The city of Durango announced on Apr. 14 that the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will headline this year’s Fourth of July street dance, while fireworks have been canceled again because of ongoing drought and fire risk.
City officials said the decision reflects a shift in how Independence Day is celebrated locally, focusing on sustainable and predictable festivities amid long-term environmental concerns. Eric Bulrice, the city’s community events supervisor, said, “We want to be proactive given the existing conditions and forecast and pivot to invest in a Fourth of July Celebration that’s predictable, sustainable, and evolving with our community.” Bulrice also noted that other Colorado communities such as Aspen, Thornton, Denver, Longmont, Boulder and Castle Rock are making similar changes as wildfire risks increase.
The street dance featuring the Grammy Award-winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band is part of Durango’s Four Days of the Fourth celebration from July 2-5. Activities will include parades, pie-eating contests, races, rodeos, a scavenger hunt and a boxing match. The main street party returns to Main Avenue near Buckley Park following a parade at 4:30 p.m., with festivities beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Mike French, city Prosperity Officer said: “We are very excited about the ability to offer a nationally renowned band for a free community concert. Our partners at KSUT did an outstanding job of securing the Grammy Award-winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band. We could spend money on a drone show or a headline act which is a bigger bang for the buck.”
The City collaborates with several local organizations including KSUT Public Radio; Durango Chamber of Commerce; Durango Business Improvement District; Visit Durango; and La Plata County Fairgrounds and Event Center for these celebrations.
More information about Four Days of the Fourth can be found through the City of Durango website, where updates will continue as plans develop.
