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Glendale Raises The Bar For July 2 Fireworks Show With More Fireworks, Bigger Finale
by Mark Smiley
Fireworks Finale: Brilliant bursts of color illuminate the sky above Infinity Park during Glendale’s annual July 2 fireworks celebration. Known for its close-up viewing experience, the event gives spectators a rare opportunity to feel immersed in the display as shells explode overhead. Photo by McBoat Photography
VIP Celebration: Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce Brand Ambassadors welcome guests during the Chamber’s exclusive VIP celebration in the Try Club at Infinity Park. The members-only event offers premium views of Glendale’s spectacular July 2 fireworks show, along with networking opportunities and festive holiday fun. Photo by McBoat Photography
Community Celebration: Families and friends fill the field at Infinity Park during Glendale’s annual July 2 celebration, arriving early to enjoy food trucks, refreshments, and a special outdoor screening of F1 before the fireworks begin. The free event transforms the stadium into a giant community gathering space where residents, businesses, and visitors come together to relax, socialize, and celebrate the holiday. Photo by McBoat Photography
Glendale’s glittering July 2 fireworks spectacular is set to launch a lengthy Fourth of July celebration as Colorado marks its 150th year of statehood and the United States commemorates its 250th birthday.
The nation’s 250th anniversary, known as America’s Semiquincentennial, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Throughout Colorado, communities are planning special events to honor both historic milestones.
Among the largest celebrations in the metro area is Glendale’s annual fireworks show, widely regarded as one of the region’s premier Independence Day displays. Families and friends gather at restaurants, bars, patios, parks and porches from downtown Denver to Cherry Creek Reservoir to watch the dazzling aerial display sponsored by the City of Glendale.
Season Celebration: Glendale’s annual July 2 community celebration at Infinity Park kicks off the Independence Day weekend with a screening of F1, family-friendly activities, food trucks, and one of Colorado’s most anticipated fireworks displays. Gates open at 6 p.m., the movie begins at 7 p.m., and fireworks light up the sky at 9:30 p.m.
The community celebration at Infinity Park will begin when gates open at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, bring blankets or lawn chairs, and enjoy food from a variety of local food trucks before settling in for a screening of F1, which begins at 7 p.m. The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Starring Brad Pitt, F1 follows a former Formula One driver who returns to racing decades after leaving the sport to help rescue a struggling team. The film will serve as the evening’s family-friendly entertainment before the fireworks finale lights up the sky.
The Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce will also host a private VIP party in the Try Club for Chamber members only. Those interested in attending are encouraged to join the Chamber today to secure an invitation to the exclusive celebration.
This year, residents can expect an even more dramatic show in the night sky. City officials have increased funding for the annual display, allowing organizers to pack more fireworks and special effects into the same amount of show time.
Rather than extending the length of the program, the enhanced investment will create a faster-paced and more visually intense experience featuring more shells, more bursts of color, and a significantly expanded grand finale.
“We wanted to create an even more memorable experience for residents and visitors,” said Glendale City Manager Chuck Line. “The density within the same showtime will be significantly more spectacular. There will be more fireworks and an even more impressive finale than ever before.” The result will be a show with fewer pauses between effects and a constant stream of color and excitement across the night sky. Organizers say spectators can expect one of the most action-packed fireworks displays in the event’s history.
Many residents who attended last year’s show said they felt as though they were part of the fireworks display itself. Unlike many large fireworks events where spectators watch from miles away, Glendale’s Infinity Park setting places viewers remarkably close to the action, creating an immersive experience that few other shows can match.
The event has earned a reputation as one of the most intimate fireworks celebrations in Colorado, with spectators enjoying some of the closest viewing opportunities anywhere in the state. As shells burst overhead, attendees experience the full impact of the colors, sounds, and effects in a way that makes them feel connected to the show rather than simply observing it from a distance.
That unique combination of proximity, community atmosphere, and spectacular pyrotechnics has helped make Glendale’s annual July 2 celebration a favorite tradition for families throughout the Denver metro area. Many attendees return year after year, describing the experience as unlike any other fireworks display in Colorado.
