Independence Day Celebration

Don’t miss this favorite kick-off to Breckenridge’s 4th of July celebration! This scenic 10K trail running race offers up some of the best views in the Breckenridge area, while finishing just in time to catch the Main Street parade and other festivities.

This race typically sells out in June — early registration is highly recommended.

REGISTER

Breckenridge is excited for another year of our beloved Independence Day Parade. The Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike Race will lead off the parade at 9:30am and the parade will kick-off at 10:00am.  Start your morning celebrating on Main Street.

Float Registration:  Float registration for the 2022 Independence Day Parade is sold out. No late registrations or walk-ups will be allowed.

Location: Main Street between Watson and Park Ave.

Firecracker 50

The Firecracker 50 kicks off Independence Day in Breckenridge with a bang! This 50-mile mountain bike race starts on Main Street before sending riders off into some of the best backcountry trails Breckenridge has to offer. 4,000 foot climbs, thrilling descents, and plenty of singletrack awaits all participants.

Limited availability.  This race is expected to sell out in advance.

RACE REGISTRATION

An Independence Day event celebrating freedom, surf culture and beach party fun, featuring tubular tunes, a dog fashion show, patriotic tie-dye, beach games, BINGO, our annual chalk art contest and a beach rock lip sync battle! Wear your Hawaiian shirt, bring a lei for your pooch and join us for a far out Fourth!

Schedule:
11:00am – 1:00pm | Tubular Tunes at the AirStage
11:00am – 3:00pm | Chalk Art Contest at Washington Ave
11:00am – 3:00pm | Tie Dye Beach Towels + Sand Art at Arts District Lawn
11:00am – 3:00pm | Beach Games at Arts District Lawn
1:00pm – 2:00pm  | Dog Fashion Show at the AirStage
2:00pm – 3:00pm  | Beach Boys Lip Sync Battle at the AirStage
3:00pm – 4:00pm  | Beach BINGO at Ridge Street Art Square
4:00pm  |  Blue Ribbon Winner Announcements at the AirStage

Location: Breckenridge Arts District’s Ridge Street Art Square

Free & Open to the public.  No registration required.

Local speed skiing legend and Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer, C.J. Mueller, will give a public reading of the Declaration of Independence following the parade.

Location: Blue River Plaza

Celebrate Independence Day with the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO)! Fourth of July Spectacular is dedicated to all who have served and are currently in uniform with thanks from a grateful nation.

This year’s NRO 4^th of July concert will start at 6:00pm and doors open at 5:30pm.

Location: Riverwalk Center

Purchase Tickets

Annual July Art Festival

Join us at Main Street Station on South Main Street for a nationally ranked fine art festival set under the beautiful backdrop of Breckenridge, Colorado. The juried art show will feature top artists in 13 categories. Artists will all be present to discuss their original work and do demonstrations. Show will run Thursday- Saturday.

10am-6pm Daily

Dates: July 7-9, 2022
Location: 505 South Park Ave.
Admission: Free & Family Friendly

DETAILS

Kingdom Park Strider Bike Race (Ages 1-5)

Now here’s a bike race for the little guys! “If your child can walk, your child can ride!” Join us for the fourth year of our Strider Race and watch your child compete on his/her no-pedal balance bike. Kids race in two courses around the Kingdom North Field softball field – a short course around the bases and a long course around the whole field. After the races, stay for music, medals, food and prizes for the top three racers of each category.

Date: July 1st, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Kingdom Park North Softball Field
Admission: $6 Entry (Bikes not included)

REGISTER

Movies at The Eclipse 

The Eclipse Theater screens a variety of blockbuster, indie, classic, foreign, and outdoor films year-round.  The film, Lightyear, will be playing throughout Independence Day weekend.
VIEW SHOW TIMES

Drop-In Classes, Live Music & Tours

Breckenridge offers a wide range of recreational, historical and cultural activities and events to participate in during your trip.

FIND MORE LOCAL HAPPENINGS

Spend the long holiday weekend exploring the great outdoors. Patio and wildflower season is in full swing, and the trails are snow-free and ready for hiking and biking (but double-check before you go). With great weather that never gets too hot, summer activities are seemingly endless in July.

TOP SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO

• Hiking
• Biking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Fly Fishing
• Golfing
• Paddleboarding & Kayaking
• Horseback Riding
• Summer Dog Sledding
• Discovering the past on a historic tour

Find out more things to do this summer in Breckenridge, and learn more about hiking in Breckenridge without a car!  Remember, you can help us preserve and protect what we love by following the Leave No Trace principles during your visit.

