PHOTOS: Aspen celebrates the Red, White, and Blue with old-fashioned parade

News | Jul 5, 2025

Austin Colbert

Share this story

The city of Aspen’s annual old-fashioned Fourth of July parade returned to the streets of downtown on Friday, with “Retro Rewind” being the theme.

On top of the parade, the day also included the annual Boogie’s Buddy Race in the morning, the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club’s barbecue at Koch Park in the afternoon, and both a free concert by FRUITION and a drone show from Wagner Park in the evening.

Longtime Aspen Fire Chief Rick Balentine, who is soon retiring, acknowledges the crowd as he serves as grand marshal for the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in Aspen.

A man takes a selfie during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in downtown Aspen.

A woman creates bubbles during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in downtown Aspen.

A juggler with Cirque Kikasse performs during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in downtown Aspen.

A woman has her hair attended to by Jul His + Her Salon during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in Aspen.

People enjoy the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in downtown Aspen.

Young cyclists enjoy the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in downtown Aspen.

A goat is carried around during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday in Aspen.

A young spectator shows off her face paint during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A young rider does a wheelie during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A juggler with Cirque Kikasse performs during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A man rides skis from the top of a car during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A girl looks around during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen Fire takes part in the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Young spectators enjoy what they see during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Unicyclists ride through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Toothbrushes are handed out during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Vehicles drive through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
People enjoy the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Young spectators enjoy what they see during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
People watch the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade from the top of a roof on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Water is shot at the crowd during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A goat is carried around during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A woman has her hair attended to by Jul His + Her Salon during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Live music is played and sang from the back of a float during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Club works on its lineouts during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Bubbles are blown during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A group of cowgirls take part in the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A woman creates bubbles during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Young cyclists enjoy the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Longtime Aspen Fire Chief Rick Balentine, who is soon retiring, acknowledges the crowd as he serves as grand marshal for the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Acrobats with Cirque Kikasse perform during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A street cleaner immeditately takes to the road after the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A man takes a selfie during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A juggler with Cirque Kikasse performs during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A fighter jet does a flyby of town prior to the start of the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Young cyclists enjoy the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Jack “The Butcher” Frey, who owned The Butcher’s Block in Aspen for 50 years before selling last year, enjoys the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Unicyclist Mike Tierney rides through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An old Willys Jeep makes it through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A girl waves toward the floats during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A calliope, a steam-powered organ, is played during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Members of Aspen Gymnastics perform during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A woman waves at the crowd during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A military veteran takes part in the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A military veteran takes part in the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Water is shot at the crowd during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A representative of Rivian says hi to spectators during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A young woman shouts at the crowd with a microphone during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
An old Ford makes it through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Unicyclist Mike Tierney rides through the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
A woman waves at the crowd during the city of Aspen’s Fourth of July parade on Friday, July 4, 2025, in downtown Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times