Back by popular demand — some of the free things to do to celebrate Independence Day, 2010! As usual, we won’t even scratch the surface of the hundreds of free celebrations going on around the state, but here’s a sampling for your independent spirits to enjoy. All events are on July 4 unless stated otherwise.

Avon – SALUTE TO THE USA FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
07/03/2010 – 5:00 p.m.
Harry A. Nottingham Park
Music, food vendors, and a beer garden. A FREE Family Zone will offer carnival games, inflatable jumping toys, face painting, clowns and a special children’s instrument petting zoo. The Family Zone opens at 5:30 p.m. and continue until the fireworks begin at 9:45 p.m.  970-748-4060

Boulder - READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
07/03/2010 – 6:30 p.m.
University of Colorado, Boulder on the Green in front of the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival invites the public to a free reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Denver - CHEESMAN PARK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PARADE begins at 10:00 a.m.
East side of Cheesman Park at The Pavilion (East 9th and High Street)
Enjoy the balloon artist, the caricature artist, a marching band and more.  Children are to be accompanied by adults and should arrive by 9:00 AM to decorate their bikes or wagons. Also, enjoy face painting, a meet and greet with Denver policemen on horseback and with Denver firemen. For more information call Council Woman Jeanne Robb at (303 377-1807).

Estes Park
Pancake breakfast, car show, horse show and fireworks.

Frisco - FRISCO’S FANTASTIC FOURTH OF JULY

Start the day with the Kids Fishing Derby, cheer on the Main Street parade, watch a concert in the park or at the marina, and

end with the grand finale, the Fabulous Fireworks over Frisco Bay Marina on Dillon Reservoir.

800-424-1554

La Veta – 35TH ANNUAL ART IN THE PARK
7/3 – 7/4/2010
La Veta Town Park
Original handcrafted fine art, crafts, jewelry, apparel, paintings, ceramics, glass, wood, more. Rodeo, parade, barbecue and live music.  719-742-3074

Saturday, September 26, 2009

They’re billing it as the “Celebration of the Century” and residents of the Uncompahgre Valley — including Montrose, Olathe, and Delta — are well aware of the impact made in the 100 years since a 6 mile tunnel was dug through hard rock allowing some of the water from the Gunnison River to “escape” the Black Canyon and flow into the fertile but extremely dry valley. 

Come join the fun in Montrose with a Turn-of-the-Century Parade down Main Street, special displays by blacksmiths, boot makers, and other trades from 100 years ago, enjoy horseshoe, tug-og-war, and pie-eating events, or check out a demonstration with mules and draft horses digging a canal.

There will be a re-enactment of the 1909 Tunnel Opening Celebration which featured President William Howard Taft ringing a bell (and others ringing bells across the valley), plus a “Grand Pyrotechnical Display” (now generally known as a “Fireworks Display”).

In addition, both Black Canyon National Park and Ridgway State Park are offering free admission on this special Saturday.  And if all this isn’t enough to get you to visit Montrose, there is also the Black Canyon Car Club Car Show in town (Centennial Plaza downtown), and a Volunteer Fair at the Library. 

More history on the Gunnison Tunnel can be found here.

July 4, 2009
Isn’t this summer flying by! It’s time once again to think about how we’ll celebrate our nation’s birthday. There are hardly any towns in Colorado that don’t have some sort of festivities for Independence Day 2009, so I’ll just give you a sampling of choices.

Arvada - Fourth of July Festival - car show, live music, amusements, food and  fireworks display.  Events begin at 3:00 PM at the Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex on W. 58 th Ave. at Oak St. just west of Kipling (parking lot opens at 2:00 pm).  Family-friendly events include:
· “Hot Times, Kool Cars” classic car show
· The KOOL Cats, 17th Avenue Allstars and the Aquasonics on stage
· A Kid’s Park, with bounce houses, caterpillar crawl, face painting, sports games
· Child identification DNA Kit
· Fire truck and emergency vehicle display

Boulder - Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast - University of Colorado Campus - Folsom Stadium
8:00 PM – Gates Open; Master of ceremonies and welcome; Skip-It’s jump rope team
8:30 PM – City Open Space & Mountain Parks sing-along
8:45 PM –  Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
9:15 PM – Boulder’s 150th Birthday Celebration
9:30 PM – Fireworks display

Estes Park - Pancake breakfast, car show, horse show and fireworks - 800-44-ESTES

Frazer - 4th of July Celebration & Run for Independence - Fireworks, rodeo, live music, 5-mile Run for Independence, barbecue, carnival games, pancake breakfast and more.  Fraser Sports Complex -  800-903-7275

Golden - Golden Lions July 4th Community Festival @ Lions Park, 10th and Maple St. Food, beverages, entertainment, live bands, fireworks show around 9:30 PM. The Golden Lions Club is giving back to the community again this year with FREE RIDES for all the kids, including a trackless train ride.  www.GoldenLionsClub.org

Granby - Agate Ave., Main Street
10:30 AM  - Biggest Small Town Parade in Colorado
11:30 AM –  BBQ
7:00 PM – BBQ
800-552-6557

Highlands Ranch - Enjoy an old fashioned Fourth of July at the Highlands Ranch Community Association’s celebration at the Town Center, 9288 Dorchester Street, from 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM. Independence Day 5K Run/Walk and the July 4th Parade. Live music, rides for the kids, a hot dog eating contest, food and merchandise vendors, and fireworks after dark.  303-791-2500

Niwot - 4th of July Parade Marches On - The parade starts at 11 AM. It will be preceded by a pancake breakfast at the Niwot Market in Cottonwood Square

Ouray - Parades, kids’ games, fireworks and more - Main Street -  970-325-4746

Salida - Historic downtown Salida has a daytime parade, food, fun and nighttime fireworks extravaganza, all in Riverside Park (F Street).   719-539-2068

Steamboat Springs – Cowboy’s Roundup Days & 4th of July Celebration - downtown parade, fireworks, cattle drive through town and rodeos.  7/3 through 7/5/2009.   877-754-2269

May 25, 2009
Bolder Boulder 10K (Boulder)

May 31, 2009
The Road to Victory Bicycle Race (Boulder)

June 5 – 7, 2009
Teva Mountain Games (Vail)

No, that headline didn’t say “Bare Naked Tour.”
These are family events, so don’t get so worked up.

