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Despite several mountain town communities cancelling fireworks due to wildfire concerns, there will be more than 100 explosive displays launching into skies across Colorado to celebrate the nation’s 243rd birthday. Many fireworks are happening in and around Denver, but knowing where to go—and how to ditch the masses—can be daunting. Here, a few ways to enjoy this year’s Fourth of July festivities without getting lost in the crowd.
July 2–3
Coors Field
The Rockies won’t be playing baseball on July 4 this year, so the team’s annual fireworks show will instead happen on July 2 and July 3 after the team plays the Houston Astros. The fireworks games are among the most popular of the year—more than 40,000 people will likely be packed into Coors Field—and if you weren’t able to snag a ticket, there are a few alternatives. The LoDo and LoHi neighborhoods are dotted with bars that boast rooftops and patios with views of the stadium. We recommend securing some real estate at a place like Avanti, where the rooftop bleachers offer a view across the river into the ballpark.
Civic Center Park
For the 10th consecutive year, Denver’s largest free fireworks show will take place on July 3 at the Independence Eve event in Civic Center Park. There will be food and drink, as well as live music from Chris Daniels & the Kings and the Colorado Symphony. The event is sure to be bustling, but gates open at 4 p.m. if you want to go stake out a spot with lawn chairs or blankets. If you’d rather not deal with the crowd at all, Barnum Park (Hooker and 4th streets) offers a hill with stunning views of the skyline and a great vantage point to see the fireworks launching off the roof of the City and County Building.
July 4
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
When the sun sets throughout metro Denver on Independence Day, the skies will explode. The largest fireworks show in the state will once again be happening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City after the Colorado Rapids take on the New England Revolution at 7 p.m. Those who have a ticket to the game (it’s expected to sell out) are invited down to the field to watch the fireworks display. However, there are several other spots to take in the show. A community Fourth of July festival will also be happening outside the stadium, and for those who don’t make it onto the soccer pitch, the parking lot is a great place to watch the show. City parks in Commerce City and in Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood also offer a views of the incredible display.
Downtown Denver
For those who want to stay closer to the city, there will be two major downtown shows on July 4. After the Denver Outlaws play the Chesapeake Bayhawks, fireworks will launch from Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Just across the river, Elitch Gardens will be lighting up the sky with a show of its own at 10 p.m.
If you’re not going to purchase tickets to either of those shows, we recommend posting up on Zuni Street just south of its junction with Speer Blvd. The walkway and small park there offer one of the best views of the skyline and will be one of the better places to watch the downtown shows.
The ‘Burbs
Dozens of other fireworks displays will be visible in and around Denver—including ones in Arvada, Lakewood, Broomfield, and Littleton—and there are several places where you’ll be able to take in multiple simultaneously. For instance, lay a blanket in Sloan’s Lake Park, which offers nearly 200 acres of lawns and expansive views east, west, and south, and you’ll see colorful skies in almost every direction. Likewise, folks who gather in Inspiration Point Park in Arvada will have high ground and be able to see fireworks exploding across much of metro Denver.
