Full schedule announced for annual Vail America Days Fourth of July weekend

Event organizers this week announced the full schedule for the annual Vail America Days celebration that returns to Vail Village throughout the Fourth of July weekend, July 4-7.

Vail’s event-filled Fourth of July celebration continues to be a top destination for those looking to celebrate the summer holiday in a fun and safe mountain environment. For 2013, Vail is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with visitors and the community.

The celebration has been expanded to a four-day festival featuring spectacular fireworks, a classic town parade through the heart of Vail Village, live music, children's entertainment and an open-air street festival atmosphere.

Entertainment will include Vail’s celebrated 4th of July parade this year with a nostalgic theme, fireworks by the world-famous Zambelli Fireworks (conditions permitting), live musical entertainment throughout the weekend featuring family music, Jazz, and the annual Patriotic Music from Bravo! Vail with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

For the family, there will be an array of children’s activities, and multi-day festival style attractions with Americana style food and drink – as always complimented by all that Vail summer has to offer on and off the mountain.

The Vail 50th themed parade will begin at Golden Peak at 10 a.m. on Thursday July 4 and will wind its way through the villages, ending in Lionshead. Vail’s parade is one of the most popular events during the Independence Day holiday, attracting thousands of spectators.

This year’s theme is “Vail’s 50th Anniversary Celebration” and will set the tone for the rest of the day’s celebrations featuring musical entertainment, a patriotic concert and a fireworks display at dusk.

Fourth of July celebrations continue at noon and throughout the remainder of the day with free entertainment in Vail Village at the main Vail America Days Stage at Solaris Plaza. The live music and beer garden will be open to the public through 10 p.m. on and stay open from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 to keep the celebration going.

Another new addition to Vail America Days, is the Stars and Stripes zones, which offer an array of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy, The Stars and Stripes zones are complimentary and will be located in Lionshead and Gore Creek Promenade on Thursday, July 4 – Saturday July 6 from noon to 4 p.m. each day.

In addition to the main Solaris Stage and beer gardens, and Stars and Stripes Zones, there are a variety of other events taking place as part of the weekend. At 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July, the annual patriotic concert performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, presented by Bravo! Vail and the Vail Valley Foundation, will take place at the Ford Amphitheater.

All pavilion tickets will go on sale Monday, July 1, 2013 at 8 a.m. Each purchaser is limited to four tickets at $15.00 per ticket and will be available only to walk up customers at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater Box Office.

A great celebration is planned for this year and the program has been adapted to take particular care of Vail’s natural surroundings should the drought conditions persist. The fireworks show will take place at dusk on July 4 and has been relocated from Vail Mountain to the heart of Vail Village, where a more intimate display is planned.

These close proximity fireworks have been endorsed by the Town of Vail fire chief as a safe alternative. The best viewing will be along Meadow Drive between Slifer Square and Vail Road. And while there’s still a chance the show has the potential to be cancelled due to dry conditions, this plan gives the Town of Vail greater flexibility to produce a fireworks show safely and responsibly.

The Town of Vail asks that you join as stewards of the surrounding national forest and refrain from any use of personal fireworks. For updates on possible fire restrictions or other public safety announcements, subscribe to the emergency notification system at www.ecalert.org to receive text or email alerts on your phone.

For more information, a full listing of band performances and to access the parade float application form visit www.VailAmericaDays.com or call HIGHLINE at 970-476-6797. Parade Float applications will be accepted through Monday, June 24, 5 p.m. Vail America Days is presented by the Town of Vail and Gallegos Corporation and is sponsored in part by Vail Daily and KZYR the Zephyr.

VAIL AMERICA DAYS SCHEDULE

*For additional activities and events taking place leading up to, and in parallel with, the Vail America Days, please visit vailgov.com/thisweek or vail-calendar.com

THURSDAY, JULY 4

7am-7pm, Lacrosse Shootout, Ford Park, VMS, BMHS

8am-12pm, Vail Public Library Bake Sale, Vail Public Library

8am-10am, Community Pancake Breakfast, Vail Interfaith Chapel

9am-4pm, Vail Public Library Book Sale, Vail Public Library

10am-noon, Vail America Days Parade, A tribute to Vail’s 50th Anniversary Golden Peak - Lionshead

12-10pm, Festival Activities, Complete with Americana food and beverages, Vail Village

12-1:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage, with 101st Army Band of Colorado National Guard-ROCK N ROLL BAND – Live Music, Solaris Plaza

12-4pm, Stars and Stripes Zones, Featuring an array of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy Vail Square /Gore Creek Promenade

1pm, Vail Lacrosse Shootout – 3x 3 demonstration, Mountain Plaza

2pm, Patriotic Concert Bravo – Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

2-3:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Oolora Phamily Band, Solaris Plaza

4-5:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with 101st Army Band of Colorado National Guard-COUNTRY BAND, Solaris Plaza

6-7:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Schwing daddy, Solaris Plaza

6-8pm, Vail Jazz Pays Tribute to "The Red, White & The Blues" with Curtis Stigers and SaRon Crenshaw, Vail Square, Lionshead

8-9:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Hardscrabble, Solaris Plaza

DUSK, Fireworks, Vail Village

FRIDAY, JULY 5

7am-7pm, Lacrosse Shootout, Ford Park, VMS, BMHS

10am-2pm, Stars and Stripes Zones, Vail Square /Gore Creek Promenade, Featuring an array of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy

11am-5pm, Vail Public Library Book Sale, Vail Public Library

12-10pm, Festival Activities, Complete with Americana food and beverages, Vail Village

12-1:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with 101st Army Band of Colorado National Guard-DIXIELAND BAND, Solaris Plaza

2-3:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Boneless, Solaris Plaza

4-5:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with The Sessh, Solaris Plaza

6pm, Latin Jazz Night with Paquito D’Rivera, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

6pm-7:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music Solaris Plaza

8-9:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Johnny Schlepher Rock Trio, Solaris Plaza

SATURDAY, JULY 6

7am-7pm, Lacrosse Shootout, Ford Park, VMS, BMHS

8am, La Sportiva Hill Climb Trail Running Race, Vail Mountain Haus

10am-2pm, Stars and Stripes Zones, Featuring an array of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy, Vail Square/Gore Creek Promenade

10-11:30am, Vail Lacrosse Shootout – Youth Clinic, Ford Field

11am-5pm, Vail Public Library Book Sale, Vail Public Library

12-10pm, Festival Activities, Complete with Americana food and beverages, Vail Village

12-1:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Bob Mastersand Friends Bluegrass Ensemble, Solaris Plaza

2-3:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Dixie Leadfoot, Solaris Plaza

4-5:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Turntable Review, Solaris Plaza

6pm, Cirque de la Symphonie, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

6-7:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Jonny Mogambo Band, Solaris Plaza

8-9:30pm, Vail America Days Main Stage – Live Music, with Schwing daddy, Solaris Plaza

SUNDAY, JULY 7

7am-7pm, Lacrosse Shootout, Ford Park, VMS, BMHS

10am-3:30pm, Vail Farmers' Market and Art Show, Meadow Drive, International Bridge

11am-5pm, Vail Public Library Book Sale, Vail Public Library

11am, Jammin' Jazz Kids at the Market, Meadow Drive, Vail Village

Noon-3pm, Jazz at The Market, Meadow Drive, Vail Village

6pm, Bravo Nadja and Appalachian Spring, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

8:30-11pm, Jazz at Kelly Liken, Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail Village