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Vail America Days

Thursday, July 4, 2024

People parade through Vail Village with various flags around a crowd dressed in red, white and blue during the Fourth of July parade in Vail, Colorado.
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The Vail Fourth of July Parade & Celebration

Come and celebrate the Fourth of July in Vail with Vail America Days, a beloved annual tradition! Plan for a festive morning parade through the streets of Vail, then savor the anticipation of a patriotic nighttime Vail fireworks display.

Event Schedule

10 a.m. | Parade

The region’s largest parade begins at 10 a.m. on July 4. The parade will progress from Golden Peak on Vail Valley Drive, then go 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 head through the Lionshead Mall to finish at approximately noon.

The theme for the 2024 Vail parade is “Let The Games Begin.” The parade will include community-organized floats, marching bands and performances including the Denver Broncos Stampede, Colorado State University Select Marching Band and Brothers of Brass from Denver. Look to the skies to catch our flyovers of a C-130 and F-16s.

For a good view of the parade, arrive by 9:30 a.m. and pick a location along the parade route. To help reduce congestion, spectators are encouraged to ride their bikes or take the bus to the parade. Also, consider leaving your dog at home where it will be safe from the crowds and loud noises that could be startling.

Be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated during the parade. Water-refill stations are located in the Vail Village and Lionshead Welcome Centers, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch the parade live on High Five Access Media Channel 5 or via webstream at highfivemedia.org. Or find it on Roku and Apple TV beginning at 10:45 a.m.

10 a.m. | Family Entertainment

Enjoy these lively experiences throughout the day in Vail and Lionshead villages!

Vail Village Stage | Intersection of Meadow Drive/Willow Bridge Road

  • 10:00 AM | Vail America Days Parade start
  • 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM |  Brothers of Brass performs
  • 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM | Guerilla Fan Fare performs

Lionshead Stage | Located at the entrance to Lionshead Mall

  • 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM | Skin the Rabbit performs prior to parade arrival
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Vail America Days parade in Lionshead
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Skin the Rabbit performs
  • 1:45 PM – 3:00 PM | Bourbon Brass Band performs

Ford Park 

  • 12:00 – 2:00 pm | Blackhawk landing and display from the High-altitude ARNG Aviation Training Site (HAATS)  * NEW*
  • 2PM | Patriotic Concert, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

2 p.m. | Patriotic Concert

Don’t miss the annual Fourth of July Patriotic Concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. It begins 2 p.m. featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra and is a benefit for the Vail Veterans Program.

Tickets go on sale July 1 with a maximum of four tickets per person:

  • 8 a.m. — In-person tickets are on sale at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater box office.
  • 11 a.m. — A limited number of reserved-seat tickets will go on sale online.

On the day of the show, free, un-ticketed lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Gates open at 12:30 p.m

Get more information below:

TICKET INFORMATION

9:45 p.m. | Fireworks

9:45PM | View from In-Town
We hope to have Fourth of July fireworks in Vail, but please check back as we get closer to the date! The show is being planned and traditionally is held on July 4 at 9:45 p.m., conditions permitting.

Typically, it’s a 20-minute show launched from Vail Mountain and it’s usually visible from areas across town. See the map below for the view corridors for the show. You can view the show from anywhere that you have a clear view of the frontside of Vail Mountain above Pepi’s Face. Listen to the soundtrack for the Fireworks Show on KZYR on the radio or streaming at KZYR 97.7.

Vail Fireworks Show Viewing Area

The areas in yellow are an estimate of where the fireworks will be visible from.

 

Map of Vail with areas that have good fireworks viewing.

Fireworks Viewing Map

FAQ

Will there be fireworks this year?

We hope to, but it always depends on Mother Nature!  The show is being planned and, if possible, is held on July 4 at 9:45 p.m., weather and conditions permitting. Check back as we get closer to the Fourth of July.

Where can I watch the Vail parade?

The Vail parade will travel through both Vail Village and Lionshead Village along Hanson Ranch Road, Bridge Street, Gore Drive, Willow Bridge Road, East Meadow Drive and through the Lionshead Village pedestrian mall.

  • Arrive early to find parking and your spot along the route. Areas in the villages are usually more crowded than the sections of road between Vail Village and Lionshead Village.

If you want to avoid the crowds, you can watch the parade on High Five Access Media at highfivemedia.org.

What is the best way to get to Vail?

Enjoy your trip to Vail completely car-free by using transit options.

