Fourth of July Parades and Fireworks!
This weekend, decorate your bikes or strollers and join a 4th of July parade! There are lots of family-friendly ways to celebrate the holiday, including 5K runs, free concerts in the park, and several spectacular fireworks displays!
TODAY/TONIGHT, July 1
WEEKLY WELLNESS WALK
If you are hooked on the weekly early-morning backcountry walk, why not bring a friend along and share the good vibes! Or maybe you’ve just not had a chance to try it yet—today could be your day. A naturalist guide points out flora and fauna on the way. The hike is FREE but advanced registration is required.
Backcountry Base Camp, 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton
7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Register: FREE
Thursday – Saturday, July 1-3
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Don’t miss your chance to see the Broadway version of the smash sci-fi musical, Little Shop of Horrors! If you’re a fan of live and in-person theatre, you’ll be happy to know performances are back at the PACE Center Parker!
When a carnivorous plant takes over the life of a meek floral assistant, who knows what might happen next! This wild and wacky musical is filled with humor and a fantastic score. What a fun way to celebrate the holiday weekend!
PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Thurs./Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $34
Phone: 303-805-6800
Friday, July 2
FIRST FRIDAY PATRIOTIC 5K AND PARTY
This First Friday 5K is filled with patriotic spirit! Dress up in your star-spangled best to run or walk the 5K race, with prizes for the best costume! The unofficially timed race is free, but registration is required.
After the race, hang out in Festival Park for food, cocktails, kids’ activities, and FREE live music by New Doubt! This band is the “World’s Best Tribute to No Doubt,” holding the coveted seal of approval from Gwen Stefani herself. You’ll be amazed how much they look and sound exactly like the real thing!
Festival Park, 300 Second St., Castle Rock
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 720-724-2010
JUST A FEW TICKETS LEFT…
Josh Blue is apparently everyone’s favorite comedian—four out five shows this weekend have already sold out, but you may still be able to grab tickets for the late night Friday show.
As the winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue’s comedy career has grown at a meteoric pace. He’s appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon followed by a coveted appearance at the prestigious JFL comedy festival in Montreal. Most recently, he’s released his fifth one-hour comedy special titled Broccoli, where he continues to break down stereotypes of those with disabilities one sarcastic and thought-provoking joke at a time.
Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $25
Phone: 720-274-6800
Friday-Saturday, July 2-3
BACKCOUNTRY MOVIES
This week’s backcountry cinema outing includes a Friday night screening of the animated adventures of your favorite prehistorics, The Croods: A New Age, and Saturday night’s screening of the original Men In Black. Bring your own snacks or indulge in one of the food trucks on site. Make sure you register in advance!
Backcountry Base Camp, 6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton
Gates open 7:15 p.m.
Tickets: $25/car
Phone: 303-471-7076
Saturday, July 3
4TH OF JULY CARNIVAL
Kick off your Independence Day festivities a day early at this old-fashioned July 4th Carnival! This FREE event is fun for the whole family with face painting, a kids parade, a train ride, a slide, bounce houses, an obstacle course, and of course—plenty of food! Bring your kids’ bikes, wagons, or strollers to decorate and then ride in the parade!
Calvary Summitview, 6700 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
VETERAN 5K AND FESTIVAL
There’s no better time than the 4th of July to let a vet know you appreciate them! This fundraiser for the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation includes a 5K walk/run, as well as an all-day festival in the park!
There will be live music, artist and vendor booths, beer tents, food trucks, and more.
Festival Park, 300 Second St., Castle Rock
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Information: FREE (donations accepted)
FOURTH OF JULY IN LITTLETON
Catch the first fireworks display in the area! Bring a picnic blanket and head over to Belleview Park in Littleton for their annual Fourth of July event. Hang out in the park with your friends, family, and neighbors for a relaxing time. Food trucks and local vendors will provide food and drinks. The fireworks will start at 9:15 p.m.
Belleview Park, W. Belleview Ave. and S. Windemere St., Littleton
5:00 – 9:45 p.m.
Information: FREE
CAROUSEL THE MUSICAL
Central City Opera presents their production of the delightful Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel in the park! The fully-staged, open-air production is reminiscent of a simpler time, filled with favorite songs like You’ll Never Walk Alone. Treat the family to an American classic about life in a small town a century ago.
