Fireworks, shows, concerts, contests and patriotic displays cap the weekend lineup
Trevor Phipps
Now that coronavirus pandemic restrictions have ended locally, events for Independence Day and the entire weekend are back in full swing.
This year, July 4th falls on a Sunday which makes for a weekend packed with fun stuff to do.
Many of the holiday festivities start on the Friday before the holiday and some go until Monday, July 5. And, on Sunday there are so many events to choose from across the Ute Pass region that it would be difficult to attend them all.
In Southern Teller, the festivities start on Friday with their special Gold Camp celebration. This year Victor and Cripple Creek have teamed up, and there will be a slew of events over the weekend in both cities.
Cripple Creek and Victor Holiday Weekend Events
On Friday, the holiday weekend starts with a Patriotic Poker 5K Run/Walk that will be held at Cripple Creek’s Mountain View Adventure Park. Check-in for the event starts at 9 a.m. and the race starts at 9:30 a.m. with an award ceremony at 11 a.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be more events in the two cities all day long. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Aspen Mine Center will be hosting a sidewalk sale with an indoor and outdoor market on both days. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Heritage Center will be having a Foundations of Freedom walk through, an art show and it will offer education of the American Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Also, during the weekend, the District Museum will feature a carnival with games and prizes. In addition, donkeys and food vendors set up in their parking lot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the Parks and Recreation building they will showcase archery classes and open shooting times throughout both days. Donkeys will also will hang out at the Outlaws and Lawmen Museum where tours of the museum will also be given.
At 9:30 a.m. the Mountain View Adventure Park will be hosting a nine-hole Patriotic Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday and the park will be open for recreational activities on Sunday. At the city’s Memorial Park there will be family games and activities as well as hamburgers and hot dogs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the City Hall Pocket Park, there will be a beer garden, food vendors, donkeys and music from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In Victor on Saturday and Sunday there will be an exhibition from the Ute Trail Muzzleloaders from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and more events around town. Starting at 11 a.m. the Victor Elks Lodge will be hosting a porch barbecue until their food is gone. And then at 1 p.m. they will be hosting a patriotic shoot on Saturday only.
The Lowell Thomas Museum will be hosting cemetery tours throughout both days and at Wallace Park kids’ games will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., live music will be held at Victor’s Plaza on Saturday.
On Sunday at the end of all the festivities the city will unveil its famous fireworks display. At around 9:30 p.m. or 20 minutes after dark, the area’s longest fireworks display will be shot from the south side of the city. Therefore, people will be able to see fireworks from pretty much anywhere in town. This has become one of the best fireworks displays in southern Colorado.
Woodland Park Events
In Woodland Park, some holiday events also start on Saturday. At the city library’s Rotary Terrace Woodland Park Community Singers will be singing Patriotic Songs starting at 2 p.m. Also on Saturday, the Dinosaur Resource Center will host its annual craft show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday is when the holiday events really kick off in the City Above The Clouds. Starting at 9 a.m. the city will host its famous celebration for the Independence Day at Memorial Park.
“The Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration features: kid activities, a food court, live music and performers, artists, crafters, a beer garden, fire engine rides, the flag raising, while the Wind Symphony performs and much, much more,” event organizer Gayle Gross said.
Once the celebration ends at 3 p.m., people can then make their way over to a rock ‘n’ roll concert at the Ute Pass Cultural Center’s Pavilion. Starting at 3:30 p.m. people can enjoy live music at the Pavilion starting with MissFire and a Bob Seger tribute band called “Still the Same.” The Sisters of Rock will then perform classic rock hits from famous female artists to close the show out.
Also, this year, the Ute Pass Historical Society’s annual cemetery crawl makes its way back to the city. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. tours of the Woodland Park Cemetery are scheduled for those interested in learning about the city’s rich history.
The Charis Bible College will also host a special free live performance for Independence Day. The doors open at 1:30 p.m. and just prior to the musical, at 2:30, the sheriff’s department will present color guard for the flag. The “In God We Trust” show will then start at 3 p.m. Events at Charis continue from July 5-9 as they host their annual Summer Family Bible Conference.
On July 5, the annual Symphony Above the Clouds will return to the Woodland Park Middle School this year, but with a new lineup of performers. Since the Colorado Springs Philharmonic is not performing anywhere this year due to contract disputes with the union, the event will have all local performers. The Cari Dell Trio, the Swing Factory, and the Woodland Park Wind Symphony instead will emerge as the main performers, starting at 5 p.m.
Down the Pass
Green Mountain Falls, meanwhile, will bustle with their annual Green Box Arts Festival. This is a several-week long festival, capped by ballet, theater, musical displays, block parties, guided hikes and a variety of workshops. The festival on July 4th kicks into high gear with a Block Party at the Green Box Farm Stand (next to The Pantry restaurant), starting at 7 p.m.
The highlight band is Collective Groves, forged from the timeless horn-powered grooves of the golden age of soul and many contemporary beats. This band is comprised of some of southern Colorado’s top musicians, and features dance tunes from the 60s to modern day, including Bruno Mars, The Temptations, Chicago, Daft Punk, Michael Jackson, Prince and much more. On July 3, the festival offers one of its lighter moments, with the Pooch Parade at 1:30 p.m. In addition, a Mayor’s Forum, will occur the same day at the Church in the Wildwood from noon to 1 p.m. For more information about the festival, visit greenboxarts.org.