If you don’t already know, Bear Naked is a line of yummy granola and yogurt snacks.  A spokesperson assured me that no Bears were harmed in the making of these products.  You can enjoy some free samples of Bear Naked’s all-natural granola and granola yogurt parfaits at each of these events, plus others scheduled in Colorado this summer.  For a complete list that is updated often to include new events, visit blog.bearnaked.com.

Bear Naked tour ambassadors will be on hand at the Bear Naked branded tents at these events to discuss different aspects of nutrition and how to fuel your body with healthy snacks.

At the Teva games, Bear Naked will also set up the Bear Naked Adventure Village, an interactive, family-friendly area where everyone can experience the excitement of the Games by jumping in a kay tank, scaling a pop-up climbing wall or partaking in many other sports showcased at the Games.

Please:  no streaking.  Bare Naked visitors to the Bear Naked tent will not be served free samples.

Saturday, May 2, 2009
8 AM to 3 PM 

Chipeta was the wife of Chief Ouray, and played an important role along with Ouray in negotiating treaties between the Utes and other Western tribes with the United States.  Both traveled to Washington DC in a diplomatic role.

Special events will be going on all day in and around the Ute Indian Museum to honor the memory of Chipeta.

8 AM – blessing at Chipeta & Chief John McCook gravesite

9 AM – “Walk to Remember” from Holly Park to the museum (3 miles)

11 AM – Program on the sweat lodge by Jim Brafford, Lakota Sioux

1 PM – Film: “Ute Bear Dance” (Southern Ute Tribe) with Q&A moderated by Roland McCook (Uncompahgre Ute)

2 PM – Film: “Sun Calendars of the Ancient Puebloans” – rock art and ancient pueblos in the vicinity of Mancos Canyon

In addition, there will be an art show, book signing of “Searching for Chipeta”, plus a silent auction, Indian vendors, beaded bracelet-making for children, flute playing, and fry bread available for purchase.   Call the museum at (970) 249-3098 for more details.

photo credit:

First People of America and Canada : Chief Ouray and Chipeta

Child friendly site about American and Canadian Indians. 1400+ legends, 400+ agreements and treaties, 10,000+ pictures, free clipart, Pueblo pottery, American Indian jewelry, Native American Flutes and more.

April 4, 2009
10 AM – 4 PM
Robby Ferrufino Park, 74th Ave. & Carr Dr. in Arvada

I’ve never managed to get a kite off the ground for more than 2 seconds, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy watching kites soaring in the skies as much as the next person!  Whether you are an expert with kites or a total klutz like me, the Arvada Kite Festival (“Taking us wherever the wind blows!” — I love that!) will likely take your breath away with its celebration of National Kite Month.

Stay all day for prize drawings and special activities including:

* Posting of the Colors – Boy Scout Troup #167 at 10:00 AM
* Brass Band from Noon to 1:00 PM
* Bernard & Sullivan Art Adventure for children
* Kite contests at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM - Trophies awarded!
* Foothills Kite Club flying demonstrations
* Two jumping castles
* Face painting
* Balloon animals
* Caricaturist and portrait artists

Oh, and did you know:

* The exact date and origin of the kite is not known but it is believed that they were flown in China more than two thousand years ago.

* A kite was used to lay the first line across the gorge and make a bridge across the Niagara River possible

* Years of kite flying directly led the Wright Brothers to the invention of the airplane

November 22, 2008 

Dear Denver,
Happy Birthday.
You don’t look a day over 145!

Here are some fun ways to celebrate Denver’s birthday:

Free admission to Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado History Museum, and Museum of Contemporary Art — plus, the first two are serving birthday cake at noon.

Free movie for the kids at Ellie Caulkins Opera House at 11 AM.

Free performance of “Girls Only” at 2 PM at the Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.  Tickets will be distributed starting at noon.

Free author event “A Dozen on Denver: Stories to celebrate the city at 150” at Tattered Cover (Colfax) at 2 PM.

For more information, visit www.denver150.com or www.denverartsweek.com

So dear Denver, place of my birth, may I wish you a very happy birthday and hopes for another great 150 years!

P.S.  To celebrate Denver’s birthday, perhaps a visit to the state capitol building might be in order.

October 9, 2008
Civic Center Park

Try to imagine…Peace.  October 9 is John Lennon’s birthday, and his iconic song “Imagine” seems to become even more relevant as time passes.  Celebrate Peace by attending the Imagine Peace Paint-In.   You can do some painting, or simply observe the artists and listen to music (featuring songs by John Lennon and songs about Peace, of course).   Perhaps you’ll wish to donate to this special event — 100% of  profits will go to local organizations:  Student Peace Alliance, the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Colorado Campaign for the Dept of Peace, and the Metro Denver Gang Coalition.

Imagine…

Peace organizations operating on local, national and international levels… groups targeting domestic violence, gang violence, and international war… all represented in one place, educating and accepting donations.

Imagine…

A day of art, music and inspiration that you’ll never forget… free to all, on John Lennon’s birthday.

This event is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace e-book, projects, and website.