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Silverton to light up the night

Town plans to launch nearly 3,000 Fourth of July fireworks

This year, Fourth of July celebrations in Silverton are going to be bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, said Gilbert Archuleta, fire chief of the Silverton-San Juan Fire & Rescue Authority.

“It’s considered the biggest firework show on the Western Slope,” he said.

“It’s going to run us about $31,000. The big thing I hope people take from it is that we’re so very fortunate we’re in America, and thank all the people in the armed forces,” Archuleta said.

“Second, I hope that when we get done, people will feel like it’s one of the best shows there is. Before, people from Florida and California have said it’s comparable to the fireworks show at Disney World.”

This year’s show is dedicated to Kim Demmare, a Silverton resident who has undergone nine surgeries in the last year after being struck by a shell at last year’s fireworks show, and he is still being treated for a head injury, Archuleta said.

“Kim will be there,” Archuleta said.

According to the Silverton Standard & Miner, two Air Force F-16s will fly over Silverton on the morning of the Fourth of July, coming in from the south between 11 and 11:10 a.m., right when the parade starts.

At night, the fire department plans to blast 1,200 individual shots, including 15 12-inch shells, 10 10-inch shells, one 16-inch shell and 28 finale boxes.

“That should give us a total of approximately 2,900 shots that will go off,” Archuleta said. “It’s going to be larger than any of the other shows we’ve done.”

In an attempt to prevent anyone from getting injured this year, all the shots will be pre-loaded, with 1,200 mortars, Archuleta said.

He expects the show to take no longer than 33 minutes; it will start at 9:30 p.m., after a full day of activities. The celebration will start with the Blue Ribbon Fun Run at 7:30 a.m.

“It will be spectacular, with stuff in the air all the time,” he said.

cmcallister@ durangoherald.com

Schedule of Events

Bayfield

Events will take place on July Fourth on Mill Street and in Joe Stephenson Park.

Saturday

Bayfield Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast, 7-10 a.m., Bayfield Lion’s Club.

Calvary Presbyterian Church Pie and Craft Sale, 8 a.m., Calvary Presbyterian Church.

Firecracker 5K Run & Family Walk, 8 a.m., Joe Stephenson Park, 385-4747, 884-9544.

Pet Parade, 9:45 a.m., Mill Street.

The Bayfield 4th of July Parade, 10 a.m., Mill Street.

Festivities in Joe Stephenson Park, after the parade.

The Serrano’s annual Horseshoe Tournament, noon, Eagle Park.

Anthem Volleyball coed 4 on 4, noon, Joe Stephenson Park, beisenbraun@bayfieldgov.org, 884-9544.

Parks and Recreation sixth annual Coed One-Pitch Softball Tournament, 1 p.m.

Firework show, dusk, Joe Stephenson Park.

Durango

For more information, visit www.downtowndurango.org/July-4th.

Saturday

All-American Pancake Breakfast, 7:30-11 a.m., $10/$5, Rotary Park.

Freedom 5K, 9 a.m., Rotary Park.

American Voices, public reading of the nation’s founding documents, 11 a.m.-noon, Buckley Park.

Family Fun in the Park, kids flea market, food, beverages, treats, face-painting, bouncy house, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Buckley Park.

Patrick Decker, classic rock, noon, Buckley Park.

Magi Nation, reggae band, 1 p.m., Buckley Park.

Misto the Magi Magic Act and Catch It Quick Juggler, 3 p.m., Buckley Park.

Mountaintop Pocket Pickers, bluegrass, 4 p.m., Buckley Park.

Family Barbecue, noon-4 p.m., Durango Elks Club, 901 East Second Ave.

Street Dance on Main featuring High Rollers, 5 p.m., 800 block of Main Ave.

The Stars and Stripes Parade, 6 p.m., Main Avenue.

Fort Lewis College Alumni third annual Fourth at the Fort, open to alumni and staff, 7:30-9:40 p.m., Rim Drive across from Kroeger Hall, www.fortlewis.edu/alumni.

Fireworks Show, 9:15 p.m., launched from Cemetery Hill west of downtown.

Vallecito Reservoir

Friday

The American Warrior 4th of July Power Games, benefiting The Wounded Warrior Project, weigh-in, 5-9 p.m., The Hideaway Grill, 18044 County Road 501, Bayfield, 884-2964.

The Pete Giuliani Band, 7 p.m., Lake House Bar & Grill, 17460 County Road 501, 884-9150, lakehousevallecito.com.

Fireworks, dusk, at the north end of Vallecito Lake.

Saturday

Vallecito Service League Craft Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Vallecito Lake Dam.

The American Warrior 4th of July Power Games, benefiting The Wounded Warrior Project, weigh-in, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; arm-wrestling tournament, 2 p.m., The Hideaway Grill, 18044 County Road 501, Bayfield, 884-2964.

Eric Kiefer, 6 p.m., Lake House Bar & Grill, 17460 County Road 501, 884-9150, lakehousevallecito.com.

Sunday

Vallecito Service League Craft Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Vallecito Lake Dam.

The American Warrior 4th of July Power Games, benefiting The Wounded Warrior Project, strict curl competition, 2 p.m., table curl competition, 6 p.m., The Hideaway Grill, 18044 County Road 501, Bayfield, 884-2964.

Purgatory

Saturday

Backcountry Experience Firecracker 5K & 10K, Purgatory Resort.

Silverton

Saturday

2K/5K/10K Blue Ribbon Fun Run, benefits for the Silverton Youth Center, 7:30 a.m., Memorial Park.

Fourth of July Parade and Water Fight, 10:30 a.m., loop on Greene Street and Blair Street.

International Rhubarb Festival and Silverton Brass Band Concert and kids events, after the parade and water fight, Memorial Park.

Ducky Derby, 2 p.m., on Cement Creek in Memorial Park.

Fireworks display, 9:30 p.m.

Live music, all day, Natalia’s 1912 Family Restaurant and Hungry Moose Bar & Grill.

Kids events, all day, Sugar Rush Candy Store.

Jul 2, 2015
Fourth of July Schedule of Events
Jul 1, 2015
Durango Fire reminds us to please participate legally


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