mother and son spinning
Cheyenne Lyman and her son Walker, 4, of Highlands Ranch, create their own dance moves at Buchanan ballfields while the band 'Float Like a Buffalo' plays. Credit: Jane Reuter

A July 3 evening storm put the kibosh on plans for a hot air balloon glow to commemorate Evergreen’s 150th anniversary, but the rest of the community’s holiday events — both held at the Buchanan ballfields — went off without a hitch.

The back-to-back celebrations captured the small-town spirit of Evergreen, said Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Judge.

“My favorite part of Friday was just seeing the kids running around without a care in the world, enjoying the games, the face painting and all the other activities,” she said. “We’re very fortunate to have this little piece of Americana.”

(Please click on arrows to see slideshow of photos below)

  • three people in red, white and blue attire
    From left, Allison Burzio-Aagard, Patti McLaughlin and Ryan McLaughlin relax at Buchanan ballfields listening to ‘Float Like a Buffalo.’ Credit: Jane Reuter
  • band
    The Front Range-based band ‘Float like a Buffalo,’ with lead singer Cory Pearman, rocked Buchanan ballfields with its mix of funk and roc Credit: Jane Reuter
  • woman crawling onto plastic log
    Jessica Robertson, visiting from Omaha, tries her hand at the logroll as Kevin Wilks holds onto one end.  Credit: Jane Reuter
  • woman falling into water
    Jessica Robertson braces for a plunge as she falls off the log during the Foothills’ 4th logrolling event. Credit: Jane Reuter
  • Kids participate in the sack races during Evergreen’s Foothills 4th event at Buchanan ballfields. Credit: Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce

The long weekend began with “Illuminate the Past,” a tribute to Evergreen’s history that included booths from local historical and other organizations, turn-of-the-century music, vintage cars, kids’ games and pony rides. The evening’s planned hot air balloon glow did not happen, but balloon operators returned on the morning of July 4 for tethered balloon rides.

Still, Judge said the event was well received.

“Even without the glow, someone told us they’d learned something at every one of the organizations they stopped by,” she said. “That was really the goal. We all learned just a little bit more about the place we call home.”

Judge said this year’s July 4 turnout was significantly larger than in 2024.

“We don’t have official numbers yet, but just standing up on the stage looking out, it was much, much fuller — 20-30% more than last,” she said.

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