Phish Weekend Kickoff and Afterparty
3-5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free
Turn your Phish experience into a Phish sandwich at Velvet Elk’s before and after parties running all weekend. Grab a to-go drink, pregame with live music from Studtmann Cunnane P.I., River Spell and Luke Hahn Zollo and come back to feed your post-show munchies with some Phish food. Afterparties on Friday and Saturday run until 2 a.m., so save some energy for the late night phishes.
Folsom Phish Weekend
4-6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, July 3 to Saturday, July 5, VisionQuest Brewery, 2510 47th Ave., Suite A2, Boulder. Free
Looking for more Phish pre- and after-parties? You’ll find it at VisionQuest, a funky little brewery in East Boulder. Enjoy live glass blowing, food trucks, merch and an art market before and after every show this weekend, plus the most eclectic mix of live music: butt rock, y’all-ternative, progressive jam metal, uncut funk and more.
Jammy Buffett
2 p.m. Friday, July 4, Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery St., Longmont. $15+
Bust out your flip flops and tie-dye for this jam-and-float 4th of July extravaganza fusing the laid-back stylings of the late Jimmy Buffet with the one and only Grateful Dead. Knock back some award-winning brews under the sun and drift away in the floating pool as you “let the jam carry you from Margaritaville to the edge of the cosmos.”
4th of July in Jamestown
8 a.m. to 12 a.m., Friday, July 4, Town Square Park, 117 Main St., Jamestown. Free
Get out of Boulder for a breath of fresh air (and away from the Phish frenzy) for the best day of the year in Jimtown. Start your morning with the pancake breakfast, jam out to an all-day lineup of live music. Stick around to immortalize yourself in the town photo or chop some wood in the town log splitting competition.
Donut Hole Mile
10 a.m. Friday, July 4, Colorado Tap House, 14982 W 69th Ave. Arvada. $6.30
Like a Beer Mile, but sweeter — and open to the whole family. Eat progressively more donut holes, without the assistance of a drink, at each quarter-mile marker (1 at 0.25, 2 at 0.5, etc.) for 10 total on this out-and-back 1-mile run/walk starting and ending at Colorado Tap House. Keep them down or run a penalty lap. Top individual and team finishers get their name of the Wall of Champions! Registration required: bit.ly/DonutHoleMile
Boulder Symphony: 4th of July
7-9 p.m. Friday, July 4, Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd. $15 adults | $7.50 youth under 16
Celebrate Independence Day during Boulder Symphony’s fifth annual July 4 shindig at the iconic Boulder Bandshell. This evening of outdoor music includes cinematic scores like Jaws and Back to the Future, along with the work of groundbreaking composer Florence Price — plus food and libations from Rang Tang Craft Barbecue and Cocktail Caravan.
PhanArt
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. Free
What started in 2004 as one man’s determination to create a historical record of Phish has now grown into a national event celebrating jam bands and their unrivaled fans. Join the legacy of music, art and community at this inclusive — no hate allowed! — two-day show of artists and vendors, just a 10-minute walk from Folsom Field on the iconic Uni Hill.
Boulder Juggling Festival
July 4-6, various times and locations in Boulder. $20 per day for gym access | $50 for full weekend gym access | $25 for show tickets ($15 for children under 12) | Full schedule: bit.ly/JugglingFestBW
Learn the circus arts at this three-day festival dedicated to all things juggle and flow. Join workshops, watch demonstrations, participate in games and contests or party with fellow practitioners of juggling, spinning, unicycling and more. All skill levels welcome. Read our story on p. 16.
TinkerFair
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, July 6, TinkerMill MakerSpace, 1840 Delaware Pl Unit A, Longmont. Free
This annual fundraiser supports Longmont’s nonprofit makerspace, keeping their resources — woodshop, laser cutter, ceramics, welding, 3D printers and more — free and open to all. The all-day fair will feature live demonstrations and live music, a silent auction, food from Casa Cortes and a vendor market.
Let’s Talk About Palestine
2:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. Free ($10 suggested donation)
Boulder Nablus Sister City Project and Boulder Showing up for Racial Justice host this screening and panel discussion surrounding No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary from activist and filmmaker Basel Adra. The film documents the destruction of the Masafer Yatta community at the hands of Israel’s ongoing military campaign and occupation, which has killed upward of 54,000 Palestinians (including more than 15,000 children) since October 2023.
Mural Making with Patrick Maxcy
6-8:30 p.m. Monday, July 7 to Thursday, July 10, Thistle Community Gallery at the Bus Stop Apartments, 4871 Broadway, Boulder. $383
Are you a budding artist intimidated by taking your work from the canvas to the outside world? Join this four-day workshop with an experienced muralist to learn scaling, safety and everything else you need to know. Test your technique and Patrick’s tips in real time as you work collaboratively with other participants to create a finished mural.
Intro to Outdoor Rock Climbing
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2100 Flagstaff Road, Boulder. Free
Itching to try outdoor climbing, but afraid to be judged by dirtbag climbers with fingers the size of your biceps? Rope Wranglers is hosting the weekly meetup every Wednesday this summer, with free equipment, experienced climbers and a no judgement zone for beginners, Boulder newbies or anyone looking to make some friends.