From downtown parades, bullfighting to fireworks bursting in the night sky, the Four Corners is celebrating America’s Independence Day on its special 250th year, and the forthcoming holiday weekend brings no shortage of things to do.
Eager to race those rubber duckies in Silverton’s high-country or want to try the times in Durango’s pie-eating contest? Here’s a look at events occurring July 2-5 in Southwest Colorado and Farmington, N.M., and all that Fourth of July weekend has to offer:
Paint a Patriotic Mural, Hermosa Cafe, 738 Main Ave. Stop by to paint huge canvas in patriotic colors any time during the weekend.
Fort Lewis Community Concert, 5:30-7 p.m., Buckley Park, 1250 Main Ave.
Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest, 4-5 p.m., Durango Beer & Ice Co., 3000 Main Ave.
VFW Ice Cream Social, 5-7 p.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave.
First Friday Art Walk, 5-8 p.m., in downtown Durango, grab a map for assorted, participating venues at 1135 Main Ave.
Animus on the Animas, 5-9 p.m., under the Jack Dempsey Mural, E. 10th St. $20 ages 8 and older. Showcases amateur, sanctioned boxing.
Civic Winds Jazz Orchestra Concert and Dancing, 6:30 p.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave. Free. Jazz, funk, swing, big band classics. Details: Visit https://www.southwestcivicwinds.org.
Red, White & Pro Bull Fights, 7 p.m., La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Tickets $35 and up.
Annual 4th of July All American Breakfast, 7:30-10:30 a.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave. Presale, until July 1: Adults $17, youths 6-12 $10, children 5 and younger free, vets and first responders $10. After July 1: Adults $20, youths 6-12 $12, children 5 and younger free, vets and first responders $12. Presented by the Rotary Clubs of Durango. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits/gravy, orange juice, local coffee. Buy at www.durangorotarybreakfast.org, via QR code on posters around town or from a local Rotary member.
4th of July River Parade, 8:30 a.m., Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours, 50 Animas View Drive. $99 adults, $79 youths. Details: Visit https://tinyurl.com/2mmh438r, call 247-4789 or email [email protected].
Freedom 5K, 9 a.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave. Run, walk or stroll Animas River Trail. Registration at 8:15 a.m.
Southwest Civic Winds Concert – An American Overture, 9 a.m., Rotary Park, 1565 East Second Ave. Free. Band performs familiar songs celebrating America’s 250th birthday and Colorado’s 150th anniversary. Details: Visit https://www.southwestcivicwinds.org.
DEVO Bikes & Barbecue, noon-4 p.m., Buckley Park, 1250 Main Ave.
4th of July Halving Competition, 12:30 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. Free.
Children’s Parade Decorating, 1-3:30 p.m., Buckley Park, 1250 Main Ave. Craft supplies available for costumes and bikes.
DEVO Kids’ Bike Race, 1:50 p.m., Buckley Park to 1200 Block of Main Ave., registration at 12:30 p.m.
4th of July Watermelon Eating Competition, 2 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. Free.
Children’s Parade, 3 p.m., Buckley Park, 1250 Main Ave.
Bad Goat BBQ with Rotating DJs, 3-10 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. Free.
We the People! Parade, 4:30-5:15 p.m., Main Avenue, line up early on Main for the annual July Fourth community parade.
Street Dance, 5-10 p.m., Buckley Park and Main Avenue. Features Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Free admission. Dinner, food court and drinks available for purchase.
Live Music: The Rev, 6-9 p.m., The Union Social House, 3062 Main Ave.
Live Music: Doc Wesson, 6-9 p.m., 11th Street Station, 1101 Main Ave. Free.
Liberty Days Art Festival, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Buckley Park, 1250 Main Ave. Celebration of community art.
America’s Pot Luck, 4 p.m., Fort Lewis Mesa Library, 11274 Highway 140, Hesperus.
Firecracker 5K & 2K, 8 a.m., Eagle Park, registration required.
Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast, 7-10 a.m., Lion’s Hall on Church Street.
Parade, 10 a.m. to noon, Mill Street.
James Serrano Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, Noon to 5 p.m., Eagle Park.
Live Music and Vendors, Noon to 3 p.m., Eagle Park.
Fishing at LePlatt’s Pond, 3-7 p.m., LePlatt’s Pond, 311A County Road 501.
Live Music, 7 p.m., Joe Stephenson Park.
Fireworks, 9 p.m., Joe Stephenson Park.
July Fourth Day 1 Preshow, 3-9 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave.
Volleyball Tourney, 3-7 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave. $50 per team, 4-on-4 format, two games to 15 and third game to 11. Pairs may join; registration closes 2:30 p.m.
Live Bands, 5:30-10 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave. Opening band and Moonshine Mafia band to close show.
All-Day Outdoor Festivities, noon-11 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave. Kids’ zone, putt-putt, beer garden, food vendors, water table area and more.
Co-Ed Kickball Tourney, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Rotary Baseball Fields, Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave. 9 vs. 9, $50 for existing kickball league teams; $75 for new teams. To register, call 564-4080.
Camino Cowboys music, noon-1:30 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Corn Hole Tourney, 1 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Food Eating Contest, 1:30 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Bumz Arodn All-American Cars & Bash, 3-7 p.m., Montezuma Avenue and Mildred Road. Games and prizes. Classes: Motorcycles, tuner, modern muscle, rat rod, truck, low rider, classic car, Volkswagen, street rod. $15 to register; accepting donations for Good Sam’s Food Pantry.
