Well folks, it's that time again. The time to eat insane amounts of hotdogs and beer and celebrate all things 'Murican. What could be more patriotic than blasting colorful explosives into the sky for half an hour to scare the crap out of your neighbor's annoying dog? Nothing, except perhaps this compendium of Denver's best events to celebrate this sacred drinking weekend. Whether you'll be stuffing your face at Ace Eat Serve or thrashing around with Bud Bronson & the Goodtimers, Denver has everything one city could offer. 

TONIGHT, JULY 3RD

BUD BRONSON & THE GOOD TIMERS @ HI-DIVE WITH PANTHER MARTIN & VIC N' THE NARWHALS 

-21+

-$10

-7pm doors & 9pm show

INDEPENDENCE DAY EVE @ CIVIC CENTER PARK

Event starting @ 8 PM. 

Prepare for the holiday weekend with Independence Eve 2017, the eighth-annual free community celebration featuring a concert, light show and fireworks finale on Monday, July 3rd, in Downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park (Colfax & Broadway) beginning at 8:00 p.m. The concert will feature performances by Soul X and the 101st Army Band of the Colorado National Guard.

Lawn seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis; arriving early is greatly encouraged, as are blankets or low-rise concert/beach chairs. Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics; a variety of food trucks will also be available on-site. The event will take place rain or shine.

Produced by the nonprofit Civic Center Conservancy, the 2017 Independence Eve Celebration is made possible by the generosity of community partners: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation; the City and County of Denver, and VISIT DENVER. Special thanks to our media partners CBS4 Denver, Comcast and The Denver Post Community.

FIREWORKS @ THE AVANTI PATIO (JULY 3RD & 4TH)

Event starts at 8 pm. 

Join Avanti on the patio to watch fireworks over Coors Field! Get in early to snag a spot on the stadium seating for the best views in town. There will be fireworks both Monday and Tuesday night!Avanti is always family-friendly but the firework's crowd tends to be very lively and festive on the night of the Fourth.

TOMORROW. JULY 4TH

PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL- PATRIOTIC PUNCH & MORE

Looking for a spot to cool off this holiday weekend? Punch Bowl Social (65 Broadway http://www.punchbowlsocial.com/) created the perfect patriotic punch - Dawn's Early Light with New Amsterdam Gin, Crème de Violette, Teakoe Spiced Plum, lime juice and lavender syrup. Pair the punch with The Knockoff Burger and you’re set for an all-American meal. Don’t forget about the indoor gaming options including bowling, ping-pong, giant Scrabble, private karaoke rooms, bocce, foosball, darts and more. (Facebook @PunchBowlDenver, Twitter @PunchBowlDenver, IG @punchbowlsocial)

CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL W/ OIVE & FINCH EATERY

Fourth of July in Cherry Creek can mean hot temperatures, hot crowds, and hot festival-goers for Denver’s favorite artsy weekend. Beat the heat (and the long food lines) at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival with extended Burger Nights at Olive & Finch (3390 E. 1st Avenue - www.oliveandfincheatery.com) Cherry Creek. Chef/Owner Mary Nguyen and team will be flipping and grilling all weekend evenings on the patio, meaning $10 gets you a burger or brat with a beer and a side from Friday until Sunday. Looking to get outdoors to watch fireworks? Impress your friends and family when you grab a picnic to-go from Olive & Finch: for $50, you choose your four favorite signature cold sandwiches, a delightful quart of fresh and savory pesto pasta salad, a green garden salad that serves four and four assorted bakery cookies, fresh from the talented pastry team. Please call ahead at 303.955.0455 to reserve your picnic and please your people. (Facebook @OliveAndFinch, Twitter @OliveAndFinch, IG @oliveandfincheatery).

