Happy almost Fourth, everybody. I've seen a lot of questions on the interwebs about fireworks. At this point, with Stage 1 in effect, personal fireworks are banned, but professional shows are still allowed. And it looked like Highlands Ranch was not getting a show at all this year, but even that has changed. After the community show got canceled earlier this year, Douglas County stepped in and will run a professional fireworks display at Highland Heritage Regional Park at 9pm on Saturday, July 4. Go early, park in the designated areas, and if conditions turn or the county hits Stage 2, they will pull the plug.

I had the pleasure of attending Emagine Parker's sneak preview on Tuesday evening, the night before their grand opening on Wednesday, July 1. Jon Goldstein, the owner of Northwoods Theater Group, which owns and operates Emagine Parker, was kind enough to give me 30 minutes of his time and a tour of the place. Hearing about the whole transformation directly from him was the best part.

Many of you will remember this location as AMC Classic Twenty Mile 10, which went dark last September. Emagine signed a long-term lease on the building and then spent the past year and the money to bring all 10 auditoriums to another level, with all the luxury bells and whistles. They brought in DeCa Designs, an Italian firm that focuses on theater design, led by director Domenico Del Priore.

If you are not in Parker, this still matters

When Twenty Mile closed last fall, Parker lost its neighborhood theater. There are still AMCs in Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock, but Emagine is going after the luxury night out: heated recliners, a full bar, real food, and giant EMX screens all in one place. If that is what you are after, this is the one you make the drive for.

So what did they actually do?

The food and the bar

This is the part that really separates it from the theater that used to be here. Little Dot Pizza is their own fresh dough pizza, baked in an oven that runs up to 900 degrees. Jon did a pizza tour across the country to get it right. For now it is served to guests inside, and starting in August they are bringing it to DoorDash. OlivEpop is their signature popcorn, popped in olive oil and sea salt, alongside the usual pretzel bites and candy. And the E-Bar is a real bar pouring beer, wine, and cocktails, with a lineup that leans hard Colorado: Left Hand, New Belgium (including their Voodoo Ranger), Great Divide, Crooked Stave, Station 26, and Colorado Cider Co on the beer side, plus local distilleries like Stranahan's, Breckenridge, and Old Elk.

He is already thinking about what is next

There is a flex area, effectively an 11th room with a screen, that opens up a lot of options. A musician played there the night of the sneak preview, and Jon floated ideas like comedy and special viewings, and some concepts that might even involve some indoor-outdoor action. Nothing is locked in yet, just ideas he is clearly excited about.

How they ended up in Parker

This location had been floated to Jon years ago, but the timing was not right. He lives in Detroit and all of their other theaters are in Minnesota and Michigan, but he has been coming to Denver since he was 16. He grew up on the East Coast, and his family used to ski in Vermont, until one year they came to Denver instead and never went to Vermont again. Colorado became the family trip, and it carried to the next generation. Jon and his wife Lauren's daughter Noa, a recent CU Boulder grad, is working for the Parker Chamber this summer. She says the mountains speak to her, and the family's love of the outdoors is part of the reason it shows up on the walls too: each auditorium has a different Colorado landscape, part of the DeCa design. I saw snowcapped mountains, lakes, and one of the bigger rooms had Red Rocks.

The night itself

The sneak preview doubled as a fundraiser for the Colorado chapter of HopeKids, an organization that supports families with a child facing cancer or another life threatening illness. There were a lot of community faces there, including the Mayor, Chamber members, and local media. Parker Mayor Joshua Rivero said this is great for the West Mainstreet area, and that between this investment and the energy around The Parker Hotel and the new venues taking shape, the dirt patch at the site is not going to be dirt for very long.

A perk worth knowing if you go elsewhere now

If you have a membership with another theater group, Emagine is giving a free year of Emagine Rewards Extras, their premium tier, when you show proof of a rival theater's membership. It is aimed right at the folks who have been driving farther for a movie since Twenty Mile closed. You claim it in person at Emagine Parker.