Hudson Gardens & Events Center, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$75
Sunday, July 4
ROCK-IT RUN AND CONCERT
Start a new 4th of July tradition by signing up for the inaugural Rock-It Run 5K! There’s also a FREE 1K Little Rock-It for kids 8 and under. Your registration fee will go towards Live Free, and you’ll receive a finisher medal, a racerback t-shirt, a free 105 West brew and footlong Casper Frankfurter.
The after-race concert features Van Crue (a band that blends Van Halen and Motley Crue) and is FREE and open to the public!
Douglas County Events Center, 500 Fairgrounds Dr., Castle Rock
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Register: $30-$55
TWO PARADES IN ONE
This festive 4th of July Parade is really two parades in one! The first leg of the parade is for kids, pets, and families, followed by a mile-long community parade. The Family Bike and Pet Parade is for children ages 2 through sixth grade and their families. Decorate yourselves, your pets, and your bikes in patriotic colors! Families parade together for a quarter mile, then find a place to watch the community parade.
Starts at 9285 Hepburn St., ends at Town Center South, Highlands Ranch
8:30 – 9:00 (Children’s Parade); 9:00 – 10:30 (Community Parade)
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-471-8888
LONE TREE RIDE & STROLL
Bring your bikes and strollers to the complementary decorating station at Lone Tree Elementary and leave riding a star-spangled bike! Ride or stroll down a one-mile path to Prairie Sky Park where a sweet treat will await you! Families can stay and enjoy the playground and open park area as long as they like. This is a great opportunity to bring a frisbee, play catch, fly a kite, or relax on a blanket and enjoy your treat.
Lone Tree Elementary, 9375 Heritage Hills Cir., Lone Tree
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Information: FREE
PARADE IN THE MEADOWS
Another chance to participate in a 4th of July parade! Bring your decorated bicycle, wagon, or stroller and ride around Bison Park in Castle Rock! The event will continue into the afternoon with music, concessions, inflatable rides, trackless trains, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Bison Park, 1390 Clear Sky Way, Castle Rock
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
4TH OF JULY PARTY AND FIREWORKS
Lone Tree is throwing a full-fledged 4th of July party, complete with a live concert and fireworks! Everyone’s favorite dance band, Jakarta, will be playing live in the park, and kids will enjoy outdoor games and activities. Bring your coolers, blankets, and camping chairs and get ready for the huge fireworks display, starting at 9:30 p.m.!
Prairie Sky Park, 9381 Crossington Way, Lone Tree
7:00 – 9:45 p.m.
Information: FREE
DRIVE-IN FIREWORKS IN PARKER
The 4th of July celebration in Parker is a ticketed event with three tiers of participation. Only the White and Blue Zones still have tickets available. Your pre-purchased parking pass will get you into your designated zone for an evening of entertainment and a fireworks display.
The White Zone includes access to walk-around characters like magicians, jugglers and stilt walkers and listening to (but not being able to see) a live band performance of the 6 Million Dollar Band. You can bring lawn chairs or blankets for your tailgate space but you will not have access to the stage or band viewing. The Blue Zone is a drive-in only zone where you’ll be allowed to sit on the bumper or in your vehicle but will not be allowed extra tailgating space. The Blue Zone has best visibility for the fireworks show.
Salisbury Park, 11920 N. Motsenbocker Rd., Parker
7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$20
Phone: 303-805-3253
CASTLE ROCK FIREWORKS
The high-flying Castle Rock fireworks can be viewed from many prime locations in the Castle Rock area, including throughout the Interstate 25 corridor and from within Downtown Castle Rock. There will be a three-shot salute five minutes prior to the beginning of the show to let you know it’s about to start!
Some of the best viewing spots include: Castle Rock Service Center, Castle Rock Recreation Center, Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, Butterfield Crossing Park, Castle North Park, Festival Park, Metzler Ranch Community Park, and the pedestrian bridge over Wolfensberger Road.
Above Red Hawk Golf Course, 2156 Red Hawk Ridge Dr., Castle Rock
9:30 p.m.
Information: FREE
Celebrate the Fourth in the Crystal Valley Area!
There are plenty of ways to celebrate the 4th of July and other holidays near the family-friendly community of Crystal Valley! Enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of Castle Rock and surrounding area where cultural and entertainment activities abound! Tour the nine amazing models from Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton, Century Communities, and Kauffman Homes and and find out why our community is among the top five fastest-growing in the state with new homes priced from the $300s.
