Breckenridge mountain biker with mountains in the background in greyscale

Independence Day Celebration

Name: Independence Day Celebration
Start: 2020-07-04T00:00
End: 2020-07-04T23:30
Location: Breckenridge Welcome Center

July 4, 2020

Every Independence Day Breckenridge comes alive with patriotism, parties and the annual Main Street Parade. It’s a day of celebration that includes athletic competitions, live music, art festivals, family activities and a few of our favorite small-town traditions. Finish the day with a performance by the National Repertory Orchestra that’s not to be missed!

All events are subject to change to comply with state and county public health orders. Check back for updates or sign-up to receive event-specific email updates.

Fireworks Prohibited

Colorado’s low humidity has its perks, but can also can create dry conditions. In January 2019, The Town of Breckenridge Town Council passed an indefinite ban on public and private fireworks, regardless of the current weather trends, to align with safe environmental practices. The Town of Breckenridge places the highest value on safety and thanks guests in advance for refraining from using fireworks within Breckenridge. Summit County officials and residents take wildfires very seriously; fireworks of any kind are prohibited within town limits.

2019 Schedule

People standing on rocks in the river at Breckenridge

July 3 - Kid's Strider Bike Race

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Kingdom Park Strider Bike Race

Now here’s a bike race for the little guys! “If your child can walk, your child can ride!” Join us for the fourth year of our Strider Race and watch your child compete on his/her no-pedal balance bike. Kids race in two courses around the Kingdom North Field softball field – a short course around the bases and a long course around the whole field. After the races, stay for music, medals, food and prizes for the top three racers of each category.

Register at the Recreation Center Front Desk, online, or at the race. The race starts promptly at 4:00pm so please be registered by 3:45pm. Payment is due in full at time of registration. Please complete the online Sports Waiver before the start of the race.

Strider bikes are not provided for the race. Need to rent a Strider? Please contact:

Elevation Ski & Bike, 970-453-2499
Rebel Sports in Frisco, 970-668-2759
Keystone Sports, 877-945-7386

Location: Kingdom Park at the Breckenridge Recreation Center
Fee: $6

Register

July 4 - 2020 Independence Day Celebration

7:00 am – Independence Day 10K Trail Run

This scenic 10k trail running race offers up some of the best views in the Breckenridge area, while finishing just in time to catch the Main Street parade and other festivities. This race is limited to 400 people. Register in advance to ensure your spot. Start and finish at Carter Park.

Register

9:00 am – Breckenridge 4th of July Garden Party

Join us at the annual Breckenridge Heritage Alliance Garden Party at the Barney Ford House Museum. Enjoy coffee, mimosas and breakfast spread as you watch the Breckenridge Fourth of July parade in style from the best view on Main Street. Call 970.453.9767 x 2 for pricing and more information.

Book Now

9:30 am Start – The Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike Race

Welcome to the 2019 Firecracker 50, presented by Rocky Mountain Underground! This mountain bike race launches the Breckenridge 4th of July Parade in front of thousands of spectators. Come cheer on riders as they embark on a 50-mile journey on the beautiful trails in and surrounding the Breckenridge area. Race will take place on Main Street starting at 9:30am.

Register

10:00 am – 11:30 am – Main Street Parade

The official parade will start at 10am with the Red, White and Blue Color Guard and the Minnesota marching band. The Firecracker 50 mountain bike race will lead off the parade at 9:30am & it will take 800+ riders ½ hour to get down Main Streets in waves. Following the parade will be the reading of the Declaration of Independence by George Washington (C.J. Muller) in the Blue River Plaza.

10:00 am – 6:00 pm – 37th Annual July Art Festival

The 36th Annual Breckenridge July Art Festival is annually ranked one of the top art shows in the United States. This established show will feature over 100 artists from around the country. Artists will present ceramics, mixed media, fiber, jewelry, painting, wood, glass, sculpture and much more! You won’t want to miss this fabulous summer weekend of art and mountain ambiance.

Location: Main Street Station at the corner of Main Street and South Park Ave. Free Admission.

Learn More

10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Family Fun Zone

Your kids will have a blast playing at the Blue River Plaza Fun Zone! Get ready to play all day in the bounce house, massive trampoline and water balls zone in Blue River Plaza.

Free Activities:

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Drum Circle
Try out your skills at drumming and join in on the circle to test your musical talents. Fun for the whole family!

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Kids Water Party
Kiddos can join the Red, White & Blue Fire Department in a water fight on Main Street. Free for kids to participate- bring the bathing suits or extra clothes to change into after. A hit every year and a great way to cool off!

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Free Pony Rides
On Main Street in front of the Blue River Plaza, compliments of the Far View Horse Rescue.

AND MORE!

