The Arvada Festivals Commission is hosting its annual Fourth of July Celebration at Stenger-Lutz Sports Complex, 58th Avenue and Oak Street.

The festival is hosted by the city of Arvada, Arvada Festivals Commission, KOOL 105 and Apex Park and Recreation District begins at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 4.

The festival leading up to a fireworks show will feature food vendors, community booths, military and fire department vehicle displays, a classic car show, live music from Wide Open and FIVE13 and a children’s activity area.

The free children’s area includes five inflatables, alpacas, face painting, games and activities and giant hamster balls that children can roll around in for a small fee.

The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. and KOOL 105 will simulcast music to accompany the show.

The festival and fireworks are free to attend. Attendees can park in the Stenger and Lutz parking lots off of Oak Street beginning at 3 p.m.

Bandimere Speedway is keeping its Fourth of July celebration on track with its annual Brakes Plus Jet Car Nationals and Family Festival.

Gates open at 8 a.m. July Fourth at Bandimere, 3051 S. Rooney Road in Morrison. Qualifying and test sessions begin at 8:30 a.m.

The event features a fireworks show, jet cars, drag racing, music, a salute to the troops, carnivals rides and games, food and more.

Vehicles participating in drag racing include 290 mph jet cars, motorcycle and snowmobile-powered vehicles, street-legal cars, junior dragsters, Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and Stock/Super Stock Combo cars.

Eliminations begin at 2 p.m. and games, rides, music and contests begin at 3 p.m.

The jet car and drag car show begins at 7 p.m. with a fireworks celebration at 9:45 p.m. Tickets begin at $20 in advance for adults and $11 in advance for children. Children 5 and younger are free.

Tickets can be bought online at www.bandimere.com or at the race track.

Discount tickets are available at Mardel Christian Store, 4887 S. Wadsworth Blvd. in Littleton and discount coupons are available at Brakes Plus locations.

Parking is $10.

Lakewood Estates, an independent retirement community, is hosting a variety of Independence Day events July 5-7.

Each event is free and open to the public at Lakewood Estates, 8585 W. Dakota Ave.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday, July 5, is a Hawaiian luau; at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, is an Outward Bound event; from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7, is a travel safety seminar of Let’s Talk Seniors to help seniors prepare for summer with travel tips.

For more information, please call Lakewood Estates at 303-223-4963.

Fourth of July at Evergreen Lake is giving residents a chance to celebrate Independence Day with music, art and the 2013 Freedom Run 5K.

The Freedom Run 5K, which benefits Mount Evans Home Health and Hospice, begins at 8 a.m. at Evergreen Middle School, 2059 Hiwan Drive.

The 3.1-mile course follows gently rolling terrain through residential areas ending at Nick’s Pro Fitness, 2932 Evergreen Parkway. Gates open at 10 a.m. for the Evergreen music festival and art show at the Evergreen Lake House, Upper Bear Creek Road. The art show and art demonstrations are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children’s activities, including inflatables, a petting zoo and art activities, will also be available all day.

The festival will also feature four performances.

The Sedici Corde String Quartet performs at 10 a.m.; the Denver Brass, Celtic Colorado Pipes and Drums and the Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers perform at 11 a.m.; John Erlandson and the Mostly Pretty Random All-Stars perform at 12:30 p.m.; and the Jefferson County Symphony Orchestra and Evergreen Chorale perform at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 each and children 12 and younger are free.

Free parking is available at Evergreen High School, 29300 Buffalo Park Road, or at the RTD parking lot across from Christ the King Catholic Church, 4291 Evergreen Parkway. A free shuttle is available for attendees. Handicapped parking is available at the lake. There will be no fireworks as part of the celebration.