Weekend full of parades, music, fireworks

Northwest Montana is full of holiday events for the Fourth of July weekend, from Polson to Polebridge and towns in between.

n Kalispell will have its Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 3, this year.

The annual parade heads down Main Street at 10 a.m. Following the parade, the public is invited to a free ice cream social from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn outside the Conrad Mansion. Patriotic music will fill the gardens, and food from Porteus BBQ will be available for purchase.

Everyone is invited to enjoy a relaxing, old-time community event in a wonderful atmosphere. Tours of the mansion will be available on the half hour. Call 755-2166 for admission prices.

n Bigfork celebrates the Fourth with its annual old-fashioned parade at noon downtown, followed by the children’s carnival. Line-up will take place up Grand Drive past the Lake View Care Center.

The “Ducks for Bucks” race the “Wild Mile” of the Swan River at 4 p.m. Call 837-5888 to purchase your duck.

Traffic directors will be in the Bigfork area.

n Whitefish rocks this Fourth of July with a kick-off concert on Friday by Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. Best known for its 1970s-era Top 40s hits including, “Hot Rod Lincoln and “Lost in the Ozone,” the group plays country rock and blues, with a bit of boogie-woogie and Western swing at the Grouse Mountain Lodge Pavilion.

Doors open at 6 p.m.; showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance, and $25 at the door; or call the Whitefish Chamber at 862-3501. The concert is a fundraiser for the Chamber’s Fireworks Fund.

On Saturday, July 3, Whitefish takes its Freedom Fest celebration to the streets with a downtown dance at 7 p.m. featuring Rob Quist and the Great Northern and the Kenny James Miller Band. Tickets are $12 in advance; and $15 at the door. Tickets are $30 in advance for both concerts.

Call 862-3501 or stop by the Whitefish Chamber office for tickets.

On Sunday, July 4, City Beach will be the place for kids’ activities starting at 1 p.m. Concessions will be also available. Eagle Transit will run a free shuttle bus to the beach starting at  5:30 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. from the O’Shaughnessy Center at first and Central Avenue. A fantastic fireworks show will start at approximately 10:30 p.m.

n Lakeside will launch its fireworks on July 4 at dusk — about 11 p.m. — which will be synchronized to music. Several venues will also be offering live music and entertainment that evening.

n Are you looking for a fun a fun and family-friendly spot to enjoy a great view of local firework shows? Join Lone Pine State Park for the celebration. The park will be open late, until 11:30 p.m., on Sunday, July 4, to allow for viewing.

 For more information, contact the Lone Pine State Park Visitor Center at 755-2706.

n Polson will celebrate the Fourth with a parade at noon, starting at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum, 708 Main Street, and ending on Main and Third.

Afterward, there will be an ice cream social from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum. While there, see the special women’s and children’s clothing and homesteading exhibits, and those about Flathead Lake boating, swimming and Polson High School memorabilia. There is no admission fee.

Polson’s fireworks display begins at dusk on the south side of the bridge.

 n For over 100 years, Troy has thrown a traditional Fourth of July celebration. Each year it’s grown and now more than 6,000 people visit the town annually to take part in all-day free, family-friendly event at Roosevelt Park, and the largest fireworks display in the region at 11 p.m.

Highlights include:

n An all-church service to be held at 9 a.m. hosted by Troy’s churches at the Babe Ruth Ball Park, featuring worship and music.

— A parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Troy (participant line-up at 10 a.m.)

— Witness a power parachute demonstration (weather permitting) at 7 p.m. at the Roosevelt Park Pavilion. Demonstrator H.D. Patton will fly over the Kootenai River and land in a nearby field. Those attending will have the chance to talk with him after the demonstration.

— A quilt show, scheduled for July 3-4 at Morrison Elementary. There will be quilt vendors on hand and refreshments. A bus will run a loop (about once each half an hour) between Morrison Elementary and Roosevelt Park while the quilt show is open on the Fourth.

 Other highlights include a car show, food vendors, craft vendors, free kids games at 2 p.m., live music all day, with special guests the Copper Mountain Band performing at 7:30 p.m., a basketball tournament, tug-of-war and cash raffle.

 For more information, call the Troy Chamber at (406) 295-1064; Steve Bowen at Gambles Hardware (406) 295-4858; or Melody Condron at the Libby Library (406) 293-2778.

n The town of Polebridge is holding its traditional Fourth of July parade at about noon at the Polebridge Mercantile. Anyone is welcome to join.

The Northern Lights Saloon will offer a barbecue starting at 11 a.m.

This year a fireworks display is planned. However, personal fireworks are prohibited.

Polebridge is located on the North Fork Road 35 miles from Columbia Falls and 25 miles from West Glacier. The North Fork hostel has tepees and camping available or visitors can camp in the Flathead National Forest or Glacier Park campgrounds.