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VAIL AMERICA DAYS
Come and celebrate the Fourth of July in Vail with Vail America Days, a beloved annual tradition! Plan for a festive morning parade through the streets of Vail, followed by family entertainment and a patriotic concert in the afternoon. Wrap up the night with four DJs playing a free all ages concert at the Gondola One Lawn.
Vail America Days Schedule Overview
10 a.m. - Vail America Days Parade
Noon - HAATS Black Hawk Display at Ford Park
12:30 p.m. - Live Music in Vail Village and Lionshead
2 p.m. - Patriotic Concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
5 p.m. - DJ Concert on the Gondola One Lawn
Full schedule at www.discovervail.com/4th
Parade: "250-150-60, 3 Milestones, 1 Big Celebration"
The region’s largest parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. The parade will progress from Golden Peak on Vail Valley Drive, then go west to Hanson Ranch Road, north on Bridge Street, west on Gore Creek Drive, north across the International Bridge, west along Meadow Drive and finally head through the Lionshead Mall to finish at approximately noon.
The theme for the 2026 Vail parade is “250-150-60, 3 Milestones, 1 Big Celebration.” Bring out your party hats as the U.S.A. celebrates 250 years, the State of Colorado celebrates 150 years and the Town of Vail celebrates 60 years. The parade will feature community-organized floats, bands and performances including the Colorado State University Select Marching Band, Brothers of Brass, Guerilla Fanfare and more, as well as the Vail Precision Lawn Chair Demonstration Team.
For a good view of the parade, arrive by 9 a.m. and pick a location along the parade route. To help reduce congestion, spectators are encouraged to ride their bikes or take the bus to the parade. Also, consider leaving your dog at home where it will be safe from the crowds and loud noises which could be startling.
Be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated during the parade. Water-refill stations are located in the Vail Village and Lionshead Welcome Centers, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Watch the parade live on High Five Access Media Channel 5 or via livestream at highfivemedia.org. Or find it on Roku and Apple TV beginning at 10:30 a.m.
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Family Entertainment
Enjoy live music and entertainment throughout the day in Vail Village and Lionshead on July 4.
Vail Village Stage - Intersection of Meadow Drive/Willow Bridge Road
Lionshead Stage - Entrance to Lionshead Mall
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Patriotic Concert
The Fourth of July Patriotic Concert will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, featuring the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The concert is a benefit for the Vail Veterans Program. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
Reserved tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, with a maximum of 4 tickets per person.
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On the day of the show, free, un-ticketed, lawn seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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DJ Concert
New this year, a free, all-ages Vail America Days DJ Concert will take place from 5 - 9:30 p.m. on July 4 at the Gondola One Lawn in Vail Village.
- 6 p.m. - Ian Campbell B2B Calvin Campbell
- 8 p.m. - Headliner, DJ Mandy
Food and drinks will be available from Express Lift and outside food is allowed. Note no outside alcohol will be permitted on site.
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Fourth of July Celebration Safety Measures
Over the past several years, the Town of Vail Police Department has seen an increase in unaccompanied minors and younger adults attending the Town of Vail’s Fourth of July celebrations. This has coincided with an increase in underage drinking, underage consumption of marijuana, disorderly conduct, property damage, and other offenses that directly relate to the gathering of large numbers of young adults.
In response to the ongoing issues, the Vail Police Department will staff additional officers and adopt a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to these offenses. In addition, a curfew will be in effect from 10:30 pm on July 4 to 5 a.m. on July 5. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed in public without a parent or legal guardian, with limited exceptions. View Title 6, Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Vail Town Code.
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GETTING AROUND TOWN
Leave Your Car at Home
Vail and Vail Transit and Core Transit will offer increased bus service throughout the holiday and offer quick and convenient ways to get into and around town.
- All Vail Transit routes are free.
- Vail’s in-town shuttle will be rerouted on July 4 and will run from Lionshead to the Vail Transportation Center, continuing on to Golden Peak. The stops between the Vail Public Library/Dobson Arena and the Covered Bridge will be closed until midnight.
- Catch Core Transit buses for free from Avon, Eagle-Vail, Edwards or Eagle.
- If you are coming from Gypsum or Leadville, fares are required on Core Transit. Please note cash is not accepted on the bus. Visit https://evta.colorado.gov/fares for details.
Call 970-477-3456 or visit vail.gov./bus for Vail bus schedule information. For more information on Core Transit schedules and routes, visit www.coretransit.org or call 970-328-3520.
