Highlands Ranch Cancelled Its Fireworks, Then the County Stepped In: The 2026 Fourth of July Plan

Here is the most confusing Fourth of July situation in Douglas County this year, so let us untangle it. Highlands Ranch's traditional fireworks were cancelled back in May. Then, at the last minute, the county stepped in to try to bring them back. As of this writing, it is not fully settled.

Start with what is certain. In May, the Highlands Ranch Community Association and the Metro District called off the 2026 fireworks, citing Stage 1 fire restrictions, extreme drought, and elevated fire danger. In their place, HRCA built a new event: the free Star-Spangled Birthday Bash on Thursday, July 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Highland Heritage Regional Park, with live music and a drone show finale instead of fireworks. That concert is happening regardless.

Then the story turned. Responding to community pushback, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners moved to fund a fireworks show themselves, an roughly $80,000 display at Highland Heritage Regional Park at 9 p.m. on July 4. The catch: the commissioners were finalizing the decision right at the end of June, and any show is explicitly contingent on fire and weather conditions the day of. The fireworks are back on the table, but not yet carved in stone.

What we would do: plan on the July 2 Birthday Bash as the sure thing, and treat the July 4 fireworks as likely-but-confirm. Check the county and HRCA pages the morning of the 4th before you commit your evening to Highland Heritage. We will update this page the moment the decision is final.

And if it falls through, you are not stuck. Douglas County has real fireworks within a short drive: Lone Tree puts on a full show at Prairie Sky Park at 9:30 p.m. (with a Sophia Scott concert), Parker launches near Salisbury Park at 9:30, and Castle Rock runs a full evening at Festival Park with fireworks around 9:30. Any of the three is an easy backup.

The Fourth itself in Highlands Ranch still has its staples: the Independence Day 5K and the bike and pet parade at 8:45 a.m., followed by the main parade at 9 a.m. along Highlands Ranch Parkway. Fireworks or not, the morning is on.

More Douglas County Fourth of July: Parker, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, or see every fireworks show in the county.