Vail’s annual 4th of July bash kicks off at Golden Peak, where a parade filled with floats, bands, and classic cars meanders through Vail Village before ending at Lionshead Village. This year’s festival theme is the “A Tribute to the 10th Mountain Division,” with a special meet and greet featuring 10th Mountain Division soldiers at the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum following the parade. Plan on arriving early (and take the bus into town if you can)—the 4th brings out the masses to see the parade crawl by, and organizers suggest arriving at least a half an hour before festivities begin. vailamericadays.com