{"id":137150,"date":"2026-07-01T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fourth-of-july-celebrations-to-fill-four-corners-with-parades-music-and-fireworks\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T16:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T22:30:10","slug":"fourth-of-july-celebrations-to-fill-four-corners-with-parades-music-and-fireworks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fourth-of-july-celebrations-to-fill-four-corners-with-parades-music-and-fireworks\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourth of July celebrations to fill Four Corners with parades, music and fireworks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Fourth
Fourth of July events are planned this week in communities across the Four Corners.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Independence Day returns this week to communities across the Four Corners as the nation prepares to celebrate its momentous 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n

Towns and cities will host long-standing traditions unique to their areas. Cortez will host its Parque de Vida festival and a fireworks show; Silverton will put on its mountain-town parade; Durango will host a parade, live music and community party; and Farmington will host its multiday Freedom Days bash, complete with games, a parade, fireworks and more.<\/p>\n

\"Fireworks
Fireworks in Parque de Vida at a past Cortez Fourth of July celebration. (The Journal file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Thousands of visitors and residents are expected to fill parks and downtown centers across Southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Fireworks are planned in some areas, while others have scaled back or canceled displays because of wildfire concerns.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a roundup of Fourth of July events leading up to and through the holiday weekend:<\/p>\n

Silverton\u2019s popular escape has more music this year<\/div>\n

Whether arriving by car or aboard the historic train, visitors to Silverton will find a packed schedule Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n

Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce planned its annual, old-fashioned Fourth of July parade, block parties, family activities and live musical performances.<\/p>\n

\"A
A street parade on July 4, 2024, in Silverton. (Shane Benjamin\/Durango Herald file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cWe really focus on family-friendly events, but this year we have more live music than we\u2019ve had in the past,\u201d said DeAnne Gallegos, executive director of the chamber of commerce. \u201cSo, you could choose an intimate patio seat with your family or a block party.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brochure was edited several times to add last-minute band entries. The 9:30 p.m. firework show is typically regarded as the \u201cbiggest and best\u201d on the Western Slope, but that was canceled Monday as a result of the fire danger.<\/p>\n

Gallegos said regardless of fireworks, the town is fully booked each year because the mile-long main thoroughfare captures a picturesque summer moment in perfectly cool weather.<\/p>\n

With a staggered itinerary, guests can enjoy downtown activities moving from one event to the next.<\/p>\n

Saturday events run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a farmers market in Anesi Park, live music on Greene Street and an art walk from 4 to 7 p.m. on Blair and Greene streets. July Fourth festivities begin at 7 a.m. and continue through the day, including the Blue Ribbon 5K and 10K fun run, 10:30 a.m. parade start time, a jet flyover, family picnic in Memorial Park, games, classic cars, mechanical bull riding, live music throughout Anesi Park and more.<\/p>\n

The 2 p.m. launch of the annual Ducky Derby, a race of rubber ducks and Chamber of Commerce fundraiser, is located in Memorial Park.<\/p>\n

At dusk, Cortez shoots off signature fireworks<\/div>\n

The city of Cortez is set to light off fireworks at 9 p.m. Saturday, and the Parks and Recreation Department \u2013 in a collaboration with the Fundamental Needs Foundation \u2013 has put together two days worth of recreation events.<\/p>\n

\"A
A crowd sets up, waiting for the fireworks to begin at Parque de Vida celebration in Cortez. (Sam Green\/Special to The Journal file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

At 3 p.m. Friday, celebrations kick off with a pre-show: a volleyball tournament, beer garden for adults 21 and older, food, local vendors and retail \u2013 and all kinds of kids\u2019 games, including a play area that includes water activities on the Parque de Vida lawn at 425 Roger Smith Ave.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be having two bands play: the 14ers \u2013 local to Cortez \u2013 and Moonshine Mafia will close out the night on July 3,\u201d said Jordan Balfour, event director at Fundamental Needs.<\/p>\n

Friday is a fundraiser for the organization\u2019s Makerspace in Cortez, helping to support the shared workspace that lends as a launchpad for developing artists, entrepreneurs and students through hands-on learning experiences.<\/p>\n

July Fourth events begin at noon and include corn hole and kickball tournaments, food-eating contest, the BumzArodn All\u2011American Car Show, a kids\u2019 zone and live music up until the firework show led by city and Cortez Fire Protection District.<\/p>\n

\"Attendees
Attendees enjoy the car show in 2025 at the Cortez festivities on July 4. (Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fireworks
Fireworks light up the sky in Cortez during Independence Day celebration in 2025 at Parque de Vida. (Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The events will be concentrated toward the south end of Parque de Vida and Centennial parks. City public information officer Kelly Codner said families should bring chairs and blankets and can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks.<\/p>\n

Durango\u2019s dancing in the streets<\/div>\n

The city of Durango boasts about 30 events over four days, including a parade, dancing and arts and crafts fair.<\/p>\n

\"The
The 2025 Fourth of July Parade in downtown Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The city canceled its fireworks show months ago amid wildfire concerns, and is instead promoting a street dance as the main highlight.<\/p>\n

In partnership with KSUT Public Radio, the city is bringing in Grammy Award-winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band. After the 4:30 p.m. July Fourth parade on Main Avenue, attendees can make their way to Buckley Park for food, dancing and a beer garden until 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

The music starts at 5:30 p.m., with Dana Ariel and the Comin\u2019 Up Roses. At 7:30 p.m., Dirty Dozen Brass Band takes the stage.<\/p>\n

\"The
The 2025 Fourth of July Parade in downtown Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kids
Kids play in the water during the Durango Fourth of July Parade. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald file)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Food and drink vendors include Ska Brewing Co., Cairo Cafe, Tacos La Carranza, The Ice Cream Lady and others. Other activities include corn hole, face painting, henna tattoos and balloon animals.<\/p>\n

Farmington revels in four decades of July Fourth bashes<\/div>\n

A multiday celebration is planned in Farmington, as the city recognizes several anniversaries, including Freedom Days\u2019 40th, the nation\u2019s 250th and the city of Farmington\u2019s 125th.<\/p>\n

Farmington\u2019s Freedom Days celebration stretches through Sunday.<\/p>\n

Activities include the Friday fireworks display over Sullivan Hill at 9:25 p.m., with special choreography to a soundtrack of classic and current patriotic hits and\u00a0simulcast on KWYK 94.9 FM. The fireworks show, made possible by 40-year sponsor Citizens Bank, was a go as of Monday. Freedom Days organizers said it is subject to last-minute fire and safety reviews.<\/p>\n

\u201cForty years ago, the community got together and said we should do our fireworks on the third, because we wanted people to be able to do their own thing July Fourth,\u201d said Tonya Stinson, executive director of Visit Farmington.<\/p>\n

Other events featured games with prizes and tie-dye for the Thursday festival at Bisti Bay Water Park along with the annual weekend-long Gem and Mineral Show at McGee Park. Throughout July Fourth, events include the Electric Light Parade on Main Street, as well as an ice cream social and daytime \u201cParty in the Park\u201d at Brookside Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

awatson@the-journal.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"(Silverton
(Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"(Silverton
(Silverton Area Chamber of Commerce)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Communities to mark America\u2019s 250th with festivals, family activities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5736,5735],"tags":[1060,21,950,799,350,28,29,6419],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-137150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news","tag-arts-entertainment","tag-cortez","tag-durango","tag-farmington","tag-fire","tag-headlines","tag-newsletter","tag-tj-trueanthem"],"acf":[],"author_name":"Website Administrator","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137150"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137452,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137150\/revisions\/137452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137150"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=137150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}