Breckenridge officials continue to parse through entertainment options for the town’s Fourth of July celebrations with the intent to turn more day visitors into overnight lodgers. 

Based on council’s feedback from a Jan. 28 meeting, town staff members came back with a revised proposal for one portion of the town’s Fourth of July entertainment at a Feb. 11 meeting. 

Originally, staff members suggested a large-scale, firefly-inspired light show exhibition by a Dutch artist called SPARK. The studio that created the exhibition told the Summit Daily News that if the town goes through with the idea, it will be the premiere of SPARK in the United States. Officials haven’t entirely ditched the idea of the four-day, approximately $300,000 event, they just felt it could be better suited for the Breckenridge International Festival of Fine Arts slated for mid-August rather than the Fourth of July.

A staff memo from the Feb. 11 meeting noted council still wants some sort of animation or entertainment offering following the Fourth of July parade to encourage visitors to stick around.

In lieu of the SPARK exhibition, the Breckenridge Events Committee is now proposing what staff members described to be a “circus-based performance.” More specifically, the staff memo outlines plans for a “family friendly bicycle themed circus event.”

Staff members did not provide any context as to who would be putting on the circus-based performance.

Assistant Director of Recreation Jon Dorr said staff members looked for options in the $40,000-$60,000 range which will last around 50 minutes. The plan could entail setting up a stage on the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue for an 8 p.m. show, according to the staff memo.

Council member Marika Page, who has been involved in the planning process, said the timing is strategic.

“A (3 p.m.) animation means people could leave at 4 p.m. and go somewhere else,” she said. “An 8 p.m. animation probably means they’re arranging for lodging that night.”

This could cause a street closure for a block of Main Street, which some council members expressed concern about because a stretch of Main Street will already likely be closed — as it has been for many of the town’s past Fourth of July parades — from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mayor Kelly Owens asked if the town’s Public Works department had a chance to weigh in on the potential plan, and staff members said the department had not yet.

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Dorr said numerous auxiliary streets off Main Street would remain open like Ski Hill Road, Lincoln Avenue and Adams Avenue.

Council member Dick Carleton worried about the implications for businesses near where the temporary closure could be on the 100 block of Main Street.

“What I’ve heard for years from businesses (in close proximity to holiday-related road closures) is that it’s great for some and it’s horrible for others,” he said.

Town Manager Shannon Haynes said the town could organize something in the coming weeks to garner feedback from the business community.

When it came time for council to vote on the circus concept, council member Carol Saade said, “I don’t feel prepared to make a decision without public works (determining) how that would change the weekend.”

Council member Jay Beckerman recommended council vote on the concept of a circus-based performance at the Feb. 11 meeting, but not on the street closure aspect just yet.

Owens said she wanted the potential closure to be a community discussion. She wanted to know how long council had to make a decision on the entertainment concept, referencing staff members’ sentiment that a decision needed to be made relatively soon if the town wanted to book the performers.

Chief executive officer of Breck Create, Tamara Nuzzaci Park, who through her organization plays a significant role in many town-sanctioned entertainment offerings, said she told the agents she’s working with to secure the performers “that we’d have a decision today.”

“I don’t know the answer. I just think we’re rushing to that decision too quickly,” Carleton said, noting he thought an afternoon show would be better than an 8 p.m. one.

Council ended the discussion unanimously voting to put $40,000-$60,000 toward a “circus-based” Fourth of July performance. They did not vote on the potential street closure at the Feb. 11 meeting, with many saying they wanted more vetting to be done before that decision is made.

The town still plans to host all its usual Fourth of July activities like the bike and running races, the parade and National Repertory Orchestra performance.