website for a full schedule.

Broomfield Great American Picnic
Broomfield Commons Park
Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Live music, kids' activities and more begin at 5 p.m.; see Broomfield's website for more details.

Longmont's Fourth of July Fireworks
Boulder County Fairgrounds
Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m.
For more information, see the Longmont city website.