More Excitement: This year’s fireworks show in Glendale promises even more excitement, with additional fireworks packed into the same action-filled program and a larger grand finale. The free community celebration brings together residents, businesses, and visitors for an evening of food, entertainment, fellowship, and one of Colorado’s most memorable Independence Day traditions. Photo by McBoat Photography
The July 2 celebration has become a signature event for Glendale, attracting families from across the Denver metropolitan area. More than a fireworks show, it is a community gathering that brings residents, businesses, and guests together for a wonderful evening of food, entertainment, fellowship, and celebration.
Local businesses are also expected to benefit from increased attendance as visitors arrive early to secure viewing spots and patronize nearby restaurants, shops, and attractions.
Residents who have attended the event in past years say the fireworks show ranks among the best in Colorado. City leaders hope this year’s enhanced investment will further strengthen Glendale’s reputation as a premier destination for Independence Day festivities.
Weather permitting, organizers expect one of the most visually impressive fireworks displays in the event’s history when the celebration lights up the sky over Infinity Park on July 2.
Cherry Creek Continues To Thrive As One Of Denver’s Leading Economic Drivers
by Mark Smiley
Cherry Creek continues to solidify its position as one of Denver’s strongest economic engines, according to a newly released State of Cherry Creek report highlighting continued growth in development, retail, tourism, office space, and small business activity throughout the district.
Released May 15 by the Cherry Creek Alliance, the report paints a picture of a thriving mixed-use neighborhood that continues to outperform many national and regional trends despite broader economic uncertainty in commercial real estate and retail sectors.
The report found that Cherry Creek welcomed more than 16.8 million visitors annually and currently supports 1,694 businesses and more than 16,800 workers, reinforcing its reputation as one of Denver’s premier destinations for shopping, dining, business, and tourism.
One of the most notable findings involved office space performance. While office vacancies remain a challenge nationwide, Cherry Creek’s office market continued to outperform many competing urban districts. Cherry Creek North’s office vacancy rate dropped to just 1.3% in 2025, while the broader Cherry Creek office market posted a 10.5% vacancy rate — figures significantly stronger than many major U.S. markets.
Retail performance also remained exceptionally strong. The report cited a retail vacancy rate of just 1.9% along with average lease rates of $36.05 per square foot triple net, demonstrating continued demand from retailers seeking a presence in the high-traffic district.
Development activity throughout Cherry Creek also continues at a rapid pace. According to the report, eight projects are currently under construction while another eight developments have been announced. Major projects include the highly anticipated Cherry Creek West development, the Waldorf Astoria Residences, and Cherry Lane, all of which are expected to further reshape the neighborhood in the coming years.
The district also generated more than $119.3 million in tax revenue for the City and County of Denver in 2025, including $62.1 million in retail sales tax revenue, $44.7 million in property taxes, $7 million in lodger’s tax revenue, and $4.9 million from parking revenue.
Small businesses remain a major component of Cherry Creek’s economic identity. The report found that the district supports more than 462 ground-level retail and service businesses, with 87% classified as small businesses and 60% qualifying as micro businesses with fewer than 10 employees. More than half of the area’s small businesses are locally owned.
Employment and wages also continued to rise in 2025, with Cherry Creek posting 1.7% employment growth and 3% wage growth. Professional and office sectors contributed significantly to the gains, while the average annual wage in the district reached $102,266.
Tourism and hospitality indicators also remained strong. Hotels within the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District posted a 72.78% occupancy rate with an average daily room rate of $295.51 and revenue per available room reaching $216.61, outperforming citywide and statewide averages.
“Cherry Creek continues to prove that it is a vibrant, walkable mixed-use district and a powerful driver of economic growth and community vitality,” said Nick LeMasters, president of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, in the report. “The momentum we’re seeing today reflects years of thoughtful collaboration between businesses, developers, residents, and community leaders.”
The Cherry Creek Alliance said the findings underscore the district’s continued role as a major contributor to Metro Denver’s economic growth and long-term development strategy.
Photos courtesy of Cherry Creek North
