Welsh Electric
Georgetown Loop Railroad
Fireworks Flash, Flare
Valley Gadfly
Take time to unwind, summer will flash by as quickly as fireworks as we celebrate Colorado’s 150 years of statehood. In patriotic spirit, own each day like it’s the Fourth of July.
July’s glorious roar of fireworks plus summer thunderstorms are a dazzling reminder of the sounds, color and beauty of summertime throughout Cherry Creek Valley neighborhoods.
As new life bursts forth, and birds chirp and sing in patriotic spirit, celebrate Independence Day with these rapid-fire choices for shopping, dining and entertainment blasts:
- Don’t miss Treaty Oak Revival playing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre June 3, 7:30 p.m. The Odessa, Texas rock group have self-released three studio albums and five singles since 2018. Information: 720-865-2494.
- Brooklyn singer, DJ, and producer Yaeji blends hip hop with mellow vocals at The Church, July 4, 10 p.m. Information: 720-604-0604.
- Catch English singer, and musician Jon Anderson playing in the Paramount Theatre, July 8, 7:30 p. m. Information: 303-623-0106.
- Want comfort dishes with seasonal ingredients inside a compact neighborhood setting? Try South Pearl Steet’s Florence Supper Club featuring spicy rigatoni, plus chicken or veal parm and tasty cheesecake. Information: 303-483-7684.
- Whether remodeling or new construction, look to the skilled electricians at Welsh Electric for quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. Smart, sustainable solar energy solutions also offered. Information: 720-476-7780.
- Texas singer, and producer Chance Pena plays the Ogden Theater, July 13, 8 p. m. Information: 303-832-1874.
- Country music singer-songwriter Lee Brice entertains at the Fillmore Auditorium July 16, 8 p.m. Information:303-837-0360.
- Folk and roots duo the Okee Dokee Brothers plays at the Federal Theatre, July 19, 8 p.m. Information:com
- Attend the Summer Garden Party Fundraise in the Cableland Mansion on Saturday, July 11, 3 to 6 p.m. Event has hand-passed hors d’oeuvres, coffee bistro, plus live poolside entertainment from Skylark Jazz. Silent auction will feature an array of unique items up for bid. Information: 720-837-1501.
This year’s holiday Drone Show is at Sculpture Park July 3 following the free Sunset Cinema outdoor movie that is screening “National Treasure.” Pre-show entertainment at 6 p.m.
Expect warm, sunny days paired with dry heat, and afternoon thunderstorms as July gets underway. Daytime highs are in the upper 80s to low 90s, with cool, comfortable evening 50s.
Catch the free Independence Eve concert in the Buell Theater in the DCPA complex at 6 p.m. What did the lightning say about the fireworks show? “You stole my thunder!”
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com
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.
