7 a.m.: Cortez Burst Triathlon. Begins at City Park outdoor pool. Must register online by 7 p.m. on July 3. 9 p.m.: Fireworks at Parque de Vida at dusk. 5-7 p.m.: Community Interdependence Day potluck, 200 East Grand Ave. 9 p.m.: Fireworks in Boyle Park at dusk. 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.: Rico Women’s Club Craft Fair at the Rico Elementary School. 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: FireWise info at the firehouse. 11 A.m.: Fourth of July parade. Lineup starts at 10 a.m. at courthouse. Grand marshal and Rico native Allene Eula Winkfield Pera is 102 this year. 12 p.m.: Burgers, dogs, bratwurst and barbecue at the firehouse. Music by Four Corners Community Band. Filipino street fair food, across from post office. 1 p.m.: Enterprise contests: log splitting, watermelon eating. Music at 3:30 p.m. 3 p.m.: Rico Fire Department’s Duck Race. Duck drop happens at the Piedmont bridge, finish line is at the West Rico Bridge. Dusk-9 p.m.: Rico fireworks show. 9 a.m.: Parade starts, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., kids games at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, the grease pole at 12:30 p.m. and adult games at 1 p.m. 2 p.m.: The Pig Chase, followed by a rock-drilling competition at 3 p.m., the Bradley Sitton Band at 7 p.m., and a 21-gun salute. Dusk: Fireworks. 11 a.m.: Parade on historic Main Street, with a Colorado National Guard fly-over. Followed by The Rundola foot race to benefit the Telluride Foundation, and the Firemen’s Barbecue, at $14 for adults and $9 for kids. 9 p.m.: Fireworks at Town Park. 7.30–11 a.m.: All-American breakfast at Rotary Park. 9 a.m.: 5KFun run/walk at Rotary Park. Registration closes at 8:45 a.m. 11 a.m.– 12.30 p.m.: American Voices: What it Means to be an American, presented by Fort Lewis College at Buckley Park. Music by Southwest Civic Winds. 12-4 p.m.: Family barbecue at Durango Elks Lodge. 12–5 p.m.: Family picnic at Buckley Park. Food carts, readings of our nation’s founding documents, and live music. 2-5.30 p.m.: Veterans of Foreign Wars barbecue at Rotary Park. 3 p.m.: Southwest Civic Winds free concert at Rotary Park. Jazz band at 3:00 p.m., concert band at 4:00 p.m. 6 p.m.: Stars and Stripes Parade on Main Ave. from College Drive to 12th Street. 7 p.m.: A Street Dance at 11th Street and Main Ave. (will occur immediately following parade). 9.15 p.m.: Durango Fireworks Show has been canceled. 7-10 a.m.: Bayfield Lions Club pancake breakfast. $8 for adults, $4 for children. 8 a.m.: Calvary Presbyterian Church pie and craft sale. 8 a.m.: Firecracker 5K and family walk. 10 a.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Mill Street. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Fourth of July celebration at Joe Stephenson Park. 12 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament at Eagle Park. 1 p.m.: Corn hole tournament at Pine Valley Rotary Beer Tent 2 p.m.: Duck race at Joe Stephenson Park. 7-9 p.m.: Music at Joe Stephenson Park, featuring Million Dollar Highway. 9 p.m.: Firework show at Joe Stephenson Park. Will start at dusk. 8-10 a.m.: Fourth of July fun run. Begins at Memorial Park. 10.30 a.m.- 12 p.m.: Fourth of July Parade on Greene and Blaire Streets. Culminates with a giant water fight between fire department and kids. 12-4 p.m.: Carnival at Memorial Park. Silverton Brass Band Concert will perform. 2-3 p.m.: Rubber Duck Derby at Cement Creek. 6-9 p.m.: Blair Street Block Party, featuring The Tim Sullivan Band. 9-10 p.m.: Fireworks, set off near Shrine of the Mines.
The eighth annual Cortez Burst Triathlon begins at the Cortez Municipal Pool at 7 a.m., with orientation for participants at 6:30 a.m. Organizer Ken Fagerlin said the event typically draws about 100 swimmers, bikers and runners of all ages.
Proceeds from the registration fees, which start at $50 for adults, go to the Friends of Recreation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to needy families for membership at the Cortez Recreation Center. They have awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships since the birth of the triathlon, Fagerlin said.
Although the 4- and 5-year-old races usually held on July 3 have been canceled this year due to a lack of participation, Fagerlin emphasized that the triathlon is for the whole family.
“It’s a great way to get families out into the park, a great precursor to the fireworks in the evening,” he said.
Park Street will be closed between Main Street and Montezuma Avenue during the race for a transition space between the biking and running portions.
Participants can preregister at www.corteztri.com. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the event can contact Fagerlin at 970-749-6180.
The other big Fourth of July event planned for the town is the fireworks show, put on by the Cortez Fair Association. As in years past, Montezuma County Commissioner Keenan Ertel will set off the fireworks near the Recreation Center. The show will begin after dusk, which is predicted for just before 9 p.m., but organizer Orly Lucero recommended spectators arrive early.
“Let me tell you, this park is packed,” he said. “Plus all the roads ... there’s usually a pretty good traffic jam after it’s over.”
Montezuma County will be subject to a fire ban starting July 1, but Ertel, who has been in charge of the show for about 20 years, said the city government and the Cortez Fire Protection District always work together to make sure the fireworks display is “not a fire hazard.” He said this year’s display will feature more than $10,000 worth of pyrotechnics, paid for by local businesses.
THE SCHEDULE
Mancos
Rico
Dove Creek
Telluride
Durango
Bayfield
Silverton
Compiled by Journal staff and Alex Semadeni