Parades, Pie, and a Few Flaming Wagons

Long before the drone shows and pop-up beer gardens, the Fourth of July in Northern Colorado was a sun-soaked, boot-stomping affair. Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley all threw their own versions of the bash—each town trying to outdo the others with more flags, louder bands, and (allegedly) the best pie in the region.

The fireworks? Let’s just say safety standards weren’t quite what they are now. Local lore claims that in 1903, a rogue Roman candle launched from a horse-drawn wagon in Greeley set off a small stampede—only halted when someone waved a flag in front of the horses (it worked).

But mishaps aside, these early Independence Day parties were full of charm. Kids played marbles in the dusty streets. Couples picnicked in Riverside Park. And everyone from ranchers to railroad workers turned out for the parade—even if their boots were muddy and their shirts were starched with sweat.

Before streetlights and smartphones, these were the moments that brought people together. The crackle of fireworks, the swell of brass, the sweet smell of corn and cotton candy in the air—it was the kind of Americana that sticks with you. And in towns like ours, it still does.

Boyd Lake: Fish, Floats & Full-On Summer Vibes

Let’s talk about Boyd Lake—our go-to spot for fishing, floating, and forgetting what day it is. Tucked between Loveland and the mountains, this big blue beauty is a 1,700-acre high-five to summer.

What’s biting?
Boyd is a buffet for white bass, walleye, black bass, trout, catfish—you name it. Even panfish get in on the action. Basically, if it swims, someone’s got a line in for it.

Hot tips from the locals:
🎣 White Bass: Spot the schooling swarms in early summer
🎣 Walleye: Sneaky devils—try deep drop-offs in low light
🎣 Trout: It’s regularly stocked—great for beginners & bored kids
🎣 Ice Fishing: Yeah, yeah, we’re melting right now. But winter perch are legit.

What’s the water like?
Currently clocking in at a warm-and-wiggly 76°F, the lake’s filling up nicely and perfect for ski boats, SUP boards, and spontaneous cannonballs.

But wait, there’s more:
This place isn’t just for anglers—there’s a swim beach, walking trails, camping (with 148 sites), and scenic sunsets that feel like a screensaver. Canoes, kayaks, and colorful sailboats paint the lake, and on a good day, you might spot more dogs in life jackets than people.

In short: it’s pure Colorado summer energy. Pack snacks, bring sunscreen, and tell your friends you’re “unreachable” for the next 8 hours.

📍 Boyd Lake State Park
3720 N County Road 11C, Loveland
cpw.state.co.us | (970) 669-1739

What better time to launch this thing than on Independence Day?

From Berthoud in the south to the Wyoming state line up north, Fort Morgan in the east to Estes out west, each week we will to pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

July 4-7, 2025

FRIDAY, JULY 4TH 
Happy Independence Day!!!

Fireworks & Celebrations

• Greeley Stampede Fireworks - 9:30 PM, Island Grove Regional Park, 600 N. 14th Ave., Greeley

• Estes Park Fireworks Show - 9:30 PM over Lake Estes, U.S. 34 and U.S. 36, Estes Park (Free)

• Fort Collins City Park Fireworks - 9:35 PM, City Park, 1500 W. Mulberry St., Fort Collins

• Timnath Fireworks - 9:30 PM, Timnath Reservoir, 5824 County Road 40, Timnath (synced to music)

• Windsor Fireworks - 9:15 PM, Boardwalk Park, 100 N. Fifth St., Windsor

• Wellington Fireworks - 9:15 PM, by Bee Lake on east side of Sixth Street, Wellington

Festivals & Community Events

• Greeley Stampede - 9 AM-1 AM, Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley (runs through Sunday)

  • Parade starts at 9 AM

  • Park admission $2-$5, parking $15

  • Concerts, rodeo, demolition derby, carnival

• Fort Collins Independence Day Celebration - City Park, 1500 W. Mulberry St.

  • FireKracker 5K at 7:30 AM

  • Community parade at 10 AM (Mountain Ave between Howes & Jackson)

  • Food truck rally, family fun zone, trolley rides

  • Live music starting 4 PM: FoCo Motown Revue, The Patti Fiasco (5:30-6:30 PM), Funky Business (7-8:30 PM)

• Wellington Fourth of July Celebration - 7 AM-10 PM

  • Pancake breakfast 7-10 AM

  • Parade on Cleveland Ave at 10 AM

  • Festival at Wellington Community Park 11 AM-2 PM

  • Car show at Centennial Park 11 AM-3 PM

  • Community band concert 7:30 PM

Live Music & Entertainment

• Friday Fest - Reggae Fest - 6:30-9:30 PM, Ninth Street Plaza, downtown Greeley — Wake Up and Live (Bob Marley tribute band), Face painters, balloon artists (Free)

• Estes Village Band Patriotic Concert - 7 PM, Performance Park Amphitheater, Estes Park (Free)

• The Big Bang! Concert - 5:30 PM, Estes Park Fairgrounds grandstands — Adults $22, kids $10

