The first thing to know is that all firework shows in Colorado Springs this year are officially canceled due to extreme fire danger and critically dry conditions.
“This decision was not made lightly, especially as our nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday,” said Mayor Yemi Mobolade in a statement. “But with extreme fire conditions across our region, one of the most patriotic things we can do this year is protect the city we love and the neighbors we cherish. I know our community will rise to this moment by choosing caution, caring for one another and putting the safety of Colorado Springs first.”
You can read all about that decision in our July 4 Firework Displays Canceled Due to Extreme Fire Danger.
The next thing to know is that are still many July 4 celebrations happening around the city without fireworks. After all this year is an especially big milestone for America, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And you probably already know it’s a big birthday for Colorado too: 150 years for the Centennial State. Celebrations have been happening all year, but the Fourth of July is still going to be big.
Below is a full list of events and festivities where you can gather for July 4 fun and celebrate responsibly in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region — even without fireworks.
No Personal Fireworks
Please also note that the City of Colorado Springs is also urging citizens to not shoot off any personal fireworks, whether inside or nearby city limits. Fireworks are always illegal in city limits, though they may be bought and sold in parts of El Paso County.
“My request is simple: Please do not light personal fireworks,” says Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “Yes, gather with your family members. Yes, fire up the grill — propane or gas only. Fly the American flag. Celebrate the freedoms that we cherish, but please leave the fireworks to the professionals. No firework is worth risking a neighborhood. No moment of entertainment is worth putting a firefighter’s life in danger, and no celebration is worth the possibility of a family losing everything they have worked so hard to build.”
Colorado Springs is currently under a burn ban, and both the Colorado Springs Fire and Police Departments will be increasing patrols to respond to illegal firework complaints and to mitigate any problems arising from fireworks.
4th of July Celebrations — Minus the Fireworks
Fort Carson Freedom Fest
July 3
Fort Carson starts early with its Fourth of July festivities, so you can celebrate America more than once. BUT take note: Fort Carson will not be shooting off fireworks this year due to wildfire risk. Freedom Fest takes place on July 3 starting at 4 p.m. There will be concerts by Tyler Hubbard, X Ambassadors and Bryce Vine.
The festival includes free bounce houses, a Boingo Adventure Zone for all ages, food and drink specials and more. Freedom Fest is free and open to the public. If you don’t have a Department of Defense ID, pre-register online to speed up and ensure your base access.
carson.armymwr.com/freedomfest
Banning Lewis Ranch Summer Concert & 4th of July Fireworks
July 4
The fireworks are canceled, but Banning Lewis ranch will still host a rockin’ party to celebrate July 4. BLR’s summer concert series shifts to Saturday, July 4, and it’s a double concert featuring Tiny Pockets 4-6 p.m. and Funkology at 7-9 p.m. There will also be 30 food trucks. Note that because of the high fire danger, no private grills are allowed but you can still bring your own picnic.
Falcon Freedom Fest & Stars, Stripes & Strides 5K Run
July 4
Start your July 4th festivities in Falcon with a 5K run or walk at 8 a.m. Then join the Falcon Freedom Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Meridian Ranch Fieldhouse. The event will feature local vendors, a petting zoo, bounce houses, music and food trucks. Note that there will not be a fireworks show in Falcon this year.
Tri-Lakes 4th of July Street Fair
You can celebrate the Fourth of July all day in Monument and Palmer Lake. The Street Fair happens in downtown Monument from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a parade at 10 a.m. Explore local businesses, arts and craft merchants, food vendors and a beer garden. Note that parking in Monument will be limited, so visitors are encouraged to park at Lewis Palmer High School and ride the shuttle bus. Here’s a list of all the festivities.
- Pancake Breakfast: Start the day at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at St. Peter Catholic Church in Monument. Get tickets at the door.
- Palmer Lake Fun Run: Get moving at 7 a.m. in this 4-mile fun run on the Santa Fe Trail from Palmer Lake to downtown Monument, where you’ll arrive in time for the parades.
- Tri-Lakes Chamber Street Fair: Explore arts, crafts, food vendors and more in downtown Monument, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- 4th of July Parade: The children’s parade starts at 9:30 a.m. with the main parade following at 10:00 a.m. in downtown Monument. This year’s theme is 250 Years of Freedom, 150 Years of Colorado Statehood.”
- Family Friendly Beer Garden in Limbach Park: Enjoy cold beer and live music in Monument’s Limbach Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Live Music in Limbach Park: The El Paso County Outlaw Band will play at 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collective Groove takes the stage from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
Rock Ledge Ranch’s Family Fourth 2026
Celebrate the Fourth with some good old-fashioned family fun at Rock Ledge Ranch. Play carnival games. Enter the pie-eating contest. Cool off with an old-school soda. Visit the historic sites. Listen to patriotic music, and hang out with historical interpreters from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Independence Day Celebration at the WWII Aviation Museum
July 4
National Museum of World War II Aviation
Spend a patriotic and historic day getting up close to vintage aircraft and vehicles, and see World War II flight demonstrations. There will be food trucks, entertainment and prizes.
Sunrise and Sunset on Pikes Peak
July 4
Pikes Peak Highway and Summit
Spend your Independence Day above the clouds on top of Pikes Peak. You can greet the sun with early access to the Pikes Peak Highway opening at 4-6 a.m. And you can watch the sun set and enjoy the city’s fireworks shows as you drive down. The special evening access opens at 7 p.m., and all guests must begin their descent by 9:10 p.m. You must buy your timed-entry permits ahead, and you can choose shuttle tickets if you prefer to let someone do the driving.