What tickets cost

Pricing is on the approachable side for a luxury recliner house. A weekday matinee runs about $10.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids and seniors, with standard and evening shows a bit higher, around $13.95. The best deal is for members: Emagine Rewards members pay just $5 on Tuesdays. Prices vary by film, showtime, and format, so confirm at checkout.

The details

One more reason I am glad this opened when it did: the back half of the summer has some big ones coming. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey lands July 17, his take on Homer's epic, and it is exactly the kind of movie you want to see on a screen this size.

Me though, I'm just waiting for The Fast and the Furious to come back. Universal is putting the original 2001 movie back in theaters for its 25th anniversary, a one-week run starting August 21. That is the one I will be first in line for.

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Music & Concerts
Discovery Park - Discovery Park Summer Concert: 101st Army Band of the Colorado National Guard - Thu 7/2, 6:30pm–8:00pm
Festival Park - First Fridays Family 5K and Concert: That Arena Rock Show - Fri 7/3, 5:30pm–9:00pm
Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel - Music on the Patio: Jon E. Boothe at Lone Tree Golf Club - Fri 7/3, 6:00pm–9:00pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Grey Madderz at 105 West Brewing - Fri 7/3, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Pines Bar and Grill - Live Band at Pines Bar and Grill - Fri 7/3, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - Front Range Revival at Wide Open Saloon - Fri 7/3, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Johnny O. Band at Takoda Tavern - Fri 7/3, 7:30pm–11:30pm
Sinners & Saints - Kyle O'Brien — Live at the Altar - Fri 7/3, 8:00pm–10:00pm
Prairie Sky Park - Lone Tree Independence Day Celebration - Sat 7/4, 9:00am–10:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - Saturday Acoustic Show at Wide Open Saloon - Sat 7/4, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Wide Open Saloon - 4th of July with Kingpin Posse - Sat 7/4, 2:00pm–6:00pm
Outlets at Castle Rock - Rock the Mountain: Radio Revolution (July 4th) - Sat 7/4, 3:00pm–6:00pm
The Stagecoach Saloon - Walker Williams Live at The Stagecoach Saloon - Sat 7/4, 6:30pm–10:30pm
The Whiskey Lodge - Live Music at The Whiskey Lodge - Sat 7/4, 7:00pm–10:00pm
Studio@Mainstreet - 4th of July Party with Wags and the Boys at Studio@Mainstreet - Sat 7/4, 7:00pm–11:00pm
Takoda Tavern - Starburn at Takoda Tavern - Sat 7/4, 7:30pm–11:30pm
105 West Brewing Company - Live Music: Brett Hendrix at 105 West Brewing - Sun 7/5, 2:30pm–5:30pm
Outlets at Castle Rock - Rock the Mountain: Def Trio at Outlets - Sun 7/5, 3:00pm–6:00pm
Prairie Sky Park - Summer Beats Concert: Steve Thomas Band at Prairie Sky Park - Tue 7/7, 6:00pm–8:00pm
Savina's Mexican Kitchen - Savina's Summer Concert Series: David James and the JWB - Wed 7/8, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Festival Park - Jazz in the Park - Wed 7/8, 6:30pm–8:00pm

Food & Drink
Bar Hummingbird - Castle Rock - Bubbles & Beats Sunday Brunch at Bar Hummingbird - Sun 7/5, 11:00am–3:00pm

Arts & Culture
Cantril School Building - TAP Talk: This Place, Our Time Exhibition Opening - Wed 7/8, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Nightlife & Entertainment
Pines Bar and Grill - Open Mic Night at Pines Bar and Grill - Thu 7/2, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Wide Awake Eatery - Dueling Pianos at Wide Awake Eatery - Thu 7/2, 6:00pm–9:00pm - $23.18-$28.52
Studio@Mainstreet - 6th Annual Redneck Party at Studio@Mainstreet - Fri 7/3, 2:00pm–12:00am
Max Taps Co. - Euchre Tournament at Max Taps - Fri 7/3, 7:00pm–9:00pm
Wide Awake Eatery - Sip & Spin Sundays at Wide Awake Eatery - Sun 7/5, 2:00pm–5:00pm
Purgatory Cellars Winery - Mahjong Guided Play at Purgatory Cellars Winery - Sun 7/5, 3:00pm–5:00pm - $20

