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Vail America Days

Tuesday, July 4th, 2023

Fourth of July parade in Vail, Colorado
All Events

Vail 4th of July parade and celebration

Come and celebrate the 4th of July in Vail with the annual tradition of Vail America Days! Enjoy and plan for a festive morning parade through the streets of Vail then savor the anticipation of a patriotic night time fireworks display!

Event Schedule

10:00 am | Parade

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

The theme for the parade is “This Land is Your Land”. Bill and Sally Hanlon, recent Vail Trailblazer Award recipients, will serve as Honorary Parade Marshals.  The parade will include community organized floats, marching bands and performances including the Colorado State University Select Marching Band and Brothers of Brass from Denver.

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 which could startle your pet.

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 www.highfivemedia.org as well as on Roku and Apple TV beginning at 10:45 a.m. Coverage

10:00AM | Family Entertainment

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

Lionshead Welcome Center Stage 
10 a.m. Skin the Rabbit Bluegrass Band
12:30 – 2 p.m. Tivoli Club Brass Band
2:15 – 4 p.m. Brothers of Brass Band

Lionshead Mall Courtyard 
1 – 3 p.m. Vail Cirque performances

Sunbird Plaza in Lionshead 
1 – 3 p.m. Peak Rhythms free interactive drumming experience

Meadow Drive/Solaris Stage
12:30 – 2 p.m. Neu Polka band
2:15 – 4 p.m. Bourbon Brass Band

2:00 pm | 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 Dallas Symphony Orchestra and is a benefit for the Vail Veterans Program.

Tickets go on sale July 1 with a maximum of 4 tickets per person:

  • 8 a.m. – In-person on sale at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater box office
  • 11 a.m. – 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 info below:

TICKET INFORMATION

9:45 pm | Fireworks

The fireworks show will return in 2023, conditions permitting. The approximately 20-minute show will be launched from Vail Mountain and will be 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. Listen to the soundtrack for the Fireworks Show on KZYR on the radio or streaming at KZYR 97.7.

FIREWORKS SHOW VIEWING AREA

VAD VIEWING MAP.jpg

Fireworks Viewing Map

FAQ

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 4th of July parade is VERY busy, with lots of sounds, smells, and kids which creates a highly stressful environment for dogs.

What is the best way to get to Vail?

Enjoy your trip to Vail for Vail America Days completely car-free by using transit options such as Bustang or Pegasus, which can take you from Denver Union Station or the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood to the Vail Transportation Center in Vail Village.

Once you arrive, use the Free Town of Vail Bus or a Shift Bike (shift-bike.com) to get around town. You can reach the event from anywhere in the Vail Valley by taking ECO Transit.  Learn more about the many transit options available to get from the Denver metro area to the mountains at www.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?

Arrive early on Tuesday, 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 and 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 North 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 www.vaileventparking.com for additional parking information.

Where can I watch the parade from?

The 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 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 https://www.highfivemedia.org.

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 www.vailgov.com/bus for Vail bus schedule information.

Will there be fireworks this year?

The fireworks have been ordered! The show is being planned and will be held on the 4th at 9:45pm, weather permitting.