The Evening Dispatch — Thursday, July 2, 2026

Front Page

Estes Park July 4 Fireworks Postponed; Coverage-Area Shows Remain On

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Town of Estes Park · CPR News · Denver7

Estes Park announced July 1 that its annual Lake Estes fireworks display has been postponed to a later date due to fire conditions. The town is under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibit all fireworks including professional displays. No rescheduled date has been announced. All other fireworks shows in The Evening Dispatch's coverage area — Longmont, Erie, Firestone, Fort Lupton, and Berthoud — remain on as of Thursday afternoon.

Plain Language

Stage 2 fire restrictions ban all fireworks, including professional shows. If conditions worsen before Friday or Saturday, individual towns could cancel with little notice — check each town's official website or social media before heading out.

Wildfire Conditions Prompt Cancellations Across Colorado; 15 Fires Burning Statewide

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: CPR News · CBS Colorado · Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Fifteen wildfires are currently burning across Colorado as of July 2. Douglas County entered Stage 2 fire restrictions Thursday, canceling all professional fireworks shows in Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Parker, and Highlands Ranch. Colorado Springs and Pueblo also canceled their shows earlier this week. The Western Slope — Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Routt, Pitkin, and La Plata counties — has seen widespread cancellations. Cancellations statewide now number in the dozens.

The Front Range and Northern Colorado remain at Stage 1 restrictions in most jurisdictions, which permit professionally managed fireworks displays but prohibit personal fireworks, open burning, and campfires outside designated areas.

Plain Language

Stage 1 is the lighter of two escalating restriction levels — professional shows are still allowed, but anything you light yourself is not. Stage 2 bans everything including professional displays. With conditions deteriorating rapidly across the state, the situation for any individual show could change before it launches.

Longmont's Independence Weekend Adds Drone Show to July 4 Fireworks

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: City of Longmont · Westword

Longmont's Independence Weekend runs Friday, July 3, through Saturday, July 4. Friday brings a free concert at Roosevelt Park (700 Longs Peak Ave.) at 6 p.m. Saturday's festival begins at 5 p.m. at 2nd Avenue and Emery Street, with a drone show at 9:15 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Full schedule and street closure details at longmontcolorado.gov/fireworks.

Local

Longmont

First Friday Makers' Market: Luau Night, July 3

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Lex Local Events · Downtown Longmont

Downtown Longmont's First Friday Makers' Market runs 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, at 4th Avenue and Main Street. This month's theme is a luau, with live ukulele music from Ukulele Dave, axe throwing from Axe Me Out, face painting, and vendors from area businesses including Grossen Bart Brewery, St. Vrain Cidery, and SubZero Nitrogen Ice Cream. Free, family- and dog-friendly.

Erie

Erie Fireworks Show Friday, July 3 — Campus Closes at 1 P.M.

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Town of Erie Parks & Recreation · Mile High on the Cheap

Erie's fireworks show launches from the rooftop of the Erie Community Center at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Erie Community Park, 450 Powers St. The campus closes to normal use at 1 p.m. Event parking opens at 6 p.m. in the south lot; bike racks are available and alternate transportation is encouraged. Food trucks and vendors will be on site. Erie has held its show on July 3 for more than 20 years.

Berthoud

Berthoud's 3rd of July Festival Friday at Waggener Farm Park

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Town of Berthoud · Mile High on the Cheap

Berthoud's 3rd of July celebration runs 5 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Waggener Farm Park, 1000 Berthoud Parkway. DJ Drake opens at 5 p.m., followed by a live performance from Tumbledown Shack at 7 p.m. More than 30 food trucks, a beer garden, inflatables, and lawn games round out the evening. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Fort Lupton

Fort Lupton America's Birthday Bash Saturday at Community Park

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce · Mile High on the Cheap

Fort Lupton's America's Birthday Bash runs 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Community Park, 203 S. Harrison Ave. (at the Rec Center). Live music from country artist Eric Golden, free carnival rides, bungee trampoline, bounce houses, a vendor marketplace, food trucks, and a beer garden. Fireworks launch at dark from Coyote Creek Golf Course. Free admission.

Firestone & Frederick & Dacono

Firestone, Frederick, and Dacono Share July 4 Fireworks Display

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: Denver7 · Town of Firestone

Firestone's 4th at Firestone celebration runs all day Saturday, July 4, at Miners Park, 170 Grant Ave. The day begins with a parade featuring floats, marching bands, classic cars, and motorcycles, followed by live entertainment including dance performances and an extreme trampoline show. Fireworks go up after sundown. The shared display is also viewable from Frederick and Dacono's gathering at Centennial Park. The three towns are believed to pool resources for the display.

Weather

Hot and Dry Through the Weekend; Personal Fireworks Banned Across Coverage Area

HIGH LOCAL IMPACT

Source: National Weather Service · CPR News

Sunny skies and highs in the low-to-mid 90s are forecast through the July 4 weekend across the Front Range, with low humidity and gusty winds keeping fire danger elevated. Patchy smoke from Western Slope fires is possible, particularly in morning hours. No precipitation is expected.

Personal fireworks are illegal across the entire coverage area regardless of fire restriction level. Professional displays in Longmont, Erie, Berthoud, Fort Lupton, and Firestone remain permitted under current Stage 1 conditions — but conditions can change quickly.

Plain Language

"Personal fireworks" means anything you buy and light yourself. Under Stage 1, professional shows staffed by licensed pyrotechnicians are still allowed; under Stage 2, even those are prohibited. If the wind picks up or conditions deteriorate Friday or Saturday, individual cities could call off their shows the same day. Check each town's social media before heading out.

Colorado

Public Safety

Stage 2 Restrictions Spread Across Colorado; Dozens of Shows Canceled

STATE IMPACT

Source: CPR News · CBS Colorado · Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Douglas County entered Stage 2 fire restrictions Thursday, canceling all fireworks shows in Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Parker, and Highlands Ranch. Colorado Springs and Pueblo canceled earlier in the week. Western Slope jurisdictions including Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Routt, Pitkin, and La Plata counties have seen widespread cancellations. According to 9NEWS, 56 fireworks shows across Colorado have been canceled as of Thursday. Fifteen wildfires are currently active statewide, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

Plain Language

The cancellation pattern is moving from south and west toward the north and east. The Denver metro and Northern Colorado remain largely intact as of Thursday afternoon but are not immune if conditions shift. Check coloradosos.gov or individual town websites for same-day updates.

Weekend Getaways

Estes Park

Estes Park July 4 Fireworks Postponed; Town Still Open for the Holiday

WEEKEND GETAWAY

Source: Town of Estes Park · UCHealth Today

Estes Park announced July 1 that its annual Lake Estes fireworks show has been postponed due to Stage 2 fire restrictions currently in effect in the area. No rescheduled date has been announced. The town remains open for visitors — Lake Estes Trail, the marina, and Rocky Mountain National Park continue normal operations, though Stage 2 restrictions apply throughout: no campfires, charcoal or wood grills, outdoor smoking, or personal fireworks.

Day-trippers heading to Estes Park this weekend should plan for heavy holiday traffic on U.S. 36 and U.S. 34. The free Peak shuttle runs its normal 9 a.m.–9 p.m. schedule. Sign up for town event alerts by texting EPEVENTS to 888-777.

Plain Language

Stage 2 fire restrictions don't close the town or its trails — they ban open flames and all fireworks. The lake and park are open; there just won't be a fireworks show this weekend.