Steamboat Springs — With Fourth of July falling on a Friday for the first time since 2008, Steamboat Springs is gearing up to welcome huge crowds during the holiday weekend, with a full lineup of traditional events all across town.

Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association Marketing Director Kara Stoller said the Chamber’s resort affiliates were forecasting a 14 percent increase from last year in incoming visitors for the holiday weekend. She added that during the past two Fourth of July celebrations, the Chamber has seen a significant increase in actual numbers over its forecast.

“It significantly helps when July Fourth falls on a Friday, close to the weekend or on a weekend,” Stoller said. “That, and it’s also supported by an incredible event schedule over the weekend.”

Scheduled events will kick off at 9 a.m. Thursday with the annual Ski Jumping Extravaganza at Howelsen Hill, starting with the HS45 jump immediately followed by the HS75 jump.

Jumpers get a trial jump and two jumps that count, with the first being used in Friday morning’s Nordic combined event.

Also on Thursday will be Art on the Mountain at the base of Steamboat Ski Area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the premier events — and a somewhat newer show for the holiday weekend — opens Thursday at 6:30 p.m. with the ranch rodeo and the first round of bull riding action at Brent Romick Rodeo Arena.

Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series Chairman Brent Romick — the arena’s namesake — said the 111th edition of Cowboy Roundup Days has attracted some of the most exciting rodeo action it’s had in years.

“I’m excited about the 111th like I haven’t been for a decade,” Romick said. “We’re bringing in rodeo talent that we haven’t seen the likes of, maybe ever.”

Thursday night’s ranch rodeo adds a bit of a different format. In conjunction with the Working Ranch Cowboys Association, the rules require that the contestants work on operating ranches and that bronco riders use the saddles they use on their ranches.

Romick said the ranch rodeo is attracting talent from places such as Texas, Montana, Wyoming and Kansas, the state that will feature a champion ranch rodeo cowboy team.

The entire Cowboy Roundup Days, Romick said, is sponsored by Wrangler and its Wrangler National Patriot program — a benefit for Wounded Warriors and their families. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward improvements to the local arena, as well as Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports.

On Friday, festivities continue with a pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at Little Toots Park. The cross-country portion of the Nordic combined challenge begins at 9:15 a.m. with a roller ski race down Lincoln Avenue followed by the Steamboat Sprint at 9:40 a.m.

The annual parade will follow the main street races at 10 a.m., led this year by the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp. At noon, the Jumpin’ and Jammin’ Ski Jumping Competition will take place at Howelsen, featuring U.S. Nordic combined athletes from the A, B and C teams, as well as men’s and women’s ski jumping national teams off the HS75.

The Pro Rodeo Series will pick back up Friday with an earlier 6:30 p.m. start, followed by the fireworks show across the parking lot at Howelsen Hill at about 9 p.m.

Even though the Fourth of July officially ends Friday, the weekend festivities will continue Saturday when the Steamboat Springs Running Series puts on its sixth race of the year with the Mountain Madness half-marathon and 10K.

The Mainstreet Farmers Market will hold its regularly scheduled event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and Big Head Todd & the Monsters will perform as part of Steamboat’s Free Summer Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. at Howelsen.

The Pro Rodeo Series will hold its third-straight event of the weekend from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the rodeo grounds. The holiday comes to a close with an 8 p.m. Movies on the Mountain showing of “Frozen” at the base of Steamboat Ski Area.

To reach Ben Ingersoll, call 970-871-4204, email bingersoll@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @BenMIngersoll