Fourth of July celebrations in Aspen and Snowmass Village are just around the corner, so we thought we’d put together a quick guide to our Independence Day festivities. If your vision of the perfect Fourth of July four-day weekend includes excellent food, a red-white-and-blue parade and the sound of fireworks echoing off the mountains — complemented with ample time on some of Colorado’s very best trails — then you have come to the right place.

Here are some highlights of the upcoming weekend, plus some tips for making the most of it.

Aspen Saturday Market

Aspen Fourth of July - Saturday Market
Aspen Fourth of July - Saturday Market

Kickoff the weekend with a flavorful bite of farm-fresh goodies. Fourth of July just happens to correspond with Colorado’s best season for produce, so get your weekend started right with locally grown treats at the Aspen Saturday Market (July 1), held in downtown Aspen. Listen to live music while you peruse food stalls flush with gourmet treats, crafts and more. Runs from 8am to 3pm at the corners of Galena & Hyman, Galena & Hopkins and Hopkins & Hunter. Learn more.

On-Mountain Fun All Weekend Long

Aspen Fourth of July - Mountain Biking
Aspen Fourth of July - Mountain Biking

The Elk Camp and Silver Queen Gondolas at Snowmass and Aspen Mountain will be operating on summer hours from 10am to 4pm every day, giving adventure-seekers quick and easy access to the splendor of our mountain landscape.

Learn more about lift and gondola tickets.

There’s plenty to occupy your Fourth of July Weekend at Snowmass. Ride the extensive trails at the Snowmass Bike Park, dine at Elk Camp Restaurant or enjoy the bevy of free on-mountain activities. Over the Fourth, the wildflowers are usually blooming like crazy across the mountain (particularly on Vista Trail) with plenty of columbine peeping for hikers.


Over on Aspen Mountain, the Silver Queen Gondola takes you to the summit for that unprecedented view from the Sundeck, as well as hiking trails, disc golf and live music on the mountain on Saturday and Sunday.

Note that on the Fourth of July, the Silver Queen Gondola will be closing early at 3pm (last ride down at 3:30pm). The Sundeck will also close at 2:30pm.

The Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration

Aspen Fourth of July - Old Fashioned
Aspen Fourth of July - Old Fashioned

Aspen loves a good party, and when it comes to the Fourth of July, we take it to the streets with an all-day affair decked in red, white and blue.


The day starts early at Rio Grande Park with the 31st Annual Boogies Buddy Race, a 5-mile run and 1-mile family walk to raise funds for the Buddy Program, which creates mentoring opportunities for youth in the Roaring Fork Valley.


There is also a special America's Birthday Carnival for kids at Paepcke Park, a performance of Hairspray The Musical! in Rio Grande Park, an old-fashioned parade through downtown, and a street party with ample dancing as the sun sets.


Learn more.


It all ladders up to the finale, a full-on fireworks display over Aspen Mountain.


Tips for Getting Around

Given all of these events and the holiday weekend, Aspen and Snowmass Village will once again be a popular place to enjoy the Fourth of July. As a result, parking can be at a premium, but there are three fun and affordable ways to get around and enjoy the weekend hassle-free.



RFTA

Take advantage of RFTA’s free parking at the Brush Creek Park & Ride, where you can hop on the free bus into Aspen or take the free bus to Snowmass Village.



We-Cycle

You can also make good use of the We-Cycle bikes stationed all across town. This community bike sharing program offers flexible pricing (depending on how often you need to use a bike) and gives you a fun way to explore town. The first 30 minutes are free, so for short jaunts, they are a no-brainer!