Have fun for the Fourth

A complete guide to parades and fireworks

The Fourth of July will go out with a bang at many locations around Northwest Montana. From pyrotechnics to parades and patriotic music, there's plenty to do wherever you go.

Bigfork

The centerpiece of Bigfork's celebration is its traditional parade that begins at noon. Retired Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely will be the grand marshal. Music provided by the Community Band will begin in front of the Bigfork Inn at 11:30 a.m.

Following the parade, the Children's Carnival gets under way in Sliter Park. Later in the afternoon, the Ducks for Bucks race gets going on the Wild Mile of the Swan River. Proceeds will pay for prizes and a scholarship for a senior from Bigfork High School.

For more information, call the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce at 837-5888 or visit the Web site at www.bigfork.org.

Hungry Horse

The Hungry Horse Fire Department is having its annual fundraiser at the fire hall in downtown Hungry Horse on July 4. Get your car washed, get in on the barbecue and gyro rides and more. Hours are from 10 a.m. until at least midnight.

For more details, contact 387-4154 or 261-4874.

Kalispell

Kalispell will celebrate the Fourth of July with its annual parade followed by dedication of its new Veterans Memorial at Depot Park.

The parade will march down Main Street at 10 a.m. Spectators can then head for Depot Park for a full program and unveiling of the memorial.

Activities will begin with bagpipe and drum music at 10:45 a.m.

The memorial's dedication ceremony will feature a reading of the governor's citation for the 163rd Infantry plus remarks by Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy and other guest speakers.

The memorial will be unveiled just after 11:30 a.m.

Following the parade, the public also is invited to an old-fashioned ice cream social at the Conrad Mansion, complemented by patriotic music.

Lunch will be available to purchase from local caterers.

Tours of the mansion will be available on the half-hour, starting at noon. The cost is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for children (12 and under).

The Conrad Mansion is located in the 300 block of Woodland Avenue.

Kalispell Moose Lodge 1922 will host a potluck and ice cream social on July 4, beginning at 4 p.m. The lodge will provide burgers and hot dogs. Lodge members and their guests are invited. Bring a potluck dish to share.

Horseshoes will be available and fireworks will be displayed at dark. The lodge is located at 2158 U.S. 2 E., Kalispell.

Lakeside

Lakeside launches its fireworks at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. This year's display is presented by a pyrotechnics professional who will use a computer program to synchronize the fireworks with special music on radio station 103.9 FM.

Boaters also will be able to view private fireworks displays along Flathead Lake's shore.

Polebridge

Everyone is welcome to celebrate the Fourth of July in Polebridge. People have the option to either participate or observe the North Fork town's annual parade that begins at about noon in front of the Polebridge Mercantile.

For more than 20 years, Polebridge has hosted the spontaneous parade. Last year, more than 1,000 people came to watch. Polebridge is north of Columbia Falls on the North Fork Road.

Polson

Polson's Fourth of July parade gets under way at noon from Main Street to Sixth Avenue and Third Avenue, east to First Street East and back to Linderman School. The theme is "Support Our Troops."

Fireworks will be set off at the regatta grounds at 10:45 p.m. Riverside Park offers a good viewing area.

Seeley Lake

The Seeley Lake area has a full slate of Fourth of July happenings:

Start the day with a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall. The cost is $5 per person; $10 per family.

Condon's parade begins at 11 a.m. at mile marker 42-43.

Seeley Lake's parade begins at 2 p.m. in downtown Seeley Lake. The Duck Races get under way at 4:30 p.m. at the Wagonwheel Road Bridge. Ducks are available for $5 at the Seeley Chicken Coop.

A fireworks show over the lake begins at 10:30 p.m.

Troy

Troy's Fourth of July events kick off with a pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. on the banks of the Kootenai River. The town's parade begins at 11 a.m., featuring more than 80 classic cars.

Festivities continues throughout the day at Roosevelt Park, including a craft show, beer garden and live music.

Children's games begin at 2 p.m. Children of all ages can participate in wheelbarrow, three-legged and gunny sack races, and more.

Other events include an all-day 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and tug-of-war at 6 p.m.

The pyrotechnics display starts at dusk.

Whitefish

Head to City Beach in Whitefish for a day of Fourth of July fun. A chalk art contest for all ages begins at 1 p.m. Concessions will be available throughout the day.

Live music by the Full Moon Prophets begins at 7:30 p.m. A large-scale fireworks display begins at dusk over Whitefish Lake.

The public is encouraged to take advantage of the free shuttle service from the O'Shaughnessy Center to City Beach.

Also on Wednesday, the Golden Agers Senior Center will offer a free barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans and potato salad from 5-7 p.m. The public is invited. The center is located at 121 Second St.