Parades
America is like Right Said Fred: too sexy for its shirt. And the Fourth is when it does its little turn on the catwalk. Here’s where you can park your tookus and catch the action.
From 10 a.m. to noon, the chitlins and their beleagured pet adults can take part in decorating and then executing a bike parade at The Municipal Building lawn in Boulder. There will also be crafts, vendors and music.
Niwot will get the action going early at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast-time celebrations at Cottonwood Square, but the parade won’t get going until 11 a.m., when it will move along Niwot Road along Second Avenue.
Firestone is having a parade at 10 a.m., which will be followed by performances throughout the day at Miners Park.
Fort Collins is parading up and down Mountain Avenue starting at 10 a.m.
Broomfield will be doing an evening bike parade at Broomfield County Commons Park at 9:30 p.m. There will also be pony rides, and there is alleged to be free cupcakes, an offer so good that it seems like a lie.
Fireworks/Festivities
Boulder will be hosting Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast at 8 p.m. on Folsom Field. In addition to the boom-booms, the Independence Day Blast will include performances from The Mighty Twisters, The Mad Hops jump-rope team and the ever-infamous Ralphie the Buffalo. Fireworks will be set off at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Boulder will also be hosting a special fireworks hike on Flagstaff Mountain starting at 7 p.m. It will hike west on the Boulder Creek Path and View Point Trail in order to get a bird’s eye view of the show.
Lafayette will also be hosting a festival at Waneka Lake Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a variety of food and beverages in addition to a number of kid’s activities, free concert by Deja Blue dance band and a free shuttle service from Flatirons Community Church to the east park entrance.
Races
Earn Your Independence in a 5K race to be held at the Boulder Reservoir. But it’s a heckuva lot more. There will also be volleyball tournaments, food vendors, a live performance from ‘80s cover band The Goonies, and water sports throughout the course of the day.
Four On the Fourth will be a 4K hosted by Avery Brewing Company. Participants will be running on a flat, fast course in the Flatiron Business Park with a breakfast by Front Range Catering and Avery beer, for those of age, to follow.
Louisville will be hosting their Let Freedom Run 5K, 10K and Kids Run, which will be beginning at 6:30 p.m. Participants receive a free t-shirt and a chance to win from a variety of great prizes.
Get more details and registration information for all these races on www.runnningintheusa.com.