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Public Parking
Once the two structures fill, additional parking will be released. Message boards will direct motorists to overflow parking available until 11 p.m. Vehicles parked in the Vail Village and Lionshead garages between 4 and 5 a.m. will be charged the overnight fee of $45.
Parade-goers are also encouraged to utilize other available parking in the Red Sandstone garage located at 559 N. Frontage Road, with easy access to Lionshead Village via the pedestrian overpass. This is actually a very short and convenient walk. The daily rate is one hour free, then $2/hour with a max fee of $10.
Close-in parking at the Ford Park and Vail Athletic Fields lots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the same daily rates. Call 970-479-2445 or visit https://discovervail.com/parking-in-vail/ for additional parking information.
Road Closures
For the safety and security for participants and spectators of the Vail America Days parade, the following road closures will be put in place:
- Most streets in Vail Village will be closed at 8:30 a.m. including access to all properties within the village core. The closures will remain in place until at least 1 p.m. or whenever it is safe to open streets to vehicle access.
- West Meadow Drive will be closed from 10 a.m. to noon from Vail Road to Lionshead. There will be no access in or out of any properties in this area.
- Access to all Vail Health facilities will be from the South Frontage Road from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Vail Valley Drive will be closed in both directions from Gore Creek Drive to Mill Creek Circle from 9:50 to 10:30 a.m.
Note there will be no static viewing of the parade allowed along the construction fence in front of Dobson Arena. Pedestrians may walk on the south side of the road but may not stop and or spectate in that area.
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Dismount Zones
To improve interactions between pedestrians and users of wheeled vehicles, Vail’s summer dismount zones have been reimplemented in limited areas of Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Watch for the "Walk Your Wheels" signs designating the dismount zones. For areas outside the dismount zones, bikers and users of other wheeled vehicles are reminded that pedestrians always have the right of way and to use moderate speeds in pedestrian areas, 5 mph or less. When passing a slower party, politely alert the other party by calling out and/or ringing a bicycle bell and passing on the left.
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TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR DAY
Where to Watch the Vail Parade
The Vail parade will travel through both Vail Village and Lionshead Village along Hanson Ranch Road, Bridge Street, Gore Drive, Willow Bridge Road, East Meadow Drive and through the Lionshead Village pedestrian mall.
- Arrive early to find parking and your spot along the route. Areas in the villages are usually more crowded than the sections of road between Vail Village and Lionshead Village.
- There will be no static spectating allowed along the construction fence in front of Dobson Arena.
If you want to avoid the crowds, you can watch the parade on High Five Access Media at highfivemedia.org.
Personal Fireworks/Open Fires
The use of all personal fireworks, including sparklers, is prohibited in Vail. Personal fireworks are generally defined as anything that explodes, makes a loud noise or flies in the air. The town is also under Stage 2 fire restrictions which greatly limit outdoor burning. Questions can be directed to Vail Fire and Emergency Services at 970-479-2250. If you live in or are visiting other areas of Eagle County, check with your local fire department for regulations or visit www.ECEmergency.org. Please be vigilant and call 911 if you see smoke or something out of the ordinary.
Alcohol
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on the streets of Vail. If you plan to drink, don’t drink and drive, make arrangements to ride the bus or arrange for a designated driver. Those who arrange an alternate ride home in lieu of driving while intoxicated may leave their vehicle overnight in the parking garages at no charge. For eligibility, enter after 3 p.m. and leave before 11 a.m. the next day. Please see a parking attendant for verification.
Dogs
Vail has a leash law for dogs in the Vail Village and Lionshead areas. Your cooperation in keeping your animal in control and on a leash is greatly appreciated. Please also use the town-provided doggy waste bags.
Lost and Found
If you’ve lost an item on the bus, in the parking structure, or elsewhere in town, visit vail.gov/lostandfound to report it. Items recovered are kept at the Vail Police Department in the Vail Municipal Building at 75 S. Frontage Road. Or, call 970-479-2208. Questions about items recovered from Vail Mountain can be directed to guest services lost and found.
Holiday Trash Schedule
Residents are reminded that the Fourth of July holiday may mean some schedule adjustments for local trash haulers. Remember that Town of Vail wildlife protection regulations prohibit trash from being left at the curb other than on the day of collection and recycling regulations require that all properties recycle on site. For recycling assistance, please visit vail.gov/recycling.
Emergency Assistance
Dial 911 for emergencies. Throughout the day, the Vail Police Department will increase its presence to provide a safe environment for your celebration. For emergency notifications, subscribe to Eagle County Alert at www.ecalert.org.
www.DiscoverVail.com/4th | 970-477-3522
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