Celebrating the Fourth of July in Mountain Village & Telluride

There's no place like Mountain Village and Telluride during the Fourth of July. Celebrating Independence Day in the San Juan Mountains brings communities together and pay tribute to the region's traditional Fourth of July celebrations. The only problem this week is deciding what to as there are options aplenty for good fun, good food and good music.

Tuesday, July 2, 2019 The Fourth of July festivities start on Tuesday evening in Telluride Town Park with the U.S. Air Force Academy Band's "America the Beautiful" concert. The show is free and starts at 7 p.m. The band is comprised of 55 members and they'll play a program celebrating the patriotic spirit of the American people. For more information about this non-ticketed event, visit www.usafacademyband.af.mil. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 On Wednesday, July 3, TMVOA's Red White and Blues Celebration kicks off with carnival games, jumpy castles and face painting in Sunset Plaza from 1-5 p.m. Telluride Adaptive Sports Program will also host its annual ice cream social during this time, and the Mountain Village Fire Department will have its newest firetruck on hand for kids to check out. For a full schedule of July 3's events, please visit our event page. The Red, White & Blues Concert/Sunset Concert Series will kick start at 6 p.m. with Lawrence, a pop and soul brother and sister combo playing everything from Motown to Muscle Shoals and everything in between. While you're in Mountain Village on July 3, don't forget to stop by our farmers' market, Market on the Plaza in Heritage Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for food, produce, arts, and more! And new this year, a select number of vendors will set up in Sunset Plaza each Wednesday during the Sunset Concert Series from 5-8 p.m. for the new Market at Sunset. Thursday, July 4, 2019 Those looking for some exercise before the BBQs and fun of Independence Day kick their holiday off with the Telluride Foundation's annual Rundola, a footrace up the ski mountain under the Gondola. Runners start at the base of the gondola at Oak Street Plaza in Telluride and end at the top of the Ridge. Runners and hikers climb up either Telluride Trail or can just bushwhack up to the top of the gondola. The run will start at 8 a.m. and the finish line closes at 10 a.m. Those interested can register online until the evening of July 2 or register in person July 3 in Oak Street Plaza. Then it's time to get ready for Telluride's beloved Fourth of July Parade. Float staging begins between Aspen Street and Davis Street at 10 a.m. and the Honor Guard holds its ceremony on the Courthouse Steps at 10:40 a.m. The parade officially starts at 11 a.m. and often runs an hour or more. If you cannot attend the parade in person, Telluride TV will live stream the entire parade on their website so you don't miss out! After the parade, head to Telluride Town Park for the firefighter’s barbeque from 12-4 p.m. with parade awards presentation at 1:30 p.m. Kids games will start at 2 p.m. in Town Park, and fireworks will begin once its dark, around 9 p.m. The Telluride Historical Museum will also hot its own Fourth of July Celebration celebrating with free museum admission and $5 rootbeer floats. Mountain Village's free Red White and Blues Celebration continues on July 4 with more kids activities in Sunset Plaza and live local music starting at 1 p.m. in Heritage Plaza. Alan Booradley and members of the Neighborhood Improvement Association play from 1-1:50 p.m. Claybrook Penn and Tom Nading play from 2-2:50 p.m. and Joint Point plays from 3-4:15 p.m. And celebrated violinist and DJ Kat V takes the stage as the main act from 6:30-8:30 p.m. If fireworks aren't your thing, Movies Under the Stars starts at 8:45 p.m. in Reflection Plaza with a free screening of "The Sand Lot." If a BBQ isn't on your Fourth of July schedule, the Hotel Madeline has you covered with their Independence Day BBQ starting at 11 a.m. or head to Altezza at the Peaks for their Fourth of July celebration with two back-to-back artists while you dine at Altezza. Once the sun goes down, prepare yourself for one of the state's best fireworks displays from Telluride Town Park, which you can see from almost anywhere in Telluride. The fireworks will start once its completely dark around 9-9:30 p.m. (Please remember that personal displays of fireworks are strictly prohibited). Happy Fourth of July everyone, have a safe and fun holiday weekend!