It's nearly the Fourth of July, and the Hotel Boulderado is being decorated inside and out with red, white, and blue bunting, thanks to our trusty Maintenance Department. There's lots going on this Fourth, with several events tying into Boulder's 150th anniversary. Here's a rundown of what you can do downtown and in Boulder this Independence Day.
- Visit the Chautauqua Auditorium for the official welcome ceremony to the Sesquicentennial Stroll at 11am, featuring the presentation of a National Historic Landmark Plaque. Special performances will highlight Boulder's artistic past and present. The Chautauqua Dining Hall will offer a barbecue on the green after the program in the auditorium concludes, and a brass band provided by the Colorado Music Festival will be there to keep the atmosphere lively.
- "Stroll with the Spirits" of Columbia Cemetery between 1:30pm and 4:30pm. Presented by Historic Boulder, you just might run into a figure from Boulder's past!
- There's a birthday party starting at 1:30pm for Boulder at the Boulder History Museum, complete with cake and children's activities. While you're there, check out the brand-new "Only in Boulder" exhibit.
- Learn about the relationship between Boulder and the University of Colorado at the CU Heritage Center, which will be hosting an open house from 1:30pm to 4:30pm as it presents "Boulder and CU Through the Years."
- Stop by the Central Park Band Shell for a bluegrass concert, with performances by the Boulder Accoustic Society and the Blue Canyon Boys. The concert kicks off at 2pm, and at 2:30 a Children's Bike Parade will take place, so get there early if you want to decorate your bike, stroller, or anything else with wheels.
- Celebrate Boulder's international ties with Boulder's Sister City communities at the Municipal Building Plaza. Learn about the projects, exchanges, and people behind our relationships with communities in Africa, Asia, and Central America from 2pm to 5:30pm.
- Ralphie's Independence Day Blast, a Boulder tradition for 41 years, concludes the day's festivities with bands, a birthday party, and fireworks from 8pm to 10pm at Folsom Field.
