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Gather Old Friends & New For Fireworks & Festivities To Celebrate This 4th Of July
by "Uncle" Sammy Weisberg
It takes more than fireworks to make a 4th of July special. Sharing the occasion with friends and neighbors, and even the occasional newcomer to your circle, adds a touch of community that is too often missing from our busy day-to-day lifestyle.
Neighbors in the West Washington Park and Washington Park East communities will bridge the divide between their south Denver colonies on Independence Day, 11a.m.-2p.m., when they come together for a holiday celebration at the Washington Park Boat House, on the banks of Smith Lake.
Planned festivities include appearances by the Denver Fire Department and the Denver Police Department Mounted Patrol; music by the Denver Municipal Band Brass Quintet; a Kids’ Bike Parade with prizes for creative decorations; children’s face painting; and more.
Ice cream and beverages will be provided, so bring your picnic lunch and have a feast with your friends and family.
Individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring the event should call Merce Lea, at 303-722-8919, or email meredithzml@aol.com.
Celebrate your national pride with old-fashioned style, at Four Mile Historic Park’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, July 4, 10a.m.-4p.m.
For the uninitiated, Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St., is the home of Four Mile House, Denver’s oldest structure (built in 1859), once a stop on the Cherokee Trail. The 12-acre grounds are rich with the flavor of the pioneer west.
Bring the entire family for a day of fun, including visits from Thomas Jefferson and Uncle Sam, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, and performances by the Denver Concert Band and other area musicians.
Watch the 1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry go through their drills, and listen to stories of mountain men and Native Americans. Enjoy traditional games, children’s crafts and horse-drawn wagon rides ($2/adults, $1/kids under 12). To add an educational twist to your celebration, tour Four Mile House museum and see how early settlers celebrated the holidays and dealt with the summer’s heat. Traditional summertime food and drink will be available.
Four Mile Historic Park is located at 715 S. Forest St. Admission costs $7 for adults; $4 for students and seniors. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge. For information, call 720-865-0804 or visit www.fourmilepark.org.
One of south Denver’s largest 4th of July celebrations actually takes place outside of the city limits, and doesn’t actually happen on July 4.
The annual Village of Glendale fireworks display will light up the skies beginning at dusk on Sat., July 5, capping a full day of festivities celebrating not only Independence Day weekend – but the Grand Opening of Infinity Park – Glendale’s spectacular rugby stadium, fitness center and convention facility that is in the final stages of construction at S. Cherry St. and E. Kentucky Ave.
The day’s celebration commences at 4:30p.m., with an Experience Glendale festival at Infinity Park showcasing the riches the Village offers. Food, vendors and fun for all. At 6p.m., a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will dedicate the facility, followed by a concert featuring Lannie Garrett and her band on the Infinity Park pitch. The concert is free to Glendale residents, with non-residents paying $8 admission. The Grand Opening events wrap up at 8p.m., giving folks a chance to stake out a spot for their favorite fireworks display.
Anchored by America’s first municipal, rugby-specific stadium, the $22-million complex has been shoe-horned into a 5-acre parcel bounded by Kentucky Ave., Mississippi Ave., Cherry St. and Birch St. Though there is no visible room for future expansion, little expense has been spared in creating this unique sporting/entertainment venue.
Rugby matches (the stadium is home to the Glendale Raptors men’s and women’s teams) are played on a 68 meter x 100 meter “pitch,” that can also accommodate lacrosse, football and soccer games as well. Glendale officials say Infinity Park offers fixed seating for 5,000, with room for another 8-10,000 on the pitch – for concerts or movies on the 18-foot x 32-foot high-
definition DigiLED scoreboard screen.
Virtually attached to the rugby pitch is the state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot Glendale Sports/Fitness Center and Infinity Park Event Center, featuring an 8,600-square-foot ballroom, full audio/video capabilities and complimentary parking.
For more information about Infinity Park, visit www.infinitypark.com or call 303-639-4712.
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