WITHIN TOWN OF VAIL

WITHIN EAGLE COUNTY (from Avon, Eagle-Vail, Edwards or Eagle)

  • It’s a fare-free summer on bus routes that take you around the Vail Valley.
  • Routes & Times
  • Shift Bike | E-Bike Option

EVTA & ECO Transit will provide service for the Vail America Days parade:

  • Catch the ECO bus for FREE at the following stops: Freedom Park in Edwards at 8:49 a.m., Avon Station at 9 or 9:20 a.m., Forest Service parking lot at Dowd Junction at 9:01, 9:21, or 9:41 a.m., or Chambers Park & Ride in Eagle at 8:50, 9:20 am.
  • If you are coming from Gypsum or Leadville, fares are required. Fares are $3 for adults and $2 for children and seniors with proof of age. Mobile app discounts may apply.

For more information on ECO Transit routes and fares, visit evta.colorado.gov/schedule or call 970-328-3520.

FROM DENVER | Bustang or Pegasus

  • This can take you from Denver Union Station or the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood to the Vail Transportation Center in Vail Village.
  • Learn more about the many transit options available to get from the Denver metro area to the mountains at goi70.com/transit.

Pro tip: If you drive from the Front Range, use GoI70’s travel forecast to help plan the best time to travel to avoid weekend traffic! 

Where can I park in Vail?

Arrive early on July 4 to enjoy free daytime parking in the Vail Village and Lionshead parking garages. The 2,500 parking spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and typically reach capacity prior to the 10 a.m. start of the parade.

Once the two structures fill, additional parking will be released. Message boards will direct motorists to free overflow parking available until 11 p.m. Vehicles parked in the Vail Village and Lionshead garages between 4–5 a.m. will be charged the overnight fee of $35.

Parade-goers are also encouraged to utilize free daytime parking in the Red Sandstone garage located at 559 N. Frontage Road, with easy access to Lionshead Village via the pedestrian overpass. This is actually a very short and convenient walk! Day parking is free in the garages.

Close-in parking at the Ford Park and Vail Athletic Fields lots will be managed and available on a first-come, first-served basis from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Call 970-479-2445 or visit vaileventparking.com for additional parking information.

Will in-town bus service be affected by the parade?

Vail and ECO Transit will offer increased bus service throughout the holiday, however no in-town shuttles will run during the parade, 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Service should resume at approximately 1 p.m., or as soon as the crowd has dispersed enough to travel the route safely. Call 970-477-3456 or visit vail.gov./bus for Vail bus-schedule information.

How can I join the parade?

Join in 2025 and Build a Float!

Do you want to experience the Vail parade in a whole new way? Build a float and you can be the parade. Registration for parade floats and community entries is now open. Register here

To Veterans:  local and visiting– you’re invited to participate!

The local VFW always opens the America Days Parade to all veterans and we want you to join us.  Call 970.328.9674 for further details.

 

Is this event dog friendly?

There are no laws prohibiting dogs at the parade, though it is highly recommended that you leave your furry friends at home. The Fourth of July parade in Vail is very busy, with lots of sounds, smells and kids, which creates a highly stressful environment for dogs.

Personal Fireworks/Open Fires

The use of all personal fireworks is prohibited in Vail. Personal fireworks are generally defined as anything that explodes, makes a loud noise or flies in the air. Bonfires and open campfires are also prohibited in the Town of Vail. Outdoor recreational fires are only allowed in approved commercial portable fire appliances that are equipped with spark screens. Questions about open fires and personal fireworks should be directed to Vail Fire and Emergency Services at 970-479-2250. If you live in or are visiting other areas of Eagle County, check with your local fire department for regulations or visit www.ECEmergency.org. Please be vigilant and call 911 if you see smoke or something out of the ordinary.

Where can I consume alcohol in Vail?

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the streets of Vail. If you plan to drink, don’t drink and drive, make arrangements to ride the bus or arrange for a designated driver. Those who arrange an alternate ride home in lieu of driving while intoxicated may leave their vehicle overnight in the parking garages at no charge. For eligibility, enter after 3 p.m. and leave before 11 a.m. the next day. Please see a parking attendant for verification.

Where is Lost and Found

If you’ve lost an item on the bus, in the parking structure, or elsewhere in town, visit vail.gov/lostandfound to report it. Items recovered are kept at the Vail Police Department in the Vail Municipal Building at 75 S. Frontage Road. Or, call 970-479-2208. Questions about items recovered from Vail Mountain can be directed to guest services lost and found.