the BEST SHOW in TOWN

A guide to find the "best seat in the house” for Fourth of July celebrations in the county.

In the eyes of many Americans, the Fourth of July is a day for parades, barbecue and, of course, fireworks. Nothing draws crowds or says, “July Fourth,” like fireworks.

The tradition got its start at the beginning of our nation’s history after the Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia to write and sign the Declaration of Independence. A day after the Continental Congress adopted the declaration on July 4, 1776, John Adams - soon the second U.S. president - penned a letter to his wife, Abigail, declaring that Independence Day, “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”

One year later, in 1777, Philadelphia celebrated the anniversary with fireworks, which Adams dubbed, “illuminations,” plus a parade commemorating Independence Day.

When we’re watching fireworks, we don’t care who’s sitting next to us. Rich, poor, conservative, liberal, none of that matters. All we want is an unobstructed view. We want to see the joy in our kids’ faces, to hear their “oohs” and “ahs” - and maybe feel like a kid ourselves for a while. For those 20 minutes we are all, simply, Americans.

Here is a listing of the best celebrations and displays available in our county.

Aurora 4th of July Spectacular 6:00 - 10:00 PM - Aurora Municipal Center

Live musical performances, free face painting, food trucks, craft vendors and a fireworks show revered as “one of the best in Colorado” that starts at 9:30 p.m. Castle Rock 3:00 - 10:00 PM - Downtown Starting at 3 p.m. at Festival Park, there will be a 5K for the entire family. There will be food trucks and Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts will take the stage at 6:00. Fireworks will start with a three-shot salute, the 15-minute show will shoot off from the former Acme Brick facility on Prairie Hawk Drive.

Lone Tree 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM - Sweetwater Park

The Family Fun Ride & Stroll one-mile trek starts along Willow Creek Trail. Then Kona Ice, Polar Bros Nitro Ice Cream, Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs and Philly on the Go. There will also be a wide range of food trucks and live music. Fireworks at 9:30pm.

Highlands Ranch 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM - Town Center

The celebration kicks off with the annual Independence Day 5K. Starting at 8:45 a.m., the parade will begin with a pet and bike precession before the official parade begins. Entertainment throughout the day will include live music and acts from various area artists. Fireworks at 9:00pm.

Parker Stars and Stripes Celebration 9:30 PM - Salisbury Park

The 18-minute fireworks show in Parker will launch at 9:30 p.m. north of Salisbury Park. This is a remote viewing event.