Gap the Gorge
July 3-5
Want to walk on a rope across the Royal Gorge? World-record Logan Henning and others from Community Highlines do. They’ll be putting on daily shows above the Royal Gorge Bridge and the gorge itself with all sorts of festivities happening to celebrate the 4th of July weekend, including live music, face painting, a park to try slacklining yourself and more. Read about it in our Gap the Gorge Strings Slacklines Across the Royal Gorge.
Cripple Creek 4th of July
On July 4, Cripple Creek comes alive with old-fashioned fun throughout town. Usually the festival finishes with a spectacular fireworks show, but the City of Cripple Creek canceled its fireworks earlier this week.
“Our priority is public safety and ensuring we can respond to active fires and other emergencies,” said Fire Chief Joe O’Conor. “It would not be responsible to proceed with a fireworks display under these circumstances.”
Mayor Annie Durham added, “We remain committed to celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary and want to ensure a safe, enjoyable experience for everyone. While the fireworks are cancelled, all other festivities will proceed as planned.”
The day begins with a parade at 11 a.m., followed by a great lineup of food vendors, beer garden and live music all day long. The Lake George Gem & Mineral Show will be taking place July 3–5 in the Cripple Creek District Museum parking lot.
Green Box Arts Festival: 4th of July Block Party
The Green Box Arts Festival gets started on July 4 this year, and there’s a full day of celebration planned. It all culminates with evening concerts and a 4th of July Water Lantern Launch on Palmer Lake’s Gazebo Lake. Here’s a quick overview of the schedule.
• Water Lantern Design Studio ($10.00 per lantern kit), 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• 4th of July Parade – 10 a.m. on the street between Sallie Bush Community Center and Gazebo Lake (free)
• Community Performance Hour – Lakeview Terrace Amphitheatre (free)
At 11 a.m., performers will include the Ute Pass Elementary School’s Fife & Drum Corps and Choir and Ormao Dance Company
• Community Hot Dog Lunch – At noon, the hot dogs and fixings are free. There will be other concessions for purchase.
• 4th of July Pie Contest – Green Box Farm Stand
1 p.m. This Green Mountain Falls tradition is free to enter a pie in the contest, $10.00 to sample pies.
• Opera Cowgirls – Lakeview Terrace Amphitheatre
Free concert at 2 p.m., where grand opera meets the grand ole opry, thanks to this alt-country band.
• 4th of July Block Party – Green Box Farm Stand & Lake Street
You might call this celebration the main event at 5-9 p.m. It features three concerts:
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- Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Fresh off their 2025 win at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition. - Cary Morin & Ghost Dog (6:45-7:45 p.m.)
The Colorado musicians form a high-energy roots rock band with hints of blues, Americana and world groove, intent on getting folks up and out of their seats. - Jeremy Mohney & His Orchestra (8-9 p.m.)
One of Colorado’s most popular swing bands for over a decade.
- Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
• 4th of July Water Lantern Launch – Gazebo Lake
The beloved Green Box Arts tradition is free to attend at 9-9:30 p.m. It’s $10 to decorate a water lantern kit. The launch on the lake is a beautiful ending to the night.
Woodland Park Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration and Symphony Above the Clouds
Enjoy a day of old-fashioned games and contests, including pie-eating contest, a watermelon-eating contest, tug or war, sack races, a dunk tank and more. You’ll also find activities like line dancing, caricature drawings and other family fun — not to mention food and beer. It’s the 60th year of this celebration, and you’ll find it all in Memorial Park starting at 8 a.m. At 5:30 p.m. the Woodland Park Wind Symphony plays a free concert.
Postponed Fireworks Shows
Switchbacks FC — Game On, Fireworks Posponed
Join the Switchbacks to celebrate the 4th of July at Weidner Field downtown as they take on Phoenix Rising FC. The game starts at 7 p.m. The post-game fireworks will not take place, but Switchbacks FC says they are exploring options to host the large fireworks show at a later, safer date. And the Switchbacks are still hosting a big party after the game to celebrate America’s and Ziggy’s birthdays. The festivities will include a special live performance by saxophonist Tony Exum Jr. Then head down to the pitch for an all-American Independence Day party featuring:
- Hot Dog Eating Contest
- Dunk Tank
- Kids Zone
- Cornhole, yard games, and more!
Plus, beer and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase on the pitch during the celebration.
Star Spangled Symphony & Grand Fireworks Show — Postponed to a Later Date
July 4
This concert and firework show is postponed. Ticket holders are urged to hold on to their tickets until the celebration can be rescheduled at a later date.
This is one of — if not the — biggest July 4th celebrations in town. The Colorado Springs Philharmonic will perform at Ford Amphitheater for the Star Spangled Symphony concert, followed by fireworks at Ford Amphitheater. The evening will feature a full symphony performance featuring hits from Dolly Parton, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, a Star Wars suite and classics including the 1812 Overture and Stars and Stripes Forever.
“There’s no better way to celebrate than with our community, under the stars, surrounded by the power of live symphonic sound,” says Nathan Newbrough, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.
Tickets are required for the concert, and they start at $18. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks around 9 p.m.
