Silverton is preparing for its biggest celebration of the year regardless of whether fireworks will fly.
DeAnne Gallegos, spokesperson for the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management, said a town meeting held Thursday afternoon was inconclusive about whether fireworks will be safe and feasible on Independence Day.
That said, other daylong family-friendly events will be held regardless of whether there will be a fireworks show.
“We’re not saying an absolute yes, and we’re not saying an absolute no, but we’re marching along,” she said.
To compensate in case hot and dry conditions prove too dangerous for fireworks, Silverton is planning a downtown block party featuring live music, beer, food, games and concessions, she said. Regional popular country singer Hugh Phillips will take the main stage.
The block party is planned for the evening of the Fourth of July Gallegos said the town of Silverton hasn’t held a block party with streets closed off for Independence Day in likely a decade.
The Fourth of July is Silverton’s single biggest economic event of the year, every year, whether it falls on a weekday or a weekend, she said.
“Our streets are lined in full, our campgrounds are full, our occupancy in our hotels are maxed, VRBOs – we fill up as a community every year for the Fourth of July,” she said.
She said it’s hard to gauge just how many visitors the town receives or should expect, but every year, Silverton receives such an influx of visitors that its basic infrastructure such as water, sewer and trash can’t handle the activity on its own.
“We have to supplement that with porta potties and trash cans and dumpsters,” she said. “That’s how we know we have a very excessive, high amount of people for that weekend.”
Given Durango has already canceled its fireworks show, Silverton is expecting visitors from as far away as Albuquerque and Grand Junction.
“Silverton is basically just a base camp to access the mountain, so we get all types of guests, all types of user groups who just curate their own experience by their own likes,” Gallegos said.
Other Fourth of July festivities include the Silverton Family Learning Center Pancake Breakfast in Silverton’s Memorial Park; the annual Blue Ribbon 5K and 10K Fun Run; and a parade starting outside San Juan County Courthouse, with more planned.
cburney@durangoherald.com
