If there’s one thing most of us can agree upon right now, it’s that the Fourth of July is best spent outside.
But with varying weather and drought conditions in the metro area, all fireworks displays and outdoor parties are not created (or celebrated) equal.
There are still plenty of traditional, large-scale displays planned for the coming days — mostly on the July 4 holiday, which this year falls on a Wednesday — but there are different fire restrictions depending on the city. And this year, many law enforcement officials aren’t taking any chances.
Here’s our annual roundup of displays and fireworks bans. All of the following events are free, all-ages, open to the public and weather-permitting unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, July 3

Denver – Civic Center: Denver’s “Independence Eve 2018” celebration will take place in Civic Center Park beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is free. It includes a concert featuring Chris Daniels and the Kings along with the 101st Army Band of the Colorado National Guard. (Check herefor tips, rules, parking information and transportation suggestions.)

Denver – Coors Field: On the other side of town, the Rockies will finish their July 3 game at Coors Field with a fireworks show.

Erie: The “July 3rd Extravaganza” takes place at the Colorado National Golf Club. The event includes free music, community vendors and food, along with a ton of family activities. Fireworks begin around 9:30 p.m. View more information here.

Littleton: The “Red, White & You” celebration takes place at Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave., from 5-10 p.m. Admission is free. There will be free entertainment, a variety of food concessions, a beer and wine garden, community exhibitor booths and bounce houses for kids (tickets required.) The fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. (Check here for rules and parking information.)

Wednesday, July 4

Arvada: Arvada’s Independence Day Celebration will be held at the Stenger Sports Complex starting at 9 p.m. – gates will open to vehicles starting at 7 p.m.

Aurora: The “4th of July Spectacular” is will take place from 6-10 p.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. “The Aurora Municipal Center Great Lawn will feature live music, delicious food and a fireworks display revered as one of the best in Colorado,” the city website states.

Beaver Creek: The Independence Day celebrations begin at noon with free slides and bounce houses. There’s live music and other activities until the fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. at Centennial Park.

Black Hawk: The “2018 Boom Town Fireworks Spectacular” will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Boulder: “Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast” will be held at Folsom Field on the University of Colorado-Boulder campus. Admission is free. Gates open at 8 p.m., entertainment begins at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks show begins at 9:40 p.m. A free shuttle is available from the 29th Street Mall.

Brighton: The 4th of July Celebration happens from 4-10 p.m. at Carmichael Park, located just behind Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Broomfield: The“Great American Picnic” will take place at Broomfield County Commons Park, beginning at 5:30 p.m. There will be a concert, a bike parade, concessions and food vendors, as well as pony rides and bounce houses. The fireworks display will begin at about 9:30 p.m. There is a shuttle available from Legacy High School. (More information is available here.)

Buena Vista: The city’s celebration kicks off at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast and continues with Art in the Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There’s a Patriotic Parade at 10 a.m., kids games, a free concert at 2:30 p.m. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m. at the Rodeo Grounds on CR 321.

Colorado Springs: The 4th of July Celebration at Memorial Parkfeatures a performance by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic orchestra, activities, food vendors and more. The fireworks are scheduled to start at approximately 9 p.m.

Commerce City: The largest public fireworks show in Colorado is at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Commerce City’s free 4thFest celebration kicks off outside the stadium at 5 p.m. with an obstacle course, bungee trampoline, mechanical bull, food vendors, live music and more. The Colorado Rapids take on the Seattle Sounders at 7 p.m. (tickets at coloradorapids.com) while free festivities continue outside the stadium.

Cripple Creek: The celebration starts at 12 p.m. and the fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Viewing locations with music will be at the City Park and in the Brass Ass Parking lot. There will also be food vendors and a beer garden.

Denver – Coors Field: The fireworks display starts after the Colorado Rockies game against the San Francisco Giants The game starts at 6:10 p.m.

Denver – Elitch Gardens: The park is open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. The fireworks display is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. Click herefor ticket information.

Denver – Broncos Stadium at Mile High: The Mile High Fourth of July fireworks display is launched from inside the stadium bowl. Tickets for the Denver Outlaws game against the Boston Cannons start at $10. Tickets can be purchased online at DenverOutlaws.com.

Englewood: The family-friendly event starts at 3 p.m. with live music starting at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. The events are being held at Cornerstone and Belleview Parks.

Estes Park: The 4th of July in Estes Park includes a car show at Stanley Park, live music, mini golf, paddle boating, and more. The fireworks are launched over Lake Estes and will begin at 9:30 p.m. Find more information here.

Firestone: The day starts early with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m., a 5K at 8 a.m. and a parade through town that starts at 10 a.m. The celebration at Miners Park starts at 10:30 a.m. Free activities will include a climbing wall, bungee trampoline, inflatable jumps, petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, mini golf, horseshoes, games and more. Fireworks will begin at dusk.

Fort Collins: Independence Day in Fort Collins will include a morning parade, a picnic, a golf tournament, evening musical performances at City Park, and a fireworks display over Sheldon Lake at City Park. Fireworks will begin at 9:35 p.m. (Click here for the parade route, the event schedule, parking and shuttle information.)

