For nearly four decades, the Golden Lions Club has sold raffle tickets to pay for a day of live music, free children’s activities and the annual Fourth of July fireworks in downtown Golden.
This year will see a continuation of that tradition with one notable difference: The location of the fireworks launch has been moved from the Colorado School of Mines athletic fields to the Freshman parking lots.
The new fields are synthetic, and may be damaged by the fireworks’ fallout, explained Dennis Newmeyer, chairman of the Lions Club Fourth of July planning committee.
The location shift should not alter viewing at Lion’s Park, the site of the celebration at 1300 10th St.
“It’s a couple hundred feet higher, so people will be able to see them for a little farther away,” Newmeyer said. The height change could make the view from on top of Lookout Mountain better, as well, according to Newmeyer.
At noon, Lions Park will open for families to come down. Musical performances will begin at 12:30 p.m. and continue until the last act, the 52-piece American Eagle Brass Band of Littleton, performs at 7 p.m.
Fireworks will follow the patriotic performance as soon as it is dark enough to enjoy them or around 9:20 p.m., Newmeyer said.
“It’s a very small-town atmosphere. People will come and they will hang out the whole day with their families,” Newmeyer said.
Each year the club sells raffle tickets available at local businesses and during the Saturday Farmer’s Market to pay for the event. This year’s prizes include $1,000 cash and a mountain bike along with 198 more prizes.
“A lot of the patrons from around town are very generous,” Newmeyer said.
The Lions also pay for children’s activities such as face painting, rides, and a mini-train that travels up and down a portion of Clear Creek.
With many families cutting their entertainment budgets, the timing is right for an entirely free day of activities and music at Lions Park, Newmeyer said.
Beer from Coors and Golden City Brewery and food will be sold, but families can bring their own picnics. However, beer and liquor are not allowed from outside of the event, nor are sparklers and other fireworks.
“A lot of people come to the Fourth of July festival to socialize and see each other, and I think that’s what’s so special about it,” Newmeyer said.
Other celebrations
Heritage Square Amusement Park will host a Wild West Weekend July 4 and 5. Gunfight reenactments, Native American drummers and dancers, and jugglers and street entertainers will perform. There will also be live music and shows throughout the weekend. Admission at Heritage Square, 18301 W. Colfax, is always free. For more information visit www.HeritageSquareAmusementPark.com.