By Shannon Lukens.
Here is a list of what is happening during the 4th of July in communities across Northwest Colorado.
Email any other 4th of July activities to Shannon@SteamboatRadio.com and they can be added to the list.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
July 4
The 4th of July Parade is at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, on Lincoln Ave., between 6th and 10th Street, in downtown Steamboat Springs. Floats will be judged on originality, creativity, and spirit in the following categories:
- Best Theme
- Best Group
- Best Commercial
- Best Parade Theme
Steamboat Springs Chamber Link to Events
The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Be prepared for traffic and parking impacts. Here’s what to expect:
- Traffic closures will start around 6 a.m. and end around 2 p.m. on July 4, so please plan accordingly. The traffic plan will divert eastbound traffic to Yampa St. and westbound traffic to Oak St.
- Parking will be extremely limited downtown; we recommend carpooling and parking at the Rodeo Grounds, Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs High School, or the Stockbridge Transit Center (see bus schedules here). The police department will be ticketing for failure to follow special event parking.
- Expect traffic delays due to street closures and the alternate traffic route for emergency vehicles.
Donnie and Jackie Hayes are Grand Marshals of the parade this year.
The following outlines the anticipated closures for the July 4th Parade and other potential impacts.
Fourth of July Parade – Lincoln Avenue/US40, July 4
Lincoln & Several Side Streets Closed from 6:30 a.m. to 2pm
The parade floats down Lincoln Avenue/US40 and the national highway along with several city streets between 12th to 5th Streets will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to around 2 p.m. The traffic plan will use a circular configuration that sees US40 eastbound traffic diverted onto Yampa Street and US40 westbound traffic onto Oak Street. Parking will be extremely limited in the downtown area during the parade closures.
On Thursday morning, July 4, westbound traffic will turn right on 5th St, then left onto Oak St before continuing down to 12th St and US40. In addition, for easier semi-truck travel, there will be no parking around the 5th & Oak and 12th & Oak intersections. In addition, other on-street parking on Oak will be limited due to the detour.
Eastbound traffic will turn right at 12th St, then left onto Yampa St. Traffic will travel the seven-blocks down Yampa to 5th St before returning to Lincoln/US40. No parking is available on 12th Street or at the intersections of 12th & Yampa and 5th & Yampa. Like Oak St, other on-street parking on Yampa will be limited due to the detour.
The 5th Street Bridge will remain open to northbound traffic during the parade. Vehicles accessing Howelsen Hill, the Ice Arena or Brooklyn neighborhood will be able to turn right from Yampa St to reach those venues. Westbound traffic on US40 will NOT be able to turn left on 5th Street to reach Howelsen Park. Motorists should consider using River Road for areas south of the river.
The 19th Annual Jumpin’ & Jammin’ Ski Jumping Celebration is at 11 a.m. on the 4th of July. Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club is hosting the nation’s best Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping athletes on the big jumps at Howelsen Hill.
Qualification jumping starts on Wednesday morning.
Then the Nordic Combined 1K Running Race and 3K Roller Ski Race is at 9:15 a.m. before the 4th of July Parade on Lincoln Ave.
Then make your way over to the base area at Howelsen Hill to watch the athletes soar 225 feet over the crowd from the HS75. Some food trucks will be there. The Alpine Slide will be open. Bring some water and bring some chairs.
Fireworks and Preventing Wildfires
Steamboat Springs will not offer a firework display as part of its Independence Day Celebration. Our community places a high value on wildfire prevention, and we thank visitors and residents in advance for not using fireworks in Steamboat Springs this Fourth of July. Learn more about preventing wildfires.
Fireworks that leave the ground, explode or fragment, and similar more powerful fireworks are illegal in Colorado. Illegal fireworks include but are not limited to bottle rockets, cherry bombs, firecrackers, rockets and shells, roman candles, mortars, missile boxes, and M-100 or M-80 devices. Please Respect Vets, Pets & Neighbors.
*See press release at the bottom of this page.
Fourth of July Schedule 2024
TUESDAY, JULY 2
8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Ski Jump Training, Howelsen Hill
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
9 a.m. to noon – HS8, HS45, and HS75 Ski Jump Competition, Howelsen Hill
7:30 p.m. Pro Rodeo Series, Brent Romick Arena
THURSDAY, JULY 4
7-9:30 a.m. Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast, Little Toots Park
9:15 a.m. Nordic Combined 1K run
9:30 a.m. 3k Roller Ski
10 a.m. Fourth of July Parade, Presented by Yampa Valley Bank, Downtown Steamboat, Lincoln Avenue
Right after the parade — Stop by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Steamboat Springs after the parade, for their Hot Dog Extravaganza. It’s at 9th and Oak. They’ll have 800 regular hot dogs and 200 vegan hot dogs, and pools set up to cool off your K9 dogs. And they’ll have bananas.
11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Elimination Jump Competition, Howelsen Hill. There will be a live band, Rough Stock.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by Holy Name Catholic Church for a BBQ hosted by the Knights of Columbus. “100% of the funds support our Local causes… Coats for Kids, Special Olympics Bowling, elderly and widowed in need, and many other worthy causes.”