Family
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Raptors Over the Rock - Tue 7/7, 6:00pm–7:30pm

Fitness & Wellness
RNK Running and Walking - Chog (Chill Jog) with RNK Running - Thu 7/2, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center - 6th Annual July 4th ROCK-IT RUN (5K, Half Marathon, Free 1K Kids' Run + Concert) - Sat 7/4, 6:00am–11:00am - $43+
RNK Running and Walking - Saturday Long Run with RNK Running - Sat 7/4, 7:00am–9:00am
Highlands Ranch Town Center - HRCA Independence Day 5K - Sat 7/4, 7:30am–10:00am - $25-$45
Lost Coffee - Lost Runners Run Club with RNK Running - Sun 7/5, 8:00am–9:30am
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Yoga in the Park at Philip S. Miller Amphitheater - Sun 7/5, 8:30am–9:30am
Festival Park - Monday Evening Yoga in the Park at Festival Park - Mon 7/6, 6:30pm–7:30pm
RNK Running and Walking - Weekly Reset Walking Club with RNK Running - Tue 7/7, 5:30pm–6:30pm

Festivals & Fairs
Highland Heritage Regional Park - Star-Spangled Birthday Bash at Highland Heritage Park - Thu 7/2, 6:00pm–9:00pm
Highlands Ranch Parkway - Highlands Ranch Independence Day Parade 2026 - Sat 7/4, 8:45am–10:30am
Colorado Renaissance Festival Site - Colorado Renaissance Festival — Children's Weekend (Military Appreciation) - Sat 7/4, 10:00am–6:30pm - $32+
Alidade Brewing - 4th of July BBQ & Fireworks at Alidade Brewing - Sat 7/4, 11:00am–10:00pm
Sterling Ranch Resident Resource Center - Sterling Ranch Stars & Stripes Celebration - Sat 7/4, 4:00pm–10:00pm

Community
Providence Park - Sterling Ranch Stars & Stripes — Bike Parade + USA 250 / CO 150 Aerial Photo - Sat 7/4, 9:00am–11:00am
Festival Park - Castle Rock 4th of July at Festival Park - Sat 7/4, 5:30pm–10:00pm
Festival Park - Fourth of July Pie Bake-Off - Sat 7/4, 5:30pm–6:30pm
Salisbury Regional Park - Parker Independence Day Fireworks Show - Sat 7/4, 9:30pm–10:00pm
Denver Polo Club - 4th of July-themed Polo Tailgate at Denver Polo Club - Sun 7/5, 10:00am–3:00pm - $49.87+

On the Horizon
Festival Park - Poundcake Pop-Up - Thu 7/9, 10:00am–1:00pm
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Groove 'N Motion (Powered by The Rocky Mountain Horns) - Fri 7/10 - $86.45
Smart Cow Yogurt Bar - Castle Rock - Sudden Fiction Books Kids Summer Book Fair - Fri 7/10, 4:00pm–7:00pm
Lone Tree Arts Center - Tunes on the Terrace: Chicken Wire Empire at LTAC - Fri 7/10, 7:30pm–9:30pm - $40-$45
Spray - Tone & Tan: Fitness on the Patio with HOTWORX Castle Rock - Sat 7/11, 8:30am–9:00am - $35
Festival Park - Sudden Fiction Books Annual Book Hunt at Festival Park - Sat 7/11, 9:00am–11:00am
Colorado Renaissance Festival Site - Colorado Renaissance Festival - Sat 7/11 10:00am, Sat 7/18 10:00am - $32+
Festival Park - Pedal the Moon - Sat 7/11, 6:30pm–10:00pm - $16-$20
KB Ranch - Bovine and Crime: The Summer Farm Tour - Sat 7/11, 7:00pm–9:00pm - $80
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - The Jersey's Rock the Veranda at the Castle - Sun 7/12 - $85.45
Olive Juice Beauty Bar - Learn to Play Mahjong with Trista Sutter (Beginners) - Thu 7/16, 5:00pm–8:00pm - $50
Wide Awake Eatery - Comedy Show featuring Kevin Fitzgerald at Wide Awake Eatery - Thu 7/16, 7:00pm–10:00pm - $20-$40
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Lookin Back Band - Sat 7/18 - $79
Philip S. Miller Park Amphitheater - Summer Concert Series: Jackson Dean with Tigirlily Gold - Sat 7/18, 6:00pm–10:30pm - $35+
Pikes Peak Event Center - Bad Moms of Parker Night Out: After Prom - Sat 7/18, 7:00pm–10:00pm - $45+
Cherokee Ranch & Castle - Captain Quirk & Friends: A Celebration of Beatles Music & Stories - Sun 7/19, 7:00pm–10:00pm - $89.45