Pay to Play:

Bounce House
Quad Trampoline
Tumble Bubble water balls
Face Painting (July 4 and 5)

11:00 am – 5:00 pm – Street Arts Festival: Spangled

An Independence Day event celebrating freedom, sparkle and sequined fun, including a pie-eating contest, dog fashion show, denim bedazzling, chalk art contest and summer games on the Arts District campus. Presented in conjunction with the Town’s July Fourth celebration. All events are FREE!

Location:Arts District Lawn

11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Chalk Art Contest (Washington Street)

11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Independence Day crafts for kids

11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Beer Garden

11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Bedazzling Station

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Pie-Eating contest

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Dog Fashion Show

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Bingo

4:00 pm – Blue Ribbon Winner announcements

Learn More

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Free Concert featuring Thumpin’

Come enjoy this free concert at the River Walk Center!

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Live music with The Pine Beatles

Come enjoy this free concert at Prospector Park!

8:00 pm – National Repertory Orchestra Concert

4th of July Patriotic Concert – For almost 20 years, the Town of Breckenridge and National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) have collaborated to present a Patriotic Concert each July 4th at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, CO. In order to prevent numerous empty seats due to unused free tickets and in order to offer tickets online at a greater convenience to all of our guests, the Riverwalk Center Box Office will sell indoor reserved seat tickets. In Honor of Kathleen Corneillier.

Photo Gallery

The Main Street Parade on Fourth of July Breckenridge

Breckenridge Fourth of July Marching Band Parade

Breckenridge Fourth of July Fireman Hose Kids Parade

The Kids Coloring Mural as part of the Street Arts Festival.

TRANSPORTATION + PARKING

The Main Street Trolley is a free transportation shuttle that services downtown Breckenridge.

Local’s Tip: Leave the car behind.

Once you are here, it’s easy to get around Breckenridge without a car. There are plenty of transportation options for those who are going carless in Breckenridge. The Breckenridge Free Ride offers free bus transportation throughout the day with multiple shuttle systems running throughout Breckenridge. Most likely, the place you are staying is right next to a bus stop or offers its own FREE shuttle transportation to town. Once you are here, you’ll find it’s easy to get around town on foot or on bike and that everything is just a few blocks away.

How to get around Breckenridge without a car

Walk
Free Ride Bus
Bike

Parking

While going carless is the easiest way to go, if you do need a car, we recommend parking outside of town and taking the bus in. The Breckenridge FreeRide bus system will service the Satellite Lot and Ice Rink lot on regular scheduling. Paid lots within town will be available for guest parking (F-Lot, Tiger Dredge, East Sawmill, and Wellington lots), but will fill up quickly. For free overflow parking, guests can park at Colorado Mountain College on the north end of town with the FreeRide bus servicing this lot every 20 minutes throughout the day.

Breckenridge Parking Guide

Free Ride Transit System Map and Schedule

Summit Stage Map and Schedule

Breckenridge Virtual Map

2020 Parade Registration

Register your float today for Breckenridge’s July 4th Celebration!

Become part of the Independence Day Celebration when you register your float in Breckenridge’s Independence Day Celebration Parade!

Important Parade Info

Parade Staging: Parade line up begins at 8:30 a.m. on July 4^th.

All participants must line up on North Main Street between Watson & French
Vehicle access is from the north only.
Enter the staging area from the intersection of Main St. and French St.
Kids on Bikes will stage at Watson and N. Main Street.
Parents will need to check-in and sign waivers before the parade start.

Parade Rules

Breckenridge Police Officers and the Parade Officials will be monitoring these guidelines throughout the parade.
Failure to comply will result in your removal from the parade.

All floats are required to register for parade at least 48 hours prior to parade start. No late entries will be permitted.
NO Confetti
NO alcohol on the float
NO replica handguns.
NO fireworks
In the best interest of safety, please indicate if your float will have loud noises or live animals in the parade.
Floats Only; no vehicles unless part of float
Car clubs are limited to (4) vehicles and EACH VEHICLE must be decorated
Each float must be driven by a courteous, sober and friendly driver
Floats cannot be higher than 17 feet
Shooting water guns, throwing water balloons, or snow into the crowd is PROHIBITED ON FLOATS!
The throwing of candy or other items from parade units is PROHIBITED. You may still distribute these items to the crowd as long as you have people walking along the barricade handing items out. The policy for candy distribution is “HAND TO HAND.”

Parade entry space is limited.

Contact our Events Team with any questions.

Lodging Offers

If you’re celebrating Independence Day in Breckenridge or any of Breckenridge’s signature festivals and events, make sure you take advantage of these great lodging deals!

Beaver Run Resort Independence Day Lodging Offers

Search All Lodging

Summers in Breckenridge

Need more inspiration?

Build your own itinerary:

Show me

Independence Day Celebration

Fireworks Prohibited