Fourth of July fireworks shows will ring Colorado Springs

For the second year in a row, the skies over the heart of Colorado Springs will be dark July 4. Fireworks won’t light up Memorial Park, but those needing their fireworks fix on the nation’s birthday won’t have to look too far.

Smaller celebrations will continue throughout the region, while the “place to be” this Fourth has moved north to the Air Force Academy.

The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, which played at Memorial Park for years, will perform at the academy before a 9:30 p.m. fireworks display. The academy expects as many as 50,000 people to attend the event, which they say will be the biggest in town.

Air Force officials hope it will become a tradition in the Springs, with family games, food, music by the Philharmonic and Air Force Academy band and a fireworks display.

“We are bringing the fireworks show back to Colorado Springs,” said Master Sgt. Steven Przyzycki of the Air Force Academy band. “With the cutbacks in the parks and everything, they weren’t going to have a show again. … We just thought it was a shame.”

Officials hope attendees won’t be deterred by security measures, which include random vehicle checks at the gate, similar to procedures at football games.

“It is a little bit different than going other places,” said Senior Master Sgt. Larry Hill, director of public affairs for the Air Force Academy band.

But security shouldn’t be too much of a hassle after the amount of planning that has gone into the event, Przyzycki said.

Lawnchairs, blankets, umbrellas and sealed water bottles will be allowed on the grounds.

Coolers, grills, alcohol, personal fireworks and dogs other than service dogs will not be allowed. Those attending are asked to use the academy’s north gate, exit 156B on Interstate 25.

The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, a staple in Fourth of July celebrations, played July 3 last year at Fort Carson, marketing director Nathan Willers said. After learning the Memorial Park show wouldn’t return this year, the group began looking for a new place to play, he said.

“They cut all of it and so we went somewhere else,” Willers said. “The venue isn’t so important as being part of the celebration. Memorial Park was nice — it had, you know, the water and big field, but the Air Force Academy is very similar in that respect and so is Fort Carson.”

In this year’s economic climate, the city could not bring back the Memorial Park show, city spokeswoman Sue Skiffington-Blumberg said. Officials are looking at having the show, a tradition for three decades, return in 2011 with the help of potential sponsors, she said.

City council members will make that decision as they go through the budget in October and November.

“I don’t think the tradition is gone forever,” Skiffington-Blumberg said. “We just had to find other ways to fund it. Last year Fort Carson invited the community in; this year the Air ForceAcademy has invited the community in. Next year we hope to be able to invite the community in.”

FIREWORKS AND FESTIVITIES

With no celebration at Memorial Park, larger crowds are expected this year at a number of events and fireworks displays that typically draw fewer than 10,000 people:

• At Fort Carson, the “Salute to America” celebration beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday at Iron Horse Park can accommodate up to 15,000 people, spokeswoman Brandy Gill said in an e-mail. The event will include carnival games, food vendors, musical entertainment from the New Sensation band and a fireworks display set to music provided by the 4th Infantry Division Band. As in previous years, attendees over the age of 18 must present a federal or state issued photo ID and proof of vehicle registration and insurance, Gill said. Visitors should enter through Gate 1, off State Highway 115. Besides service animals, no pets are allowed. Weapons, glass bottles and backpacks also are prohibited.

• In Manitou Springs, fireworks viewable from anywhere in the downtown area will launch about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, following the annual Fourth of July “Buffalo Bar-B-Q,” which will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Soda Springs Park and includes food and live entertainment.

• In Woodland Park, more than 5,000 people are expected to attend the “Old Fashioned Fourth of July,” which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park and includes a fishing contest, food, music and vendors. Fireworks will be launched at dusk from Woodland Park High School.

• In Monument, fireworks will launch about 9:15 p.m. at the Palmer Lake Fireworks Extravaganza, following two days of activities that begin at 7 p.m. today with a barn dance at Sibell’s Barn on Front Street and include a July 3 parade and street fair. Beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at Palmer Lake, activities will include a tractor pull from County Line Road to Palmer Lake, a festival and live music. For more information, go here. 

• In Cripple Creek, a fireworks show choreographed to patriotic music will begin at 9:30 p.m. at City Park. The fireworks will be visible from anywhere in town.

• Fireworks also will follow the Sky Sox game on July 3.