Community pride took center stage during Nederland’s 2026 Independence Day celebration
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Shakedown Street brought the groove of the Grateful Dead back for the Nederland community.
Parade Grand Marshal Jim Navratil was certainly dressed for the occasion. Jim received an award for his service to the community, as a member and volunteer for several area organizations.
The best day possible to display one's right to free speech.
The Barker Dam Brass Band lead trumpeter moves the crowd with a traditional and powerful performance of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Nederland's 35th Independence Day Parade and BBQ drew quite a large crowd of locals and visitors.
Nederland celebrated America's 250th with a visit to its own past, as parade participants marched in early 1900s-style dresses and horse-drawn carriages returned to the streets.
Korean War Veteran Don Johnson, born in 1927, drives an authentic military jeep.
Nederland Mayor Nichole Sterling rides atop a Town vehicle with her husband and cheers along with the crowd.
The Nederland Middle Senior High School Mountain Bike Team led a long line of cyclists in the July 4th parade.
Several impressive vehicles were featured in the parade, including this patriotic jeep.
Adam, with the Nederland Streets Department, helped to grill and serve over 300 hamburgers and 100 hot dogs.
One of the largest crowds ever for the Summer Concert Series.
Mayor Nichole Sterling (center), with Mayor Pro-Tem Luke Miller (left) and Kayla Evans (right) cut America's 250th anniversary cake.
Local kids were overjoyed with the many candy-hoarding opportunities the parade provided.
The young Mountain Movers Community Dancers dressed period-appropriate and helped to toss candy to the crowd.
This year's parade focused on celebrating the country's 250 years of history, as well as Colorado's 150 years.
Can you really have a parade without your friendly neighborhood yak?
When the military jeep had a hiccup on the corner of East 1st and Snyder, members of the crowd worked together to get it going again.
Smokey the Bear says, "Cool off!"
"What goes up..."
The Nederland Community Presbyterian Church and Carousel of Happiness provided plenty of fun and games for kids of all ages.
Kids enjoyed classic "field day" games like sack races, egg toss, and a three-legged race.
NEDERLAND — This year is a special one to celebrate. It represents 250 years for America and 150 years for Colorado. For Nederland, July 4, 2026, represents a chance to unify as a community to celebrate its own history, present, and future while recovering from recent tragedy and teetering on the edge of potential change—yet again.
But despite big plans that rely on the preconceptions of what Nederland should be, this Independence Day was a celebration of what Nederland is and where it came from, while proving through its success the potential of what Nederland could be.
With the help of Town employees, as well as local organizations—including Carousel of Happiness, Nederland Community Library, The Backdoor Theater, and Nederland Community Presbyterian Church—the celebrations planned across Nederland throughout the day truly showcased the undeniable character of our mountain town..
After the crowd sang "The Star Spangled Banner," Emcee Brian Biggs and Parks Manager Nicki Koch honored resident Jim Navratil as the parade's Grand Marshal and presented him with an award for his outstanding service to the community.
The parade proudly presented Nederland’s illustrious past, with the Nederland Area Historical Society, the Arapahoe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the young members of the Mountain Movers Community Dance troupe all dressed up in frilly, puffy period garb, passing out candy, holding up custom “1776” American flags, and waving to the crowd from a horse drawn carriage.
With many more participants than in previous years, the parade marched on to the sounds of the Barker Dam Brass Band while local fire protection districts, the US Forest Service, and Smokey the Bear sprayed the crowd down with water.
The Nederland Middle-Senior High School Mountain Bike Team and a cavalcade of cyclists cheered and rang their handlebar bells. Musicians and church choirs were towed on makeshift stages and sang traditional patriotic fare. Candy was thrown from the windows of vintage Nederland vehicles, such as a classic tractor and an authentic military jeep driven by veteran Don Johnson.
After the parade, Nederland was busy all afternoon with events and activities, including free tours at the Mining and Gillaspie House museums, carriage rides down West 3rd Street, and a potluck BBQ at Chipeta Park, courtesy of Nederland’s Parks and Streets Departments.
Town employees grilled and served over 324 hamburgers and 100 hotdogs to the community. A pie contest was held to highlight local talent, while the Nederland Community Choir and Revelation 19 gave a patriotic singalong. Games were set up for children of all ages, and Mayor Nichole Sterling gave a speech and cut America’s 250th anniversary cake, prepared by Peace, Love, and Cake.
Then, shortly after 4 p.m., Chipeta Park became packed for the Nederland Downtown Development Authority’s Nederland Summer Concert Series, as the music of KC36 Orange Sunshine Band and Shakedown Street got the biggest crowd for the series yet to get up on their feet and feel the positive energy.
Thank you to all those who volunteered their time and energy to create a very special display of Nederland appreciation, which curated a refreshing feeling of pride in our town and our community.