DEL FRISCO'S GRILLE ROOFTOP PATIO

 (100 St. Paul St. - www.delfriscosgrille.com/cherry-creek) in the centrally-located Cherry Creek neighborhood and you can catch fireworks from surrounding communities. As a special treat for the Cherry Creek Arts Festival weekend, from Friday June 30 through Tuesday July 4 you can get the special White Sangria cocktail for just $6: it’s a fruity summery sipper made with tart Pinot Grigio, house-made white peach puree, Peach Schnapps, and fresh berries and arrives table side with a fresh and fruity popsicle garnish – really! With seating at the expansive open-air bar, at community tables or on lounge-like couches and chairs, the rooftop patio at Del Frisco’s Grille with a White Sangria in hand is a must-do for easy fireworks watching. (Facebook @DFGrilleCherryCreek, Twitter @DFGrilleCC, IG @dfgrille).

OR

Celebrate Amercia’s Birthday with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (8100 E. Orchard Road, www.delfriscos.com) where the Prime Pair will be offered Saturday, July 1 – Tuesday, July 4. For $59 indulge in a pre-fixed menu and choose from a perfectly prepared 8 oz filet, Manhattan-Cut New York Strip, or Seared Salmon Fillet paired with their signature Crab Cake, plus a salad and side. End the meal with Executive Chef Mario Hernandez’s Decadent Apple Pie. Cheers to America with a bottle of XXXCherry Wine ($58 a bottle). Reservations are strongly recommended, 303-796-0100.  (FB @DelsDenver, Twitter @Del_Friscos, IG del.friscos) 

MIMOSAS @ TUPELO HONEY SOUTHERN KITCHEN & BAR

Start the day right with a $3 Mimosa from the brunch pros at Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar (1650 Wewatta Street – www.tupelohoneycafe.com). Soak in the southern hospitality as brunch is extended a few days to both Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 in celebration of Independence Day.  We suggest the “big as your head” Banana Pudding Layered Pancakes or our Sockeye Salmon Loaded Grit Cake, and serving our famous $3 mimosas. Bonus: Tupelo is opening early both days, at 9 a.m., for maximum brunching opportunity. (Facebook @TupeloHoneyDenver, Twitter @@tupelohoneycafe, IG @tupelohoneycafe).

PING PONG PATIO @ ACE EAT SERVE

If you’re spending the long 4th of July holiday weekend in the city, consider popping by Ace Eat Serve in Uptown (501 E. 17th Ave http://www.aceeatserve.com/) for the Asian inspired cuisine, refreshing cocktails, sake flights and ping pong playing options. As the temperatures keep rising, cool off on the expansive Ace patio with exterior misters and enjoy the Saturday Sunshine Soundsystem on Saturday, July 1st from 2pm – 6pm with Dj Bernie Luau’s Hawaiian Summer Jams and a Ratio Beerworks tap takeover with drink specials (no cover). Call (303) 800-7705 for reservations. (FB @AceEatServe, Twitter @AceEatServe, IG ace_eat_serve)

HIGHLAND 4TH OF JULY PARTY

Kick off the weekend right with the 10th Annual Highland 4th of July Party. Residents of the Highlands can begin celebrations on Saturday, July 3, with a water-balloon fight, along with pizza bites and tunes from High Desert Band, a local bluegrass band. On the holiday, guests can enjoy bike decorating contests plus a parade down 32nd Street led by an old-fashioned fire truck that ends its route at the 200-foot long ice cream sundae at Little Man Ice Cream {2620 16th Street, Denver; 303.455.3811}. The ice cream shop will have a “drum-line” of ice cream buckets in the parade, and there will be free food, live music, face painting, water balloon fights, and field day games. Click here for more info.

UNCORKED KITCHEN IN CENTENNIAL

There’s nothing more patriotic than gazing at purple mountain majesty from the patio at Uncorked Kitchen {8171 South Chester Street, Suite A, Centennial; 720.907.3838} The unparalleled Front Range vista is the perfect backdrop for watching fireworks display all across the city. For the fourth, the restaurant is offering a Tacos and Margs date night with patio reservations at 7pm, plus an extended menu of small plates and a chef’s special dish. Call ahead to make your reservations.