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A firecracker Fourth in Eagle County

Daily staff reportnewsroom@vaildaily.comVail, CO Colorado
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VAIL, Colorado -There’s nothing that says “small town America” better than a Fourth of July celebration.For folks in Vail as well as in Eagle and Gypsum, the Independence Day holiday brings back popular, free family fun.

Vail’s event-filled Fourth of July celebration, Vail America Days, takes place today beginning with the parade at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “America the Beautiful” and will set the tone for the rest of the day’s celebrations featuring a patriotic concert, Vail Farmers’ Market and a fireworks display. The parade starts at Golden Peak, then continues west to Hanson Ranch Road, north on Bridge Street, west on Gore Creek Drive, north across the International Bridge, west along Meadow Drive and finally weaves through the Lionshead Mall to the finish. Fourth of July celebrations continue with the Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show in Vail Village from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., plus free street entertainment in Lionshead following the parade. At 2 p.m., the annual patriotic concert performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and presented by Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Vail Valley Foundation will take place at the Ford Amphitheater. Lawn seats are free on a first-come, first-served basis on July 4 at the Ford Amphitheater box office. Tickets for the pavilion are $15 and available to walk-up customers only at the Ford Amphitheater box office beginning at 8 a.m. on July 1. A fireworks display is planned for approximately 9:45 p.m. at Golden Peak, conditions permitting.

Beaver Creek celebrates Independence Day in the mountains with two free performances on the back lawn next to the Centennial Express Lift. Guests will enjoy performances by the Surf City All Stars, a Beach Boys cover band, and Parrot Beach, a Jimmy Buffet cover band. Bring the whole family and enjoy the outdoors with live music, picnic delights and of course fireworks for an evening of stars, stripes and fun.The Surf City All Stars take the outdoor stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday and the Parrot Beach concert begins at 7:45 p.m. A fireworks display over Beaver Creek Mountain follows at 9:15 p.m. All performances take place on the Beaver Creek back lawn, next to the base of the Centennial Express Lift. The 18th annual Beano’s Cabin Fourth of July Clam Bake and Barbecue takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy a buffet of seafood and barbecue fare plus a variety of salads and desserts. Mac and cheese and chicken fingers will be offered for the little ones. Live music and lawn games are offered for kids and adults. Cost is $55 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-12 and kids 5 and under dine for free. Reservations are required. Call 970-754-3463.



Bike ParadeKids will get to show off their American pedal power in Eagle’s annual Fourth of July bike parade. Participants leave Brush Creek Park at 8:30 a.m. and head for Eagle Town Park. Kids should get there by 8:15 a.m. with their decorated bikes ready.Once they arrive at the town park, games and treats await. Look for the return of the popular pie-eating event as well as other traditional contests. When the fun is all over, the kids will enjoy frolicking in a water spray compliments of the Eagle Fire Department.Fireworks showThe Eagle-Gypsum fireworks display is slated for 10 p.m. – or as soon as it’s dark – Sunday, July 4. The show will be launched from the Eagle County Fairgrounds and will be visible from locations throughout town.”There will be 22 minutes of non-stop fireworks,” said Jon Asper, chief of the Greater Eagle Fire Protection District.For this year’s Eagle-Gypsum display, Asper said the two towns kicked in $10,000 each and partnered with the county, which supplies the land and personnel.”I can’t stress enough how many people are involved and how coordinated this event is,” he said. “I hope it goes well,” he joked, “because if anything goes wrong they blame me.”Carol Mulson, the Eagle fire district marshal, is reminding people that the county is taking a zero-tolerance policy on illegal fireworks this year so enjoy the show that’s planned by professionals and forgo shooting off your own firecrackers.


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