It’s a week of high country fun and an old fashioned Independence Day Celebration all over the Gunnison Valley. The week include a host of holiday events including Crested Butte’s historic 4th of July Parade.
It’s infamous, maybe even notorious as Elk Avenue closes down on July 4th for the wildest, rowdiest 4th of July Celebration in the Rockies. What starts as a traditional Independence Day Parade with an eclectic CB twist, ends in a once experienced, never-forgotten water fight free for all as the CB Fire Dept. rides in.
But the fun starts well before the parade and the celebration continues long after. It’s a week filled with community spirit, fun, and patriotic celebration, making it a memorable experience for both locals and visitors.
Cattlemens Day Carnival
Ride carnival rides, snack on fried food and cotton candy, and enjoy summer at the Cattlemen’s Days Carnival! Day tickets and unlimited wristbands are available.
What: Cattlemens Day Carnival
When: July 2-5, 2025; All Day
Location: Gunnison County Fairgrounds
Mt Crested Butte Independence Day Celebration – Music & Fireworks
The Mt. Crested Butte Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks will be held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, from 5 to 10 pm at the Red Lady Stage in the Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) Base Area.
Join us for a free family-friendly concert and Independence Day celebration. Featuring live music, food and beverage offerings by CBMR, and children’s activities!
We’ll finish the evening with an Independence Day fireworks show starting at dark. Gates open at 4:30 pm.
Local Opener: Sam Eberle
Dual Headliner 1: The Williams Brothers Band
Dual Headliner 2: Savannah Rae
More Info: Here
Crested Butte 4th of July Pancake Breakfast
Join us for the 51st Annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast! This event is a Crested Butte tradition you won’t want to miss featuring a delicious pancake breakfast, ladder truck rides, lawn games, and balloon art. Be sure to wear your RED, WHITE, and BLUE! Join us one last time before we move to the new station.
We encourage attendees to bring their own reusable plates, cups, and cutlery.
Proceeds from this event support the Crested Butte Fire and EMS Volunteer Squad, the High School Explorers Club, and the Crested Butte Fallen Fire Fighter Fund.
What: 4th of July Pancake Breakfast
Date: Thursday, July 4th, 2025
Time: 7:00 am to 10:30 am
Where: Crested Butte Fire Station, 306 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224
More Info: Here
Crested Butte 4th of July Parade
Watch the country’s biggest small town parade march down our main street! Be on the lookout for our Crested Butte Fire Department rearing up the end, and follow them down to our new route off of Belleview Ave for an epic family water fight!
Date: Thursday, July 4, 2025
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Elk Ave from 6th St to 2nd St
More Info: Here
Gunnison 4th of July Celebration
The City of Gunnison 4th of July Celebrations is at Jorgensen Park. Everything starts at 4:00 pm, including kids games, food court, and beer garden. SUP Demos from 5 – 6 pm, Pup & SUP Race at 6 pm, live Music with Bombargo starting at 6:30 pm, and Fireworks at 9:30 pm. Bring your own chairs!!!! For more information call City of Gunnison 970 641 0435
When: July 4th, 2025 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where: Jorgenson Park
More Info: Here
Music On The Mountain: Floodgate Operators
Kick-off the summer grooving to Music on the Mountain. This free outdoor music event is presented by the Mt. Crested Butte Town Center Association and hosted at the Red Lady Stage at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area. Serving food, beverages, and fun for all ages. Rain or shine.
Founded in 2018, the Floodgate Operators are a five-piece bluegrass band from Crested Butte, Colorado. They combine fast, flat-picking traditional styles with energetic, heartfelt originals to create a unique experience that will not be missed! Local opener starts at 5:30 pm.
Date and Time: July 4th – 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Crested Butte Mountain Resort Red Lady Stage
More Info: Here
Cattlemen’s Days Ranch Rodeo
This rodeo is part of the Mountain States Ranch Rodeo circuit and serves as a qualifier for the finals. Gunnison’s Cattlemen’s Days is recognized as Colorado’s longest continuously running rodeo and ranks among the top 5 medium-sized rodeos in the U.S.
Held during Cattlemen’s Days, the event overlaps with PRCA performances like Tough Enough to Wear Pink, Patriot Night, and the Conservation Legacy rodeos — part of a full 3-day PRCA rodeo weekend July 10–12, 2025
What to Expect:
Team-based ranch challenges: Cowboys and cowgirls competing in real-world ranch tasks like sorting, roping, branding, and cattle handling.
Community spirit: A blend of high-stakes competition with family-friendly carnival vibes, 4‑H and FFA shows, horse events, a parade, auction, vendor booths, live music, and more .
Fundraising & tradition: The broader Cattlemen’s Days helps support charities (especially breast cancer awareness and local scholarships), and remains a cultural cornerstone in Gunnison since 1900
When: July 5, 2025; 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Where: Gunnison County Fairgrounds
More Info: Here
Cattlemen’s Days Evening Carnival at the Rodeo Grounds
Gunnison County’s biggest traditional carnival takes place as part of the Cattlemen’s Day Rodeo festivities. Carnival rides, games, food and just all around fun.
Date: Thursday, July 5th, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: Gunnison County Fairgrounds
More Info: Here
Tincup Whiskey Summer Concert Series: Ozomatli
Ozomatli is known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others.
The group formed in 1995 and has since released seven studio albums.
Date: Friday, July 5th, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: I Bar Ranch
More Info: Here