Overview:
Town offers a variety of July 4th activities
Celebrating Independence Day in Estes Park has always been about more than a fireworks display. For one thing, all the celebrating is on July 4, no matter what day of the week that might be.
There’s plenty of time to sleep in, take a hike, do a little shopping, have a family picnic and take in plenty of scheduled entertainment before the big finale: a 30-minute spectacular Fireworks Show over Lake Estes that starts at 9:30 p.m.
If you’d rather immerse yourself with red, white and blue activities early in the day, travel to the YMCA of the Rockies-Estes Park Center to watch staff and guests celebrate with their own version of a July 4 parade that starts at 10 a.m. in front of the Administration Building.
There’s all day fun at the American Legion Post 119 starting with a car show that surrounds the white building at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 36 and St. Vrain Ave. (850 N. St. Vrain Ave.). The Legion — a local treasure open to the community — will be serving food all day, and a music lineup that starts at 3:30 p.m. with a performance by Marcus James followed by the Blue Sky Mountain Band who will finish up at 8 p.m. With a location across from Lake Estes, the setting provides one of the town’s perfect locations for watching the fireworks show after the sky turns dark enough to show the bright illumination of the display that ends the day. There is an admission fee.
The Lakeside Liberty Bash is at Ember and the Lake Estes Resort. It’s a lakefront event with music from 3:30 to 8 p.m. near the Lake Estes Marina.
Another fee event, the Big Bang Concert featuring El Loco Fandango, also provides preferred covered seating at the Rodeo Fairgrounds stadium for the big night show. The band is known for its shows that are Tributes to ZZ Top. While there is a cost to see the show, parking is free. Gates open at 6 p.m. The music is scheduled to end when the
fireworks start.
Last on the list of things to keep you busy and to get you in the mood for the big show is the free Estes Park Village Band’s Patriotic Concert at the outdoor Performance Park Amphitheater at the west end of Elkhorn Avenue. Starting at 7 p.m. the audience hears traditional patriotic songs featuring local musicians and singers. There’s tiered grass
seating, and you’re allowed to bring your own lawn chair and a blanket for comfort. The concert always ends in time for everyone to move to the east end of town in time for the fireworks show.