Town tips for enjoying Vail America Days Fourth of July celebration

Vail America Days™ organizers are ready to welcome guests and area residents for the extended Fourth of July holiday which includes a full week of activities leading up to Vail’s popular parade and fireworks display on July 4th. Those who gather in Vail and throughout the county are being asked to be mindful that fire restrictions could be enacted at any time for Vail, Eagle County and other surrounding public lands. In addition, all personal fireworks are banned in Vail. For a safe and enjoyable experience, use the following tips:

Public Parking & Event Access
Arrive early on Thursday, July 4 to enjoy free daytime parking in the Vail Village and Lionshead parking garages. The 2,500 parking spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and typically reach capacity prior to the 10 a.m. start of the parade. Please pull a ticket upon entry to access the free parking and insert the ticket to exit. Once the two structures fill, additional free parking will be available on the north side of the South Frontage Road until 11 p.m. Close-in parking at Ford Park will be available for $10 on a first-come, first-served basis from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parade-goers are also encouraged to park for free in the Red Sandstone garage located at 559 North Frontage Road, with easy access to Lionshead Village via the pedestrian overpass. Vail and ECO Transit will offer increased bus service throughout the holiday. This includes free express buses which will provide 6- to 8-minute Frontage Road service between Ford Park, Vail Village and Lionshead from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, Vail’s in-town shuttle extends to Ford Park via Vail Valley Drive from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 970-477-3456 for Vail bus information or 970-328-3520 for ECO schedule details. Visit www.vaileventparking.com for expanded and extended transit routes and parking info.

Vail America Days™ Parade
The region’s largest parade begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4 and winds its way from Golden Peak on Vail Valley Drive, then 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 through the Lionshead Mall to finish at approximately noon. The theme for the parade is “A Tribute to the 10th Mountain Division” with Dick Over and Sandy Treat serving as parade marshals. For a good view of the parade, arrive by 9:30 a.m. and pick a location along the parade route. Please note: Due to construction impacts at Vail Health, spectator viewing will be prohibited on West Meadow Drive between the Skaal Haus condo building and the cul-de-sac to the west of the Vail Health entrance. 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 startle your pet. 

Be sure to bring a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated during the parade at the water refill stations sponsored by GMC, Gallegos and the Town of Vail. Water refill stations will be located near the Children’s Fountain in Vail Village, near the announcing platform at Solaris and at the entrance of the pedestrian mall in Lionshead. 

Beginning at 7 a.m., traffic on Vail Valley Drive will be designated one-way westbound from east of the soccer field to South Frontage Road. Traffic will be rerouted at the intersection of Vail Valley Drive and South Frontage Road just east of the Vail Village parking structure. Parade vehicles and local traffic will access Golden Peak from the east along Vail Valley Drive near the Vail Golf Club. Staging of floats and participants will be on the south side of Vail Valley Drive. Vail Valley Drive will be closed to all vehicle traffic from east of the soccer field to South Frontage Road from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Vail Health entrance at West Meadow Drive will remain accessible for emergencies utilizing the north lane of West Meadow Drive. As such, pedestrians will be requested to continue walking through the area as spectator viewing will be closed in that area. West Meadow Drive will be divided into two lanes; the north side for emergency vehicles accessing Vail Health and the south side for the parade. There will be numerous police, event staff and security personnel in the area to ensure pedestrian traffic and emergency vehicle access to the hospital.

Watch the parade live on High Five Access Media Channel 5 or via webstream at www.highfivemedia.org.

Bus Service
Increased bus service in Vail will be provided throughout the day and into the evening on July 4 with six-to-eight-minute frequency on the in-town shuttle serving Lionshead, Vail Village, Golden Peak and Ford Park, with 20-minute to one-hour service on most outlying routes during peak times and 20-minute to two-hour outlying service during non-peak times. No in-town shuttles will run during the parade, 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Service should resume at approximately 1 p.m., or as soon as the crowd has dispersed enough to travel the route safely. Buses will operate in a continuous loop from the top deck of the Vail Village parking structure to the Vail Athletic Field beginning at 8 a.m. until the parade traffic has cleared. ECO regional transit will provide service as follows: For the Vail America Days™ parade, catch the ECO bus at Freedom Park in Edwards at 9:11 a.m., Avon Station at 9:19 a.m., or the Forest Service parking lot at Dowd Junction at 9:11 and 9:41 a.m. Fares are $4 for adults; $1 for children and seniors with proof of age. Call 970-477-3456 for Vail bus schedule information. For more information on ECO routes, go online at www.eaglecounty.us, or call 970-328-3520.

Fireworks Display
Vail’s Fourth of July fireworks display on Thursday will be staged from Golden Peak with the show beginning at dusk, conditions permitting. The fireworks will be synchronized to a powerful musical soundtrack and is suitable for all ages. Please tune in to 97.7 FM, KZYR The Zephyr for a simulcast of this event. Check www.vailgov.com, www.vailamericadays.com and local media outlets for status updates in case of changing circumstances that would require cancellation.  

Fireworks/Open Fires
The use of all personal fireworks is prohibited in Vail. Personal fireworks can generally be defined as anything that explodes, makes a loud noise or flies in the air. Bonfires and open campfires are prohibited in the Town of Vail.  Outdoor recreational fires are only allowed in approved commercial portable fire appliances that are equipped with spark screens. Questions about open fires and personal fireworks should 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 http://www.eaglecounty.us/Emergency/Fire_Restriction_Information/  or ECEmergency.org. Please be vigilant and call 9-1-1 if you see smoke or something out of the ordinary. For additional details, visit www.vailgov.com.

Alcohol 
Public consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets of Vail is prohibited year-round. No open containers are allowed in Vail. If you plan to drink, don’t drink and drive, make arrangements to ride the bus or arrange for a designated driver.

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.

No Curfew
The Vail Police Department has waived its authority to establish an overnight curfew for ages 17 and under this year. Your safety is our No. 1 priority. Please act responsibly. 

Lost and Found
If you’ve lost an item on the bus, in the parking structure on the streets or on the mountain, visit www.vailgov.com/lostandfound to see if your item has been recovered. Items recovered from town 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 should be directed to 970-754-3059. 

Holiday Trash Schedule 
Residents are reminded that the July Fourth 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 www.vailgov.com/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. 

Fourth of July Activities/Events
For details, visit www.vailamericadays.com or call 970-476-4790.