Members of the Durango Fire Protection District carry a huge American Flag down Main Avenue during the 2015 Fourth of July parade in Durango.
Members of the Durango Fire Protection District carry a huge American Flag down Main Avenue during the 2015 Fourth of July parade in Durango.Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald file

In 2015, New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul lost a $60 million contract after injuring himself while setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July. Learn vicariously from him and leave the fireworks to professionals in the Durango area.

And there’s not only plenty of fireworks shows planned, but many other ways to celebrate America’s birthday this weekend.

The Durango Business Improvement District in conjuction with Alpine Bank and the city are sponsoring a host of events.

”We are planning everything in Durango from a pankcake breakfast early in the morning all the way to the last firework,” said Tim Walsworth, executive director of the improvement district.

Several organizations, nonprofits and charities will benefit from the proceeds, including Building Homes for Heroes, which builds and modifies houses for veterans, the Durango Lions Club, the Garden Project of Southwest Colorado, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Rotary Club of Durango, which is hosting the pancake breakfast that starts at 7:30 a.m. at Rotary Park.

Parks and Recreation will hold a 5K fun run along the Animas River starting at Rotary Park at 9 a.m. “It’s a good way to work off that pancake breakfast you just had or maybe build up your appetite for it,” Walsworth said.

Also included in the festivities is a family-friendly festival at Buckley Park featuring live music by local bands The Assortment and The Cannondolls, a barbecue hosted by the Elks Club, the yearly parade, a street dance between 10th Street and 12th Street ,and, of course, the fireworks display from Greenmount Cemetery at dusk, Walsworth said.

“We purchased $10,000 worth of fireworks, so you know, we’re not as big as Silverton, but this is gonna be a nice show,” he said.

Silverton events

The historic mining town will host a series of events to celebrate the Fourth of July, foremost of which is its annual fireworks display, said Blair Runion, events coordinator for the town.

”For a number of years, the Silverton volunteer fire department put on the fireworks display, and they did a fantastic job ensuring that it was the largest display on the Western Slope,” Runion said. This year, however, the city contracted its show to Pyrotechnics Display Inc. out of Clear Lake, Minn. and the $35,000 display is projected to last 35 minutes.

Silverton is collecting donations to help subsidize the cost and continue the tradition, she said.

Bayfield

Events in Bayfield include horseshoes, cornhole and volleyball tournaments and live music throughout the day at Joe Stephenson Park, according to the city’s website. Its parade begins at 10 a.m., and the fireworks, sponsored by the First National Bank of Durango, will take place at dusk on Monday.

And there’s more

Vallecito is hosting its fireworks display Saturday night along with an arts and crafts festival that will span the weekend, said Raelynn Elkins, manager of Vallecito Lake Country Market. Additionally, the restaurants on the lake and the marina will be open to offer amenities to those who are on site to enjoy the show.

While most campsites and cabins are booked, visitors are encouraged to come for the day, Elkins said.

Fort Lewis College will hold its annual “4th at the Fort” event adjacent to the McPherson Chapel, which overlooks town, said Suzanne Connors, director of alumni engagement and annual giving.

This event is $5 per person and is open to FLC alumni, staff and faculty along with their family members, Connors said. “4th at the Fort” will feature live music by the Pete Giuliani band before the fireworks display, with snacks and refreshments provided by FLC, including beer donated by Ska Brewing. Proceeds from the event go to the alumni scholarship fund.

FLC is expecting between 100 and 250 people, depending on weather and the draw of other attractions in the Durango area, Connors said. “Everybody’s got their favorite thing to do on the Fourth of July.”

A complete listing of the events in Durango can be found at downtowndurango.org/july4.

More information about other area events can be found at: bayfieldgov.org and colorado.gov/townofsilverton.

Luke Perkins is a student at Fort Lewis College and an intern at The Durango Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].

Fire restrictions in place

With high fire danger in the region, authorities are urging the public to be cautious with the use of fire for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.
“We want everybody to be safe,” said Karola Hanks, fire marshal for Durango Fire Protection District.
Because of the increasing potential of wildfire, Stage 1 fire restrictions will go into effect in La Plata County south of U.S. Highway 160 at 6 a.m. Friday, Hanks said. These restrictions allow for the use of charcoal and gas grills at private residences but prohibits recreational fires outside of fire pits and the use of those fireworks normally allowed under Colorado law.
Colorado has strict fireworks regulations, Hanks said. “To put it in simple terms, if the fireworks lift off the ground or go boom they are not legal in the state of Colorado.”
The Forest Service encourages people to be careful with fire throughout the summer as Stage 1 restrictions also are in place on private lands in nearby Montezuma and Archuleta counties.
Safety reminders were also offered, including:
Ensure fires are out before leaving your campsite, and keep water and a shovel on hand in case campfires get out of control.
Do not park cars over dry vegetation, as exhaust systems can be hot enough to ignite fires.
Make sure smoking materials are properly extinguished.
In addition, the Forest Service reminds the public that use of fireworks on national forest lands is prohibited by law and can result in a $5,000 fine and up to six months in prison.
Source: U.S. Forest Service and Durango Fire Protection District

Flag regulations

Planning to display the American flag for Independence Day? Here are a few tips from the U.S. Flag Code:
Fly flags only from sunrise to sundown unless it is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
Flags should not be displayed on days of inclement weather unless it is made of all-weather material.
Flags should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle. If displayed on a vehicle, the staff should be fixed firmly to the chassis or the right fender. Flags displayed on a float in a parade must be flown from a staff.
No flag should be placed above it. If the American flag is displayed with the flag of another nation, the flags should be on separate staffs of equal height.
When displayed horizontally or at an angle, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless flown at half staff.
If displayed on a wall the union should be to the observer’s left.
The flag should never touch anything beneath it such as the ground, floor, water or merchandise if displayed in a retail setting.
The flag should never be used as apparel, bedding or drapery. Clothing that is decorated to emulate the American flag is permissible under the U.S. Flag Code.
Source: American Legion at Legion.org