New changes to Colorado Springs’ popular Philharmonic Fourth of July celebration

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- After a tumultuous past two years navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and rules for large gatherings, the Philharmonic is back celebrating in Colorado Springs, this time at the Pikes Peak Center.

In the past, the Philharmonic has played a live show in Memorial Park, providing accompaniment to a large fireworks show. However, because of various unknowns like fire danger and drought, the Philharmonic and their partner for the event, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, decided to hold the event in a different format.

The Philharmonic played indoors, and while tickets were free, the Philharmonic overextended the amount of tickets they distributed. That meant people started showing up as early as 2:00 p.m. for the 4:30 concert.

Those who weren't able to watch the concert indoors watched the concert outside on a large screen broadcasting the event. Outside, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation spearheaded a 'July 4th Block Party,' with food trucks, a beer garden, and desserts like ice cream and snow cones.

Following the event, which ended at 7 p.m., the Philharmonic will be broadcast on the radio to accompany ten different fireworks shows throughout the city.

The Philharmonic will start playing on local stations at 9 p.m. and the fireworks shows will begin at 9:15.

Aubrey McCoy, the Chief Operating Officer of Colorado Springs Sports Corp, said the Symphony from your Porch is a tradition from the past two years that they are carrying forward.

“It helps a lot of people that weren’t always able to make it down to the park, a lot of the elderly or disabled," said McCoy. "And so that helped us serve a whole different demographic of the community, and we’re able to really help serve everybody.”

You can find more information about the fireworks shows near you here.