Final touches being applied to Aspen s new City Hall
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In Wildfire Country, It s Time to Lay Off the Fireworks
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Jason Auslander
The Aspen Times
With full flights and surging hotel bookings, the Fourth of July weekend is shaping up to be Aspen’s first big post-pandemic holiday celebration.
Aspen airport officials are preparing to run out of parking for private jets, restaurants and retails are bracing for crowds that could magnify labor shortage problems and the city of Aspen is planning for an experimental “reverse parade” that will replace the traditional parade, which was canceled last year.
Even the local police will be all hands on deck for the anticipated post-COVID festivities.
“Back at the beginning of the year, we looked forward and preemptively said, ‘No one gets vacation at the Fourth of July,’” said Aspen Assistant Police Chief Bill Linn. “In our minds, we were thinking this will be the first big hurrah where society says, ‘Hey we’re back from COVID!’
Aspen Times file photo
With a two-year hiatus from the traditional Fourth of July festivities including the parade and fireworks due to the pandemic and drought conditions, along with concern from elected officials about increased crowds, noise and environmental impacts, Independence Day in Aspen may look different in the future.
“A lot of locals leave during this time, because it’s been so commercialized, and it’s not the Aspen they know anymore,” said Ann Mullins, a former Aspen City Councilwoman who serves on a committee re-examining July 4 events and celebrations next year and beyond.
If there are any changes, it will be up to the community to decide, according to city officials.