Celebrate the 4th of July: The Breckenridge Way

You’ve never seen a 4th of July celebration until you’ve seen the one in Breckenridge, Colorado.

You might think that all small town celebrations are the same. Wrong. Breckenridge goes all out for the 4th of July. Celebrating in its own inimitable way, Breckenridge beckons you with a variety of activities.

First,, there’s the Independence 10K Trail Run. Starting and finishing at Carter Park, this race offers some of the best views of the Breckenridge area with ample time for the participants to join the rest of festivities. If you’re not up to running, you can check out the 4th of July Garden Party at the Barney Ford Museum. With brunch on the lawn, you’ll have a ringside seat for the start of the parade.

And, what a start it is. The parade begins with the Firecracker 50 mile bicycle race. Cheer the hundreds of cyclists on as they begin a bicycle race that climbs more than 12,000 vertical feet. The parade itself, though, is what a 4th of July parade should be. With antique fire trucks, floats, kids on decorated bicycles and even a family reunion group or two, everyone has a great time celebrating a march down Main Street.

After the parade has finished, the kids have their chance to join the Red, White and Blue Fire Departments in water fights on Main Street. Kids’ games and inflatables are available all during the day in the Blue River Plaza.

If you still have some energy, you can head to the north end of town to the Art Festival, featuring local and regional artists. But what is a celebration in Breckenridge without music? There’s a free concert in the afternoon at the Riverwalk Center, featuring a variety of music that changes each year. The National Repertory Orchestra takes the stage later in the day for a concert of traditional patriotic music.

But, really, what better way is there to finish a 4th of July celebration than with fireworks? Weather permitting, Breckenridge lights up the summer skies with a display you’ll long remember.

All in all, small town celebration, big time fun.