If you’re headed to Breckenridge for a mix of R&R and sun-soaked adventure but have had your fill of the general population, this itinerary was built for you! Independence Day weekend is one of our busiest summer weekends, but we’ll provide tips to help you carve out solitude.

Friday, JULY 1ST

• Head out early to one of Breckenridge’s notorious wildflower hikes. Add a fun, educational component by using a guidebook or app to ID your favorite flowers.
• Stroll through Main Street Station, take in some views and let the kids try SUPing at Maggie Pond. Afterward, order yourself a wine-tasting flight at the world’s highest winery.
• Local’s Tip: If you’re hitting the trails, be sure to go as early as possible. Being on the trail early – think 8:00am – is the best way to beat the summer heat and have the trail all to yourself.  

Saturday, JULY 2ND

• Rent bikes and hit the trails for some mountain biking or head to the Rec Path for a more family-friendly adventure.
• Stroll historic Main Street to explore boutiques, galleries and small businesses that specialize in made from Colorado goods.
• Visit in-town museums to get a glimpse of Breckenridge’s rough and tumble mining days.
• Grab dinner to-go and head to the pop-up drive-in movie night.
• Local’s Tip – Plan for success during this busy weekend by expecting a wait when dining out. Go early, make reservations or pick off the beaten path restaurants or order carry out.

Sunday, JULY 3RD

• Book a guided tour for the day.  Our favorites include whitewater rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, summer dog sledding or golfing are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors.
• Embrace the R&R of vacation time.  Take a few hours to sit poolside, read a book on a patio, plan game night or book some spa time.
• Grab dinner to-go and head to the pop-up drive-in movie.

Monday, JULY 4TH

• Happy 4th of July! Thank you for keeping us safe by remembering that Fireworks & campfires are prohibited in Breckenridge.  
• Spend the day hiking or biking.  The trails are usually mellow since most people head to town.
• Spend a few hours fly fishing.  Local shops can help you gear up and buy a license for the day.
• Watch America’s Birthday Spectacular by the NRO.
• Local’s Tip – Main Street will be closed at 6:00am for the parade.  There will be partial closures until 6:00pm.

Friday, July 1st

• Take breakfast-to-go and head to Blue River Plaza to enjoy your morning riverside.
• Dive into Breckenridge’s rough and tumble past, by visiting some of the museums in town.
• Visiting with kids? Stop by Prospector Park between museum visits.
• Jump on the FREE BreckConnect Gondola and explore the Breckenridge Resort’s Epic Discovery.
• Tour the Interpretive Hiking Loop filled with stories, photos, fun facts and interactive activities about the environment and wildlife at Breckenridge Ski Resort.

Saturday, July 2nd

• Get up early to enjoy a wildflower hike or in-town wildflower stroll. Add a fun educational component by using a guidebook or app to ID your favorite flowers.
• Local’s Tip – Help us preserve and protect what we love by following the Leave No Trace principles during your visit.
• Bust out those detective skills and make a reservation at one of the local Escape Rooms!
• Take advantage of summer’s late hours of sunshine and sneak in a trip to see the Breckenridge Troll, a 15-foot tall wooden troll sculpture built out of repurposed wood scrapes.

Sunday, July 3rd

• Local’s Tip –Weekends are peak visitation in Breckenridge.  Learn about local history, local environment or a new skill by signing up for a guided tour. Whitewater rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, summer dog sledding or golfing are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors.
• Local’s Tip – If you’d rather hit the trails, be sure to go as early as possible. Being on the trail as soon as possible – think 8:00am – is the best way to beat the summer heat and have the trail all to yourself.

Monday, July 4th

• Local’s Tip:  Happy 4th of July!  Remember, Main Street will be closed starting at 6:00am and town is expected to be busy with various celebrations.  It’ll be an excellent day for hiking as trail usage tends to be lower thanks to the celebratory festivities in town. Find a historic hike or choose a trail within walking distance to your lodging.
• Find your zen during a stand-up paddleboard yoga class. Meta and Bahava Yoga Studios hosts SUP YOGA classes Thursday – Sunday mornings throughout the summer.
• Tour Country Boy Mine to learn about life as a Colorado miner over 100 years ago. After your guided mine tour, take a quick lesson on gold panning and tour the mine’s historic past.
• Watch the NRO perform America’s Birthday Spectacular
• Local’s Tip – This is a busy week in town, so you’ll want to anticipate a wait at most restaurants. Plan for success by going out early, making reservations if possible, trying off the beaten path locations or getting carry out.

