Celebrate the Fourth of July safely at these Colorado fireworks displays

June 24, 2021
fireworks display in Colorado.
Source: Getty Images.

A sure sign that the pandemic is easing is that many fireworks displays are back in 2021 after some cancellations throughout Colorado last year.

Please keep in mind that some areas of the state are dealing with drought conditions and Colorado fireworks displays may be canceled to prevent wildfires.

Always remember to stay safe. (Read tips here.) Don’t set off your own fireworks. Instead, let the pros dazzle you.

If shows are taking place in your area, get your red, white and blue garb ready. Gear up with blankets and chairs for good viewing and celebrate the Fourth of July with some spectacular Colorado fireworks displays.

Here’s a round-up of fireworks displays throughout Colorado.

Arvada

The celebration takes place at Stenger Sports Complex on July 4. The fireworks are slated to start at about 9 p.m. Propane grills are allowed, but no RVs, drones, alcohol, personal fireworks, pets or alcohol are allowed. Free parking.

Aurora 

A 30-minute fireworks display is set for July 4 starting at about 9:30 p.m. Experts will set off the fireworks from Bicentennial Park. For a great view, plan to bring blankets and chairs to the Aurora Municipal Center’s Great Lawn. No music, activities, food or beverage sales this year at the Great Lawn.

Berthoud

A formal Fourth of July fireworks display will take place July 3, around 9 p.m. at Bein Park Athletic Complex, at the corner of Spartan Avenue and 10th Street.

Brighton

The city hosts its Stars & Stripes fireworks display on July 3 at about 9:30 p.m. over Riverdale Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road.

Broomfield

Broomfield hosts its Great American Picnic and Fireworks on July 4 at Broomfield County Commons Park, 13200 Sheridan Blvd. The fireworks display is slated to start at 9:30 p.m.

Castle Rock

Town officials will shoot off fireworks starting at about 9:30 p.m. on July 4 from the butte south of The Meadows above Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course. Learn more about great viewing locations.

Colorado Springs

This year, residents can enjoy fireworks at multiple locations as part of “Symphony on Your Porch.’’ The event is held in lieu of the city’s traditional “Symphony in the Park at Memorial Park,’’ which has delighted families for decades but will not be held in the park this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorado Springs’ Fireworks displays launch from locations in the following neighborhoods on July 4:

  • The Broadmoor
  • Cherokee Ridge Golf Course
  • The Club at Flying Horse
  • The Country Club of Colorado at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
  • Falcon Freedom Days at Meridian Ranch
  • Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
  • Patty Jewett Golf Course
  • Banning Lewis Ranch

Watch from your porch and hear musical selections by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic on Sunny 106.3, Y96.9, KCME 88.7 FM, 92.9 Peak FM, and AM 740 KVOR. KKTV.com will also livestream fireworks.

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks will also have a fireworks display after their game July 4 at Weidner Field downtown.

The Rocky Mountain Vibes will have a fireworks display after their game July 2 at UCHealth Park in eastern Colorado Springs.

Fort Carson will have fireworks as part of its Fort Carson Freedom Fest celebration on July 2.

Commerce City

The Colorado Rapids bill their fireworks display as the “largest public fireworks show in the state.” The Rapids match against Seattle also marks the first game back at full capacity. Find tickets here. The game on July 4 starts at 7 p.m. with fireworks to follow.

Cripple Creek

Fireworks start about 20 minutes after dusk on July 4 on the city’s south side, south of Myers Ave.

Denver

Coors Field in downtown Denver’s Ballpark Neighborhood hosts back-to-back fireworks shows on July 2 and 3 after the Colorado Rockies take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Click to buy tickets or watch from nearby parks and neighborhoods.

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park in Denver’s Platte River Valley downtown hosts fireworks on July 4.

Englewood

The City of Englewood is teaming up with Littleton, Sheridan, Arapahoe County and South Suburban Parks and Recreation to celebrate the Fourth of July a day early on July 3 with a picnic followed by a fireworks display. The picnic starts at 5 p.m. at Belleview Park and Cornerstone. Fireworks will start at about 9:15 p.m.

Erie

The celebration takes place on July 3 at Erie Community Park, 450 Powers St. Experts will launch fireworks at about 9:30 p.m. from the rooftop of the Erie Community Center.