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Douglas County will host a July 4 fireworks show at Highland Heritage Regional Park
TLDR: After the Highlands Ranch community fireworks were canceled earlier this year, Douglas County will now put on a professionally managed display at Highland Heritage Regional Park at 9pm Saturday, July 4, for America's 250th. Personal fireworks are still banned under Stage 1 restrictions, so this is the safe, permitted way to catch a show. Come early and use designated parking only, with extra viewing and parking near Redstone Elementary and Highlands Ranch High School. Food trucks will be on site. The show gets canceled if the county reaches Stage 2 or conditions turn unsafe.

Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect across Douglas County
TLDR: The Sheriff's Office enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions on Monday, June 29, for all unincorporated Douglas County, including Castle Pines and Larkspur, citing high fire danger and limited state firefighting resources. Open burning, personal fireworks, and model rockets are all prohibited, with fines up to $1,000. Gas and charcoal grills and supervised patio fire pits are still allowed, and professional fireworks displays are permitted. Parker and Castle Pines matched the county with their own bans.

Dutch Bros Coffee is coming to Lone Tree
TLDR: The Oregon-born chain is headed to Lone Tree, its third location in Douglas County. The city approved a rezoning and site plan for a roughly 1,025 square-foot drive-through in the parking lot north of Kohl's, near Quebec Street and Park Meadows Drive. It uses dual drive-through lanes and a walk-up window, and the city expects construction to begin in 2027. Some Acres Green neighbors raised traffic and air-quality concerns during the approval, and the developer added landscaping in response.

A Rock Canyon grad from Highlands Ranch competed on 'American Ninja Warrior'
TLDR: Kieran Yuan, a recent Rock Canyon High School graduate, made his 'American Ninja Warrior' debut on NBC in an episode that aired June 15. He started training at Ninja Intensity in Castle Rock around age 12, and in the Western Regional Qualifiers in Las Vegas he cleared all six obstacles plus the warp wall in one minute and nine seconds, one of the fastest runs of the night, advancing to the next round. He now competes for Team USA in Obstacle Course Racing, a sport headed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Douglas County Libraries plans a new Sterling Ranch library as the Roxborough branch faces closure
TLDR: Douglas County Libraries is planning a new 18,000 square-foot regional library in Sterling Ranch, and the Roxborough branch that has anchored that community for more than two decades could close once it opens. The $21.7 million project breaks ground later this summer near West Titan Road and Taylor River Circle, about a seven-minute drive from the current location. The board has not voted to close Roxborough. So far it has only funded the new build and renewed the Roxborough lease through the end of 2027. The plan has drawn pushback, with one resident gathering more than 1,400 signatures to keep the branch open.

Black Rock Coffee opens in Parker at Parker and Stroh
TLDR: A new Black Rock Coffee is now open in Parker at Parker Road and Stroh Road (6940 Stroh Rd), the chain's third shop in town and the second it has opened here this year. It has a drive-through, a patio out front, and the usual wall of Fuel energy drinks. Grand-opening specials run all week, including 50 percent off a drink with food on Thursday 7/2 and a free t-shirt while supplies last on Sunday 7/5.

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