FORT LUPTON — Easter is still a few weeks away, but plans are already forming for this year’s Independence Day celebration in the city.

Mona Sandoval, an organizer for the event, said the schedule is already coming together.

“We’re in the midst of planning an old fashioned Fourth of July event,” Sandoval said. “It will be an all day event. The Oddfellows are planning an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.”

All of the events will be located near each other on the grounds of the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, she said.

“Everything is planned for the grounds on the north side of the Rec Center,” Sandoval said. “And we’re going to have an ‘Uncle Sam’ dressed up on stilts, and he’ll have a megaphone directing the games for the kids and things like that.”

The one detour from the Rec Center site will be guided tours of Fort Lupton’s historic sites.

“We’re going to be shuttling people from the Rec Center to the historic park and fort,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval, who grew up in Fort Lupton since she was 13, speaks fondly of how the community comes together to celebrate these events, and she excited to see residents interact with the crowd.

“We’re also going to do a talent show,” Sandoval said. “And we’re doing festival activities, which is a whole list of games and music and things like that.” 

While the planning stage is ongoing, organizers will create applications for the talent show, and interested residents are encouraged to apply once the paperwork has been finalized.

“We’re also looking at doing a car show, and we’ll put together the application once we have all the details together,” Sandoval said. “We will have a fly-over. We’re having burgers and brats around noon.”

As in similar years, a beer and wine garden will be on site allowing visitors over the age of 21 to enjoy adult beverages without alcohol entering the main area of the celebration.

“We’re talking about an old-fashioned fire truck spraying water to cool off the crowd,” Sandoval said. “We’re going to have horse-drawn wagon rides. We’re going to have a barbecue from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We’re going to have a patriotic show with a veterans tribute at 6. Then we have a band that will play from 6:30 to 9:30.”

After that… well, most Americans can guess what comes next.

“The fireworks, set to music, will start at 9:30,” Sandoval said. “So it’s a full day!’

Members with the American Legion post in the city will offer a unique service for the event.

“If you have an American flag that is damaged, the veterans with the American 

Legion will offer proper flag disposal,” Sandoval said. “And then they’re going to give new flags out to people who want one.”

The American Legion is also offering popcorn and root beer floats for the celebration, and Sandoval said the Community Foundation will serve snow cones.

The event will also feature vendor booths, and Sandoval said all the booths will be open for Fort Lupton non-profit organizations.

“It’s going to be a $15 booth fee, but then they keep all the proceeds,” Sandoval said. 

Sandoval has many more plans in the works including corn on the cob, cake walks, dunk tanks and face painting, and she promised more details as the plans are finalized, but in the meantime, interested participants are encouraged to contact Mona Sandoval at sandoval.mona1@gmail.com.

Contact Ben Wiebesiek at 303-659-2522, ext. 205, or email bwiebesiek@metrowestnewspapers.com.