7:30 p.m. Pro Rodeo Series, Brent Romick Arena
FRIDAY, JULY 5
7:30 p.m. Pro Rodeo Series, Brent Romick Arena
SATURDAY, JULY 6
7:30 p.m. Pro Rodeo Series, Brent Romick Arena
4th of July Bash at Steamboat Ski Resort
Don’t miss the afternoon and evening fun with The Range Food & Drink Hall, Burgess Creek, and Skeeter’s Lawn with food trucks in front of Wild Blue Gondola and music from John Papa Gross on the Steamboat Stage. Then the 20-minute long drone show takes to the skies around 9 p.m.
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Gondola, Steamboat Bike Park, The Range Food & Drink Hall will be open for all to enjoy
- Noon to 3:30 p.m. – Family Fun with inflatables and games on the Skeeter’s Rink
- 5-9 p.m. – The Range Food & Drink Hall, food trucks and beverage tents open
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Music by Eric Delaney’s Taste Test at Steamboat Stage
- 7-8:30 p.m. – Music performance by John Papa Gros, showcasing the soulful sounds of New Orleans with a mix of funk, traditional jazz, brass band beats, and blues
- 9-9:20 p.m. – Drone Show, lights up the night sky above the Resort
Biking to the base area for the celebration is highly encouraged with designated bike parking on the dirt path between lower Burgess Creek and Gravity Haus.
Free car parking will be available in the Upper Knoll Parking Lot and the Meadows Parking lot, with shuttles running from 4-10:30 p.m. Paid parking will be available in the Steamboat Square, Ski Time Square and Lower Knoll lots. The Steamboat Springs Transit Free Bus will be dropping guests passengers off in the mountain Gondola Transportation Center (GTC), with easy access to Steamboat Square.
The event is free to attend but leave pets at home. This event is weather permitting and subject to change.
From the Routt County Veterans — The Veterans Center is at 924 Lincoln Ave. Doors open at 8 a.m. , on the 4th of July. Veterans will ride in the parade starting at 10 a.m. After the parade, join the veterans for free hot dogs (and beer for purchase). Then at 1 p.m., The Veterans Center will have the groundbreaking ceremonies for The Veterans Center renovation. And out front, you won’t be able to miss the WWII tank and jeep and two humvees for the kids to explore.
CRAIG
July 4
The 4th of July Parade in Craig is around 11 a.m. The local VFW is organizing the parade, and they ask that those in the parade line up at 10 a.m. on Washington Street between Victory Way and 7th. This year’s theme is: Red, White and Blue. The entry fee is a donation to the VFW. Registration is not required.
July 4
The Craig Rural Fire Protection District is hosting 4th of July fireworks. The firework show will begin just after dark, on the hill by the high school. Please be aware that 9th street will be closed from the football field to Shadow Mountain for the duration of the show.
YAMPA
July 3 in YAMPA
- BBQ at 5 p.m. at Yackey Park; behind the Yampa-Egeria Museum
- Classic Car show from 5-7 p.m. at Montgomery’s
- Street Dance at 7:15 p.m. at Antlers
4th of July in YAMPA
- 7-10 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at Ladies Aid Hall. This is a fundraiser for Soroco Girls Basketball.
- 10 a.m. to noon Yampa Marketplace at Crossan’s
- Before Noon – Line up for the parade
- 1 p.m. PARADE
- After parade – Yackey Park and Moffat Ave. Area with LOTS of food and games at South Routt Elementary
- 4 p.m. Horse polo and race on Moffat Ave.
- After Dark – FIREWORKS (weather permitting)
MEEKER
July 3-7
The 139th Annual Range Call is July 3-7 in Meeker. Activities are throughout downtown Meeker and at the Rio Blanco County Fairground.
July 3 — The Meeker Pageant starts at dusk at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds. This is part of the 139th Annual Range Call is July 3-7 in Meeker.
July 4 — Thursday morning is the Pancake Breakfast and 5K, with the 4th of July Parade at 10 a.m. the Watermelon Eating Contest is after the parade, with more fun including the Bank Robbery reenactment, the Ranch Rodeo, Block party and Fireworks.
July 5 — The White River Museum is giving a tour of the Milk Creek Battlefield at 9 a.m. A vendor fair is in downtown Meeker from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The CPRA Rodeo is at 2 p.m. with the concert at 7 p.m. at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds.The CPRA Rodeo is at 2 p.m. with the concert at 7 p.m. at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds. Sunday is the ATV Rodeo at noon at the fairgrounds.
The Wagon Wheel OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle Club is looking for sponsors for the Poker Run at the 2024 Meeker Range Call. It’s a 5-day event during the 4th of July. Proceeds from the event provide a scholarship to a local student. For questions, call Amy Sanger with the Wagon Wheel OHV Club at 970-366-2477. Or go to https://www.facebook.com/RangeCall and https://meekerrangecall.com/atv-rodeo
July 4
Watch for SK8 Church in the 4th of July Parade. They are gathering donations to support camps and trips, operations, and weekly programs. Reach out by June 20 if you want banner recognition in the parade. Email Marco@SteamboatSk8Church.com or call 970-412-7089. SK8 Church — “Changing lives for over 19 years of service in Steamboat.”