• Foothills Music on the Lawn - Dreamboat Annie - 6-8 PM, Foothills, 215 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins (Free)

Food & Drink Events

• Red, White & Brews - Noon-8 PM, Loveland Aleworks back lot, 118 W. Fourth St., Loveland — Classic car show, Pin-Up contest (5-8 PM), Pinewood Derby, live music (Free admission)

• Good Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Cookout - 3-8 PM, Big Thompson Brewery, 114 E. 15th St., Loveland — Trivia, cornhole, games

• Red, White and Brew Bar Crawl - 5-11 PM, various Fort Collins locations ($7.13)

Sports & Active Events

• Liberty 5K - 8 AM, starting at Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, 815 14th St. SW, Loveland — Adults $48.70, kids $43.40, benefits Health4Heroes

• Free Aqua Zumba Class - 8:45-9:45 AM, Winona Outdoor Pool, 1615 Fourth St. SE, Loveland

Family & Kids Events

• CANCELLED!!! Loveland Lions Club Fourth of July Activities - 11:30 AM-8 PM, North Lake Park, 29th St. & Taft Ave., Loveland — Buckhorn Northern Railroad rides ($1), Corvette show, Hamburgers and hot dogs

• Fourth of July Block Party - 11:30 AM-1:30 PM, Calvary Church Derby Hill parking lot, 207 19th St. SE, Loveland — BBQ, live bluegrass (Yost Family Band), bounce house (Free)

Art & Culture

• First Friday Artwalk - 6-9 PM, downtown Fort Collins —Self-guided walking tour, visual art, musical performances (Free)

• Fourth of July Car Show - 10 AM, American Legion Post 119, 850 N. St. Vrain Ave., Estes Park — Grilled food available at noon

SATURDAY, JULY 5TH

Festivals & Markets

Festivals & Community Events

• Greeley Stampede - Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley

  • Heritage of Mexico Rodeo at 1 PM

  • Parker McCollum with Mackenzie Carpenter concert at 8 PM

  • Joni and the Chachis at Civitas Park Stage at 5 PM

• Fort Collins River Cleanup and Museum Visit - 10 AM, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery - River cleanup, museum visit, and dome film

• Windsor Farmers Market - Farmer’s Market Pavilion at Boardwalk Park 100 N. 5th St., Windsor, CO 80550 - Saturdays June 7 - September 6 - Enjoy live music, food trucks, and complimentary yoga session from 8:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m., check in at the Market Pavilion. 

Live Music & Entertainment

• The Crowded Bookshop Pop-Up Book Shop - 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Gilded Goat Brewing Company - Midtown, Fort Collins

• Live Music with Jill and John - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Gilded Goat Brewing Company - Olld Town, Fort Collins

• Mike Ippolito Live - 4-7 PM, Hub Cafe by Fresh Plate, 6402 Union Creek Drive, Loveland — Blues, folk, jazz, rock, soul (Free)

Food & Drink Events

• Fort Collins Red White and Brew Bar Crawl - 5 PM, various Fort Collins locations - Exclusive drink specials, themed drinks, lively music, and after-party

Arts & Creative Events

• Fort Collins Painting Events - Pinot's Palette, Fort Collins

  • "Three Sunflowers" painting session: 2-4 PM

  • "Simply A Starry Night" painting session: 7-9 PM

Activities & Games

• Piano Bar - 8:30-10 PM, Monroe's Lounge, 5542 E. U.S. 34, Loveland — Hosted by Dana McElwain

• Bingo - 11:30 AM-1:30 PM and 7-9 PM, Bingo Planet, 281 E. 29th St., Loveland — Benefits Fort Collins Lions Club ($10) Email for more info: [email protected]

SUNDAY, JULY 6TH

Festivals

• Greeley Stampede - Final Day, Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley

  • Rodeo events and final performances

Live Music & Entertainment

• Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration with Colorado Symphony (Morrison): At Red Rocks Amphitheatre. (This one’s not in NoCo, but we thought you’d still like to know!)

Art & Culture

• 2025 Green Box Arts Festival (Green Mountain Falls): Continues through the weekend.  (This one’s not in NoCo either, but it’s friggin awesome and worthy of the list!)

Markets & Shopping

• Fort Collins Farmers Market - 8 AM-2 PM, Downtown Fort Collins

  • Fresh produce, local vendors, artisan goods

• Loveland Farmers Market - 9 AM-2 PM, Civic Center Park, Loveland

  • Local produce, crafts, and food vendors

MONDAY, JULY 7TH

Art & Culture

• PAWS for Reading - 3:30pm - 4:30pm at the Windsor Library - Dogs + Reading = Magic

Sports & Active Events

• The Ascendent Golf Tour - the largest events in Northern Colorado and the only reoccurring PGA TOUR-associated event in the state - TPC Colorado in Berthoud

Food & Drink Events

• Open mic at the Lyric - Starts at 6pm - Come and join the community of musicians, poets, comedians and story-tellers to hone their craft, and support their fellow artists.
  

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