COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Cheyenne Mountain State Park is holding a special event “Fun Before the Fourth” on July 2 to coordinate with a fireworks display planned that night at nearby Fort Carson.

Fun before the Fourth will begin at 5 p.m. on July 2 at the park’s Prairie Skipper picnic pavilion at Cheyenne Mountain.

The park will host face painting, yucca craft and games like horseshoes, corn hole and lasso, as well as educational and outdoor exploration activities like digging for dinos and discovery boxes.

A food truck will be on site and the events will continue until 8 p.m. leading up to the Army’s fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. at Fort Carson.

While Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites everyone to come out and celebrate the Independence Day holiday, it reminds folks to leave their personal fireworks at home and enjoy the public displays. It’s a violation of state law to possess or discharge fireworks in any park, outdoor recreation area or on state waters.

As usual, the events at Cheyenne Mountain State Park are free. However a valid $7 daily parks pass or $70 annual pass is required on all vehicles entering the park.

Friends of Cheyenne Mountain State Park have worked with USAA to provide a limited number of daily park passes to active duty, veteran, retired military personnel and/or their families for this event. The passes are available to those with a valid military identification card on a first come, first served basis and can be picked up at the Visitor Center beginning 9 a.m.on July 2.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is located at 410 JL Ranch Heights Road, south of Colorado Springs, off Colorado Highway 115. From the city, take Nevada Avenue south and it turns into Highway 115. JL Ranch Heights Road is opposite the Main Gate One entrance to Fort Carson.

For more information, call 719-576-2016 or visit, http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Parks/CheyenneMountain/