After the year we’ve all had, Breckenridge is the best place to slow it all down and just be a family and explore together. This year the The Independence Day holiday is expected to be a popular one so follow this Breckenridge family itinerary for some tips and tricks on how to beat the crowds and have the best time together. Enjoy! 

Friday, JULY 1ST

• Take a trip back in time at Country Boy Mine. Guided tours go nearly 1,000 ft. into the mountain, monster truck hayrides and the chance to strike it rich panning for gold in Eureka Creek. 
• Create your own Dessert Tour. Snag an ice cream from one of the many ice cream spots (Higgles, Stir Pan or I Scream Gelato are a few of our favorites) and work out everyone’s energy at the many parks along the way.
• If the group’s little legs have had too much walking for the day, take the Main Street Trolley that runs up and down Main with many stops along the way.
• Local’s Tip:  Breckenridge’s historic Main Street sees a lot of day-trip visitors on the weekends so mid-week is the best time to take the stroll down and explore.

Saturday, JULY 2nd

• Visit one of Breckenridge’s five playgrounds as a treat to little ones while shopping Main Street.
• Use our family-friendly dining in Breckenridge guide for recommendations on where to dine.
• Local’s Tip – Due to the 4th of July holiday, plan to order ahead and make reservations where you can for the best experience.
• Plan ahead and reserve some parking spaces at the Breck Film drive-in movie.

Sunday, JULY 3rd

• Weekends are peak visitation in Breckenridge. Plan in advance and book a guided tour for this day. Whitewater rafting, fly fishing, horseback riding, summer dog sledding or golfing are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the outdoors.
• Local’s Tip – If you’d rather hit the trails, be sure to go as early as possible. Being on the trail as soon as possible – think 8:00am – is the best way to beat the summer heat and have the trail all to yourself.
• BYOD (bring your own take-out dinner or snacks) and sit back and take in the show at the pop-up  drive-in theatre.

Monday, JULY 4th

• If you chose to skip the 4th of July Parade, take this time to jump on the FREE BreckConnect Gondola and explore Breckenridge Resort’s Epic Discovery. There is some serious high alpine fun for the entire family with a variety of on-mountain activities including alpine slide, climbing walls, interpretive hikes and more.
• Local’s Tip – Happy 4th of July! Remember, Main Street will be closed starting at 6:00am and the Town of Breckenridge is expected to be busy. Remember, Fireworks are prohibited in-town.

Ready for the adventure to begin? If you’re looking to celebrate the 4th in style with the whole crew in Breckenridge, this lively itinerary is just for you. Start early for hiking, biking and more of our favorite activities, then soak up some sunshine on the patio with live music and brews, because, hey, you’ve earned a few!

Friday, JULY 1ST

• Start your trip out right with breakfast to-go or yummy baked goods from one of Breckenridge’s local coffee shops.
• Explore the hundreds of miles of trails in and around Breckenridge by mountain bike.
• Local’s Tip:  Download AllTrails or COTREX to see the wide range of trails near you.
• Sample a flight from Broken Compass Brewing or Breckenridge Brewery– you’ve earned it!
• Rest your legs tonight with a hot tub soak- you’ve got a big week ahead of you!

Saturday, JULY 2nd

• Start your day early and hike to one of Breckenridge’s 12, 13 or 14er summits for epic bragging rights.
• Local’s Tip: Hit the trails as early as possible. Trailheads can fill up quickly, plus, you’ll beat the midday heat and possible afternoon showers.
• Soak up some sunshine at one of Breckenridge’s restaurant patios. The Canteen, Quandary Grille and The Crown are great options for people watching. Expect a wait or make reservations ahead of time!
• Plan ahead and reserve some parking spaces for the evening at the Breck Film drive-in movie.

Sunday, July 3rd

• Grab all your friends and cool off on the water with a guided whitewater rafting trip or SUP yoga class on the Maggie Pond.
• After your big adventure, relax with a specialty cocktail or wine flight for happy hour.
• Looking for more? Hit up Breckenridge’s bars for live music and drinks.

Sunday, July 4th

• Happy 4th of July! Thank you for keeping us safe by remembering that Fireworks & campfires are prohibited in Breckenridge.  
• Participate in the Independence Day 10k or Firecracker 50 races! If your legs are too tired (we won’t judge) head to the finish lines to celebrate with other local legends and adventure addicts looking to join in on the fun.
• Catch live music at AirStage this afternoon, or spend your time on another hike, bike or fly-fishing adventure.
• Local’s Tip: Most people are in town today, making it a great day to hit the trails and find some solitude.