Clouds, storms, sunsets and fireworks, it must be July. Look at the fireworks fly as they light up the night sky. July skies are well-known for fireworks, especially the jaw-dropping display of pyrotechnics fired off each year by the City of Glendale. This year’s show flickers across Valley skies July 2. Glendale shows us how it’s really done.
Fireworks seem to catch your heart forever and you can’t easily look away. Every second articulates a different shade of color that makes the night sky seem magical.
Here are our firecracker-sure choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to make each day shine bright while stunning sunsets and rainbows make time soar:
3 Launch your 4th of July Independence Day ritual by gathering family and friends at Valley eateries, bars, patios and porches to watch the annual Glendale fireworks show at dusk July 2. Information: 303-759-1513.
3 Enjoy arias of The Magic Flute opening Central City Opera’s season with matinee and evening shows, July 7-Aug. 5. Information: 303-292-6700.
3 Wonder Woman, July 9 and Coco on July 23 flicker on for free at Infinity Park’s Monday Movie Madness. Information: moviesininfinitypark.com.
3 Rebecca Folsom brings soaring harmonies, toe-tapping instrumentals and intimate vocals to the Tuft Theatre at Swallow Hill July 13. Information: 303-777-1003.
3 Swing and sway Wednesdays this month at the Shady Grove Picnic Series in Four Mile Park. Funk-band Color is July 11, followed by Autoharpist Bryan Bower and folk music’s Harry Taft. Information: 303-777-1003.
3 For summer food fun catch the Slow Food Nations festival on Larimer Square and at Union Station, July 13-15. There’s live music, food tastings, farmers market and outdoor culinary stages. Information: 303-534-2367.
3 Dotsero Jazz entertains at the Havana Street District Pizza Party in Aurora’s Rose Garden Plaza with free pizza. Information: 303 360-7505.
3 Learn fun facts with friends at Glendale Y’s Trivia Night in the Infinity Park Event Center, 6-9 p.m. Information: Infinityparkatglendale.com.
3 Cool down with great beer and grand music during this year’s Summer Brew Fest at Mile High Station, July 27-28, 7-10 p.m. Enjoy 35 samplings along with live music from Briana Straut & Strange Americans Friday, Jenny LaJoyce & Nuns of Brixton on Saturday. Proceeds benefit Swallow Hill Music, bringing the joy of music to life every day through concerts, music lessons and educational outreach. Information: 303-777-1003.
The old adage “a red sky at night is a sailor’s delight” gets more than its fair share of play this month, thanks to stunning sunsets. Lenticular clouds are heaven-sent to set Valley skies on fire. Stable air forced up and over the mountains, creates turbulent bumps on the lee side of the mountains causing mountain wave clouds to develop. What’s more, sunsets here are nestled in Valley landscapes that add extra beauty to what we are viewing. They capture our imagination and put the universe in perspective.
This month is as explosive as fireworks. We look up to find sunshine, storms and sunsets.
Our dreams climb, shine and often fade away. Keep chasing rainbows instead of letting clouds drift by. Castles in the sky shine and bring a spark of joy to life. As Perry Como sang, “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away.”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.