Multiple Southwest Colorado celebrations will usher in Independence Day, complete with games, food, music and fireworks.
Here is a look at upcoming Fourth of July festivities.
The city of Cortez will host a free Fourth of July celebration from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday at Centennial Park on North Mildred Road.
The event will include a car show, live music and food trucks before capping the evening with a fireworks show by the Cortez Fire Protection District.
All activities will take place central to Centennial Park, with a view of Parque de Vida, where the fireworks will take place.
Fireworks safety zones will be set up around a large portion of Parque de Vida to ensure community safety during the fireworks show.
The car show, hosted by BumzAroden car club president Richard Terrill, will take place at 4 p.m. in Centennial Park. The show will conclude with a crowd vote to name the car that shows the most American spirit.
Live music will be performed by the classic rock band Flash Back at 7 p.m.
Food trucks will also be on site, with Smashed Lemonade, Sneaky Snacks and Sweet Water Gypsies setting up shop on Mildred Road.
The fireworks show at the end is expected to last 20 minutes.
Portable restrooms will be available, as will the Parque de Vida restrooms.
The city emphasized that the whole event is alcohol-free. Alcohol is prohibited within city parks without proper permits.
Personal fireworks are also prohibited in all city parks. Illegal use of fireworks in Colorado can result in fines up to $2,750 and one year of jail time.
Street closures on Mildred Avenue and Roger Smith Avenue will begin at 3 p.m. Free parking will be available in the north recreation center lot and in the surrounding baseball field parking lots.
The city said Americans with Disabilities Act-only parking will be available in the closed Parque de Vida lot at the intersection of Empire and Mildred Streets.
At dusk in Boyle Park, the Mancos Fire Protection District will host a fireworks display.
The 68th Annual Pick ’n’ Hoe will take place Wednesday through July 7 at the Dove Creek Community Center, 403 W. Seventh St., starting at 6 p.m. each day other than July 4.
Each evening at the Pick ’n’ Hoe will include events, games and food.
There will be a parade, live music, games for all ages, pig chase and rock-drilling contest on July 4, plus pit barbecue meat and fireworks by the Dove Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
The pig chase will take place at 2 p.m. on July 4, and the fireworks will take place at 9:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Teresa Martin at (970) 793-4312.
The Rico Independence Day celebration will take place all day long. The parade lineup will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the parade at 11 a.m.
At noon, Pat Fallon’s Philly cheesesteaks will be available at the Rico Firehouse to prepare for the duck race at 3 p.m.
Those who purchase a rubber race duck will be entered into the duck race with a chance to win raffle prizes.
The Rico Fire Protection District will end the evening with a fireworks celebration around dusk.
For more information about Rico’s Fourth of July celebration, visit ricofire.org.