Estes Park

Blast off is expected to start around 9:30 p.m. on July 4 over Lake Estes.

Fort Collins

Instead of its traditional fireworks display over City Park’s Sheldon Lake, Fort Collins partnered with the city of Loveland and Larimer County to present a drive-in fireworks show at The Ranch Event Complex for the second year in a row.

The 20-minute fireworks show starts around 9:15 p.m. July 4. Entrance to The Ranch will be free, and vehicles can start securing their spaces at 6 p.m. near its south entrance. Nearly 4,000 parking spaces will be available and snack trucks are expected to be site.

Glendale

The community near Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood will celebrate the Fourth of July with a fireworks display on July 2. The pros set off the fireworks from Creekside Park. Learn more about street closures.

Golden

The Golden Lions Club hosts the celebration on July 4 at Lions Park on 10th Street. Check back here for more details.

Greeley

The Greeley Stampede will host a fireworks show — in the northwest corner of Island Grove Park — starting around 9:45 p.m. on July 4.

Highlands Ranch

Enjoy fireworks from your backyard on July 4 at about 9:30 p.m. Experts will set off fireworks from Highlands Heritage Park at South University Boulevard and East Quebec Avenue. The park will be closed to the public from July 3-5. Learn more.

Lakewood

Lakewood hosts the “Big Boom Bash” on July 3 with fireworks slated to start 9:15 p.m. The show will sync with music from MIX 100. Tune to 100.3 FM to listen along or stream live from your phone.

The show will be visible from Lakewood parks, neighborhoods and residences within a 1.5 mile radius of Jeffco Stadium, 500 Kipling St. Learn more about other locations where you can see the show.

Longmont

The public Longmont fireworks display that usually takes place at Boulder County Fairgrounds and coordinated by Skyline Kiwanis is canceled again for 2021. But the city still wants to celebrate its 150th anniversary with fireworks. Skyline Kiwanis is coordinating the fundraising for the 2021 Longmont 4th of July Fireworks show with a private party event hosted at Fox Hill Golf Course.

Tickets for that event are currently sold out. The general public will not be allowed to walk onto the course to view the show, which is expected to start around 9:30 p.m. on July 4, but can park at public parking lots in the area. Residents in the immediate area are asked to watch from their properties. Those outside the area can watch the show by utilizing public parking lots at: Steven Day Park, Clark Centennial, Sandstone Ranch and other public property locations. Union Reservoir will have expanded hours to accommodate parking but entrance fees still apply.

Please do not park at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital for safety and security reasons. Vehicles will not be permitted to park along Highway 119.

Loveland

Loveland residents can view this year’s fireworks display for free at The Ranch Events Complex at about 9:15 p.m. on July 4. Snack trucks will be available and the audience can tune in to patriotic music on station 96.1 FM KISSFM to accompany the show. Check out all the details.

Pueblo

Fireworks will be launched at 9:30 p.m. July 4 at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. Fireworks will be set off from the roof of the Main Street parking garage.

Westminster

The fireworks are slated to start at about 9:15 p.m. at Westminster City Park, 10455 N. Sheridan Blvd. For daytime activities, the city of Westminster has partnered with Northglenn. Check out Northglenn’s event page for more information.

Shuttles available and highly recommended to get to the park. Masks required on shuttles.

About the author

Katie Kerwin McCrimmon is a proud Colorado native. She attended Colorado College, thanks to a merit scholarship from the Boettcher Foundation, and worked as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park during summer breaks from college. She is also a storyteller. She loves getting to know UCHealth patients and providers and sharing their inspiring stories.

Katie spent years working as a journalist at the Rocky Mountain News and was a finalist with a team of reporters for the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of a deadly wildfire in Glenwood Springs in 1994. Katie was the first reporter in the U.S. to track down and interview survivors of the tragic blaze, which left 14 firefighters dead.

She covered an array of beats over the years, including the environment, politics, education and criminal justice. She also loved covering stories in Congress and at the U.S. Supreme Court during a stint as the Rocky’s reporter in Washington, D.C.

Katie then worked as a reporter for an online health news site before joining the UCHealth team in 2017.

Katie and her husband Cyrus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, have three children. The family loves traveling together anywhere from Glacier National Park to Cuba.