I thought it would be fun to see what my friends who live in the towns northwest of Denver are doing for 4th of July - Independence Day. So I emailed a bunch of them and asked.  Here's what they're planning, read through for ideas of your own.

We’ll be in Westcliffe to watch the parade and we’ll be thinking a lot about our founding Fathers and their beliefs. - Georgia

We are having kids/grandkids over for a barbeque/Stenger fireworks.  Last year Dave and his girls took us to the Rockies game/fireworks.  I'm hoping your blog will give us some creative ideas for next year!  Hope all is well with you. - Louise

(I want to do the Rockies game/fireworks one year soon too, Louise.)

Derek and I are venturing up to Granby/Grand Lake for an 8-mile hike and to see the fireworks on Grand Lake with good friends.  We'll stay in a cute motel in Granby on Saturday night. - Robin

We're are going over to our friend's, who live in Golden, and BBQ and watch fireworks later in the evening. - Doris

We’re getting together with some family members the day before for a meal.  The day of, want to be home so our little dog doesn’t freak out when our neighbors do their “off-the-ground illegal” fireworks.  I hope you two have a great 4th! -  jas

Dennis & I are gonna hang out at home, eat watermelon and popcorn, and maybe catch some remnants of firework shows that show up around here!  As far as past 4ths, I used to go to the Cherry Creek Art Festival with my sister when she lived here. And it was always unbearably hot!  Happy 4th to you, too! -  Susan

And I heard from my wonderful daughter, Amanda -

Hey Mom! - We used to go to Bandimere Speedway every year but they stopped doing their fireworks show for a while and I don't know if they have started up again.  This year we were thinking of going to Arvada's Spirit of American festival featuring the "Hot Times, Kool Cars", classic car show.

"Arvada's fireworks show is over thirty years old and a full day of events begins at 3:00 p.m. at the Lutz/Stenger Sports Complex on W. 58 th Avenue at Oak St. just west of Kipling (parking lot opens at 2:00 pm)."  -Gloria Shanstrom  (I got this information here.)

And my sweet hubby chimed in too:

I’m going to try and spend time with my beautiful wife, something that doesn’t happen as much as it should.  Sleep in or maybe have a BBQ with our children and then either go see a movie or fire works.  Maybe even a short bike ride or a walk with the dog or a ride up into the mountains with the top down on the car. - James 

(Sounds very tempting!!)

Tim and I are working the morning shift, then going to Loveland to watch fireworks with the family this year. When I lived in AK, we used to do a hog roast in Talkeetna on the 4th, which was in the middle of our annual fishing trip - so fish for breakfast and lunch, then hog for dinner, and fireworks after sunset. - Christine

Wendy & Art - Fried chicken and fireworks.

Debbie - playing with the grandkids

Debbie and I plan to spend the 4th with her mom and dad. It is her dads birthday. - Chris

I'm going down to Pueblo with my sister, Rebecca, and her family.  We're going to watch fireworks there with some of her husband's family. - Nicole

Besides the link Amanda provided above, try these for more great celebrations:

Westminster's fishing derby, Broomfield's Great American Picnic, and Thornton's celebration. 

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