FOURTH OF JULY 2024 PREVIEW

Town of Vail, Colorado sent this bulletin at 06/28/2024 01:08 PM MDT

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VAIL AMERICA DAYS

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, followed by family entertainment and a patriotic concert. Then savor the anticipation of a nighttime Vail fireworks display which will light up the sky at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, weather permitting.

Those who gather in Vail and throughout the county are asked to be mindful that fire restrictions could be enacted at any time for Vail, Eagle County and other surrounding public lands. In addition, all personal fireworks are banned in Vail.

Vail America Days Schedule

10 a.m. - Vail America Days Parade
10 a.m. - Family Entertainment
2 p.m. - Patriotic Concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
9:45 p.m. - Fireworks

www.discovervail.com/4th

Parade: "Let The Games Begin"

The region’s largest parade begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 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 feature community-organized floats, marching bands and performances including the Colorado State University Select Marching Band and Brothers of Brass from Denver and the 40th Anniversary of the Vail Precision Lawn Chair Demonstration Team.

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.

Family Entertainment

Enjoy these lively experiences throughout the day in Vail and Lionshead villages on Thursday, July 4.

Vail Village Stage
Intersection of Meadow Drive/Willow Bridge Road

10 a.m. | Vail America Days Parade start
12 – 1:45 p.m. | Brothers of Brass performs
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. | Guerilla Fan Fare performs

Lionshead Stage
Located at the entrance to Lionshead Mall

10 – 10:50 a.m. | Skin the Rabbit performs prior to parade arrival
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Vail America Days parade in Lionshead
12 – 1p.m. | Skin the Rabbit performs
1:45 – 3 p.m. | Bourbon Brass Band performs

Ford Park

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

Vail Public Library's Book and Bake Sale

The Vail Public Library's annual Book & Bake Sale will take place during the July Fourth holiday.

The Book Sale will take place:

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday, July 4
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, July 5
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, July 6
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7

The Bake Sale will take place:

8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Thursday, July 4
At the main entrance of the library

To donate to the Bake Sale, contact Abigail at abrezinka@vail.gov or 970-479-2331. All Bake Sale proceeds benefit Children's Programs.

Patriotic Concert

The Fourth of July Patriotic Concert will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 4 at the Ford Amphitheater, featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra. The concert is a benefit for the Vail Veterans Program.

Reserved tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Monday, July 1 for $25, with a maximum of 4 tickets per person.

8 a.m. - Reserved-seat pavilion tickets will go on sale in person only at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Box Office
11 a.m. - Limited number of reserved-seat tickets will go on sale online at www.bravovail.org
On the day of the show, free, un-ticketed, lawn seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Gates open at 12:30 p.m.

Fireworks Show

Vail’s popular fireworks show is back for 2023, conditions permitting. The approximately 20-minute show starts at 9:45 p.m. and will be launched from Vail Mountain. Fireworks will be visible across town with a patriotic soundtrack available on KZYR 97.7 and via www.kzyr.com. Check out the viewing area map at www.discovervail.com/4th. Note, it is illegal to shoot off personal fireworks in Vail.

The area in yellow shows an approximation of places to view the fireworks.

Fourth of July Celebration Safety Measures

Over the past several years, the Town of Vail Police Department has seen an increase in unaccompanied minors and younger adults attending the Town of Vail’s Fourth of July celebrations. This has coincided with an increase in underage drinking, underage consumption of marijuana, disorderly conduct, property damage, and other offenses that directly relate to the gathering of large numbers of young adults.

In response to the ongoing issues, the Vail Police Department will staff additional officers and adopt a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to these offenses. Read More

GETTING AROUND TOWN

Leave Your Car at Home

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.

Bus Service

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.

Public Parking

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.

Parking in Vail | E-Bike Option

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 vail.gov/eventparking for additional parking information.

Dismount Zones

To improve interactions between pedestrians and users of wheeled vehicles, Vail’s summer dismount zone has been reenacted in Vail Village along Bridge Street from the Covered Bridge to Seibert Circle and along Gore Creek Drive from Checkpoint Charlie to just past Gorsuch Ltd. Watch for the “Walk Your Wheels” signs designating the dismount zone. Parts of Lionshead Village also have dismount zones. For areas outside the dismount zones, bikers and users of other wheeled vehicles are reminded that pedestrians always have the right of way and to use moderate speeds in pedestrian areas, 5 mph or less. When passing a slower party, politely alert the other party by calling out and/or ringing a bicycle bell and passing on the left.

TIPS TO ENJOY YOUR DAY

Where to 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.

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.

Alcohol

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.

Dogs

Vail has a leash law for dogs in the Vail Village and Lionshead areas. Your cooperation in keeping your animal in control and on a leash is greatly appreciated. Please also use the town-provided doggy waste bags.

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.

Holiday Trash Schedule

Residents are reminded that the Fourth of July holiday may mean some schedule adjustments for local trash haulers. Remember that Town of Vail wildlife protection regulations prohibit trash from being left at the curb other than on the day of collection and recycling regulations require that all properties recycle on site. For recycling assistance, please visit vail.gov/recycling.

Emergency Assistance

Dial 911 for emergencies. Throughout the day, the Vail Police Department will increase its presence to provide a safe environment for your celebration. For emergency notifications, subscribe to Eagle County Alert at www.ecalert.org.

Fourth of July Activities/Events

For details, visit www.discovervail.com/4th or call 970-477-3522.

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