STEAMBOAT LAKE
July 6
Fourth of July Fireworks are Saturday, July 6, at Steamboat Lake. Donations are accepted to help cover the cost of the fireworks. You can donate at the Steamboat Lake Visitor Center or online through FriendsofColoradoStateParks.com
Press release from the City of Steamboat Springs; July 2, 2024.
Tips & Advice For A Safe Fourth of July
Fireworks That Leave Ground, Explode Or Fragment Are Illegal In Colorado.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-July 2, 2024-As the community readies to enjoy the Fourth of July across the Yampa Valley, the City of Steamboat Springs offers some tips and advice to help celebrate the holiday safely.
“Steamboat’s celebration brings people from near and far especially with the community’s incredible parade and holiday weekend special events,” said Chuck Cerasoli, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue (SSFR) Chief. “However, it can also bring severe consequences if people are not careful.”
Fireworks
While a new drone show has replaced the traditional fireworks display, don’t take filling this void into your own hands by providing your neighborhood a personal firework show. Fireworks that leave the ground, explode or fragment, and similar more powerful fireworks are illegal in Colorado. Illegal fireworks include but are not limited to bottle rockets, cherry bombs, firecrackers, rockets and shells, roman candles, mortars, missile boxes, and M-100 or M-80 devices. Please Respect Vets, Pets & Neighbors.
Remember, even permitted fireworks can be dangerous and caution should be used. For example, sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.
While the fire rating is currently MODERATE, conditions are drying out and much of Colorado is experiencing drought conditions. Campfires should be in designated areas, never left unattended and extinguished fully.
Pets
With large gatherings over the holiday, the shelter receives several stray animals. To help your pet get through the festivities or to quickly be reunited, the Routt County Humane Society suggests:
- Take your dog for long walk. It helps them get exercise, tires them out and they take care of business. Then, most of the day, they can remain indoors where it’s cool, calm, and quiet.
- It’s best to leave you pet at home, especially during loud, crowded events like the parade and drone show.
- Do not leave pets in vehicles or unattended including tied up in town. (may result in citation)
- Never use fireworks around your pets
- Ensure your pet is wearing an identification collar and/or has microchip with current contact info.
- Report Animal Issues
- An animal complaint or animal emergency, contact Steamboat Springs Animal Control at 970.879.1144.
- For a lost or missing animal, call the Routt County Humane Society Animal Shelter at 970.879.7247 with a description of pet, their name, and your contact information.
Yampa River
Commercial tubing is permitted when the river drops below 700 cfs. The river is still moving extremely fast, and the water remains cold so please use caution when around water and always have safety in mind. Rafters, kayakers, and SUPers should always wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and tubers are strongly encouraged to use life vests when tubing starts. If enjoying the Yampa River over the holiday is in your plans, follow these guidelines:
- Go with a Pro
- Never Boat/Kayak/Raft/SUP/Tube Alone
- Wear A Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & Helmet
- Be Prepared For Extremes In Weather
- Never Mix Alcohol and River Use
- No Disposable Containers on the river
- Watch Out For Your Dog & Use Caution along River Edge
- Carry A First Aid Kit And Know How To Use It.
Grilling
Statistics (NFPA) shows July is the peak month for grilling fires. Roughly 9,600 home grill fires were reported per year and all types of grills pose a risk for fires and burn injuries.
- Position away from siding, deck railing, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
- Keep children and pets away from the grill area and never leave your grill unattended.
- Keep clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
- If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not attempt to move the grill.
Wildlife
It’s common to see moose, bear, deer, elk, fox, raptors, and other wildlife while around town. Colorado Parks & Wildlife indicated that the most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave the animals alone. Keep your distance and do not approach animals – help keep wildlife wild! In addition, bears have opened vehicle doors to access food, even the smallest amounts, and can do considerable damage if trapped inside. A good practice is to lock all doors and ensure no food is left in the vehicle.
Be Visible
When it gets dark, motorists have a harder time seeing you. Whether you’re traveling by car, bike or on foot, follow the rules of the road so that everyone makes it home safely. In general, bring a flashlight or headlamp, wear reflective gear, and avoid dark clothing, use caution in crosswalks and do not dart across streets/alleys, eliminate distractions such as earbuds, texting and cellphones while leaving the venue, and assume you can’t be seen by others.
In addition, bikers should use front and back lights, don reflective gear and always wear a helmet. If traveling the Core Trail, ride with caution and anticipate heavy use over the holiday.
Be Alert
While Steamboat Springs enjoys a small-town vibe, please be alert at all times, use common sense and if you see something that’s not quite right, say something.
The City of Steamboat Springs would like to thank residents and guests for their cooperation and wishes everyone a safe and wonderful Fourth of July celebration. See www.steamboatchamber.com for July 4th event details.
Here are a few pictures from past 4th of July celebrations, just for fun.
