There are certain holidays that are just filled with pressure — pressure to have the best. time. ever. Halloween. New Year’s Eve. And, of course, Fourth of July. Every Fourth of July is a scramble to find the best barbecue, the coolest concert and the finest fireworks. It’s even more pressure when the Fourth falls on a Friday, which means you have to fill up a long weekend with fun! Well, we’re here to help. If you’re looking for things to do in Durango this Fourth of July, look no further.

July 4

No Independence Day in Durango is complete without the town’s annual July 4 events, which kick off in the morning with an all-American breakfast and a 5K fun run/walk at Rotary Park. Don’t forget the parade at 6 p.m., followed by a street dance on Main Avenue and an old-fashioned, Wild West cowboy shootout at 7 p.m. outside the Diamond Belle Saloon in downtown Durango. The night wraps up with a fireworks display when it gets dark enough (usually around 9 p.m.).

July 5

If you didn’t get enough fun-running and fire-cracking on Friday, then hit up Durango Mountain Resort on Saturday for the Backcountry Experience Firecracker Fun Run and 5K from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The race is free to join, and registration is 9-10 a.m.

Saturday also offers another chance for a second fireworks show at Vallecito Lake, a secluded mountain valley and lake less than 20 miles from Durango. Don’t miss the Vallecito Lake Arts and Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. just below the Vallecito Dam, followed by another fireworks show from 9-10 p.m. Catch a spot along the lake’s 12 miles of shoreline to watch the star-spangled fireworks over the lake.

Spend your long Fourth of July weekend with us at the Durango Quality Inn! We’re only 2 miles north of downtown and a straight shot north of the festivities on Main Avenue (and easily accessible on the city’s free trolley). Happy Independence Day!