Fort Lupton: The celebrations start with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by activities including a petting zoo, bull rides, train rides, and more all day. Fireworks will happen at dusk.

Frisco: Frisco’s “Fabulous 4th of July”includes a pancake breakfast, a kids’ bike decorating contest and a free fishing derby. Fireworks over Dillon Reservoir will begin at about 9 p.m. The best viewing is from the area around the Frisco Bay Marina with a simulcast of patriotic music on 93.9 FM on krystal93.com.

Golden: The community celebration takes place at Lions Park on 10th Street. Activities start at 11 a.m. and include free rides for the kids, face painting, live music and food. The fireworks start just after dusk. More: visitgolden.com/4th-of-july/

Granby: The “4th of July Parade & Party in the Park” takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Granby and includes a dunk tank, free photo booth, music, kids games, BBQ and more. Fireworks start at dusk.

Green Valley Ranch: The “Fireworks Spectacular” is launched from the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Live music starts a little after 6 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:35 p.m. There is no parking at the golf club.

Greeley: Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. and will be shot over the north west corner of Island Grove Park.

Highlands Ranch: Events start at 4 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Highland Heritage Regional Park.

Kremmling: The “Fire Up the Cliffs” Independence Day celebration begins at 5 p.m. in the Town Square with a BBQ dinner, home-baked pies, live music and games for kids. There is a fireworks display off the cliffs once it gets dark.

Lafayette: The celebration takes place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Waneka Lake Park. There will be food trucks, a beer and wine garden, bounce houses and more. Fireworks begin at dusk. (Click herefor more information.)

Lakewood: The “Big Boom Bash”kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at Jeffco Stadium featuring family activities, food trucks, bear garden, and more. A 20 minute firework show choreographed to music will start at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Lone Tree: Residents from Lone Tree and Acres Green are invited to attend Lone Tree’s Independence Day Celebration at Sweetwater Park from 4-9:30 p.m. Wristbands are required to enter and are only available while supplies last. Click here for more information.

Longmont: The free 4th of July Fireworks Display takes place at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. (Click herefor suggested viewing areas and parking information.)

Louisville: The celebration at the Coal Creek Golf Course Clubhouse includes patriotic music, bounce houses, games, food trucks, face painting and henna tattoos. The fireworks show begins at 9:30 p.m. (For rules, parking and shuttle information, click here.)

Loveland: The free celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at North Lake Park. Attendees can see a car show, visit booths and listen to the Loveland Concert Band perform before the Firework Show over Lake Loveland at 9:17 p.m. Click here for more information.

Lyons: The Lyons 4th of July Parade and Fireworks takes place at Veterans Park from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Northglenn: The celebration at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park Events kicks off with a pancake breakfast, and includes a 4-mile run, a “Pedals and Paws Patriot Parade,” a bake sale, car show and more. The fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. (The schedule of events, parking information and FAQs are available here.)

Parker: The “Stars and Stripes Celebration”at Salisbury Park starts at 6 p.m. Parking is $5 and is cash-only. The event includes bounce houses, slides, games, balloon twisting, a climbing wall, and a more. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 and last about 30 minutes.

Pueblo: The Rollin’ in the Riverwalk” event will feature a performance by the Pueblo Symphony. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9 p.m.

Pueblo West: The day begins with the annual “July Wet & Dry Parade,” which is billed as the largest wet parade and water fight west of the Mississippi. Head to Civic Center Park for various food truck vendors in the afternoon, and at sundown, the Pueblo West Fire Department puts on a fireworks show that can be seen from almost everywhere in town.

Salida: Events and activities in Salida include concerts, circus performers, a parade, a beer garden, a game tent and food vendors. (Click herefor event times and locations.)

Thornton: The event starts at Carpenter Park Fields at 4 p.m. It includes beer gardens, food vendors and live performances. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. “This is no simple firework show as it includes parachute jumpers,” city officials said. (Check herefor rules and parking information.)

Vail: “Vail America Days” includes a parade that takes place at Golden Peak and fireworks at dusk.

Westminster: The celebration at Westminster City Park includes a fishing derby from 8-11 a.m. and an activity zone with food vendors from 4-9 p.m. The firework show will begin at 9:15 p.m. (Check herefor rules and parking information.)

Winter Park: The Lance Gutersohn’s 4th of July Celebration takes place at Highway Park starting at 6 p.m. This event includes bounce houses, face-painting, a beer garden and food vendors. The firework show will begin at 9 p.m.

Woodland Park: The “Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration” takes place at Memorial Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event includes a fishing derby, fire engine rides, vendors, food, and family-friendly games. Fireworks can be viewed from anywhere within the City starting approximately 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, July 7

Limon: Independence Day celebrations will take place on Saturday in Limon with a BBQ supper, live music, and a fireworks show starting at dusk and ending at 10 p.m. The city’s chamber of commerce says it is “eastern Colorado’s largest fireworks show.”