Camino Cowboys & the 14ers, 4-6 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
American Legion Fireworks and Food Trucks, starts 4 p.m., 320 N. Harrison St.
Winston Creek band, 6:30-8 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Zander Rodriguez music, 8:30 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Fireworks Show, 9-9:30 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave..
Zander Rodriguez music, 9:30-11 p.m., Parque de Vida, 425 Roger Smith Ave.
Flag Dedication Ceremony, 4:30 p.m., Citizens Bank Main Branch, 500 W. Broadway. Citizens Bank dedicates a newly installed 60-foot-tall flagpole honoring veterans, first responders and teachers of the Four Corners. Light refreshments and popcorn will be served.
Firecracker Fun Festival, 1-4 p.m., Bisti Bay Water Park, 1701 N. Dustin Ave. Water games, activities and prizes. $6 per person. Admission to the pool gets participants access to festival.
Gem & Mineral Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., McGee Park, 41 Road 5568. Gemstones, jewelry, mineral specimens, tools, books, family activities and door prizes.
Fireworks Display, 9:25 p.m., Sullivan Hill, west of 13th Street and College Boulevard. Display choreographed to a soundtrack of patriotic hits; simulcast on KWYK 94.9 FM. Tune into 94.9 FM early for updates about the display. Popular viewing areas: San Juan College, Farmington Public Library and the Farmington Museum and Visitor Center.
Gem & Mineral Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., McGee Park, 41 Road 5568.
Party in the Park, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Brookside Park, 1901 N. Dustin Ave. Vendors, live entertainment and a skateboard competition.
Ice Cream Social, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., E3 Children’s Museum, 302 N. Orchard Ave.
Summer Terrace Series, 6-7:30 p.m., Farmington Museum & Visitor Center, 3041 E. Main St. Free live music featuring Kissmah Brass Band.
Freedom Days Electric Light Parade, 9 p.m., downtown Main Street. Illuminated floats and patriotic entries.
Gem & Mineral Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., McGee Park, 41 Road 5568.
July Fourth Parade, 10 a.m., Hot Springs Boulevard.
Party in the Park, begins 10 a.m., Yamaguchi Park, 684 S. Fifth St. Cake, beer, wine, food, games, contests, adventure zone, dunk tank, arts and crafts, scavenger hunt, heritage tents, pickleball and more.
Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo, 2 p.m., Archuleta County Fairgrounds, 344 U.S. Highway 84. 76th anniversary of Red Ryder Roundup.
Freedom Float, 1 p.m., San Juan River and through downtown. Grab a tube, dress in red, white and blue and join the float.
Community Band Concert, 2 p.m. Concert of patriotic favorites performed by the community band.
Hot Air Balloon Glow, dusk, Yamaguchi Park, 684 S. Fifth St. Hot air balloons light up the evening at Yamaguchi Park.
Live Music and Entertainment, 5-11 p.m., Ute Mountain Casino Hotel, 3 Weminuche Drive. Free. Music from Miracle Spotted Bear and Antoine X.
Food, Kids’ Games, Fireworks and More, 2 p.m.-1 a.m., Ute Mountain Casino Hotel, 3 Weminuche Drive. George Strait Tribute Band, fireworks at dusk and Young Guns band to follow.
70th Annual Pick-n-Hoe Parade, 9 a.m., Weber Park, 403 W. Seventh St., going from the Dove Creek Airport to Weber. Free entries at airport, 8:30 a.m.
Daylong Pick-n-Hoe Event, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Weber Park, 403 W. Seventh St. Games, cornhole tournament, pig chases, barbecue, live music. Fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
Silverton Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Anesi Park, 1239 Blair St.
Live Music at The Coffee Bear, 10 a.m.-noon, 1309 Greene St.
Live Music at Dera Deli, noon-3 p.m., 1124 Greene St. Tyler Simmons performs as the deli celebrates its first anniversary.
First Friday Art Walk, 4-7 p.m., Blair and Greene streets. Theme: “Christmas in July.”
Blue Ribbon 5K Registration and Live Music, 5 p.m., Anesi Park, 1239 Blair St. Early registration with music and entertainment.
Live Music at Alpine Tavern, 8-10 p.m., 1159 Greene St. James Bailey performs.
Pancake Breakfast, 7-10 a.m., Anesi Park, 1239 Blair St. Donation-based breakfast featuring pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, orange juice.
Blue Ribbon 5K and 10K Fun Run, 8 a.m., Memorial Park, 1800-1874 Greene St. Free.
Fourth of July Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown Silverton. Parade lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. at the San Juan County Courthouse.
Jet Flyover, 11 a.m. (subject to change).
Games, Vendors and Family Picnic, after the parade, Memorial Park. Includes rhubarb pie sales, ducky derby activities and mechanical bull rides.
Annual Ducky Derby Launch, 2 p.m., Memorial Park/Cement Creek. Ducks available for purchase at the visitor center in advance or in Memorial Park after the parade.
Live Music, 2-4 p.m., Anesi Park, 1239 Blair St. SideFX Band performs.
Live Music at Dera Deli, 6-9 p.m., 1124 Greene St. Shane Tippon performs on the patio.
Block Party, 6-9 p.m., Anesi Park, 12th and Blair streets. Live music by the Hugh Phillips Band, food and family activities.