Celebrate the Fourth

The Fourth of July is celebrated in grand style in Northwest Montana. So unfurl your American flag, gather up your friends and family, and head for one of these parades, barbecues and great pyrotechnic displays.

q Kick off your Fourth of July celebration in Kalispell with a warm waffle breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home at 525 S. Main St.

Then get ready for Kalispell’s annual parade, which starts at 10 a.m. on Main Street, rain or shine. This year’s theme is “Funky Fourth.” Over 80 entries are expected to participate.

Parking along both the east and west sides of Main Street will be prohibited, starting at 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. Handicapped accessible parking will be reserved in the parking lot of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, on the corner of Main and Sixth Street East.

After the parade, head over the Conrad Mansion Museum for an old-fashioned ice cream social. Free ice cream, live music, face painting, and self-guided, reduced rate tours of the Museum will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until ice cream runs out). Self-guided tours will be $5 per person.

q The Fourth of July Parade in Bigfork will celebrate the PRCA Bigfork Summer Rodeo, July 6 and 7, with a “Western Stars and Stripes” theme.

Music will be provided by the Flathead Valley Community Band, scheduled to begin playing in front of the Bigfork Inn at 11 a.m.

The 2018 Parade Grand Marshal will be announced prior to the parade. The parade starts at noon. Horses, clowns, fire trucks and floats stream down Grand and Electric Avenues cheered on by huge crowds of spectators.

Following the parade, the Ducks for Bucks race gets underway on the Wild Mile of the Swan River. Proceeds from the event will pay for prizes and a scholarship for a deserving senior from Bigfork High School.

For everyone to have a clear view of the parade, there will be no cars allowed in downtown Bigfork after 8 a.m. on the Fourth. Parking is available at the intersection of Montana 35 and Montana 82, with shuttles to downtown.

q If you’re spending the day on Flathead Lake, stop by the Somers/Lakeside Fire Department for its Independence Day barbecue from noon to 6 p.m. at the Lakeside Fire Department on Bills Road. Hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie dogs, chili, chips and ice cream will be served. There will also be a raffle and prizes. Fire prevention tips and the department’s future plans will also be shared.

Lakeside’s Fourth of July fireworks are launched from a barge offshore. The show starts at 11 p.m. Tune in to 107.3 FM radio at 10:30 p.m. for a pre-show and music during the display. Organizers say there will be 70 percent more shots than previous shows. Watch from the lakeshore or from your own seaworthy vessel offshore.

For more details, call the Lakeside-Somers Chamber at 844-3715.

q Polson’s parade begins at noon at Cherry Valley Elementary School and continues down Main Street. This year’s theme is “Montana Roots.” Enjoy free ice cream after the parade at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum and half-price admission to tour the museum.

Fireworks will start at dusk at Riverside Recreation near the bridge.

q The annual Arlee Powwow continues July Fourth on Powwow Road in Arlee. The First Grand Entry and Snake Dance take place at 2 p.m. The powwow features traditional dance competitions, singing, drumming, handmade beaded crafts and food booths. For a complete schedule visit www.arleepowwow.com

q Whitefish Chamber of Commerce presents its annual July Fourth fireworks display from Whitefish Lake. Event takes place shortly after dusk.

A free shuttle, compliments of Eagle Transit, will head from the O’Shaughnessy Center to City Beach starting at 7 p.m. The last shuttle will leave from City Beach at 11 p.m.

Call the Whitefish Chamber for more information, 862-3501.

Also, Whitefish Marine & Powersports hosts the Fourth of July Boat Parade at 9 p.m., prior to the pyrotechnic show. Boaters are encouraged to decorate their vessels in all-American style. The “theme” is “Happy Birthday, USA!”

Participants will gather in the cove off Whitefish Lake State Park beginning at 8:30 p.m., then begin the first of two loops along the eastern shoreline of Whitefish Lake, passing by the Whitefish River outlet, City Beach, the Bay Point area, the Lodge at Whitefish Lake and Monk’s Bay before heading back to do it all again.

There’s no fee. For more information or to register, call Megan Gonzalez at Whitefish Marine & Powersports, 862-8594; email megan@whitefishmarine.com, or stop by the shop at 6191 U.S. 93 S. in Whitefish.

q Troy’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration takes place all day at Roosevelt Park.

Event kicks off with breakfast at 9 a.m. The parade is at 11 a.m.

The Pitiful Players perform “Caveman of the Kootenai” at the Lincoln Theatre at 1 and 3 p.m.

The Cruisers car show gets under way at noon at the park, with food vendors, craft vendors and a beer garden.

Enjoy live music all day and bus service after the parade to Morrison Elementary, Troy High School, Troy Activity Center and Roosevelt Park.

The largest fireworks display in the region begins at 11 p.m.

Admission is free for this family friendly event.

q Other happenings in the Kootenai Valley include the Yaak River Tavern’s Independence Day celebration in the Yaak. On tap are kids’ games, a horseshoe tournament, barbecue, live music with Smart Alex, fireworks and more.

For more details visit Facebook at Yaak River Tavern & Mercantile.

q Polebridge’s quirky Fourth of July parade draws hundreds to the remote rural community in the North Fork. The semi-spontaneous and often comical event starts roughly at noon.

Following the parade, the Northern Lights Saloon typically has a pig roast and live music. The Polebridge Mercantile also will be open for business.

No fireworks, public or private, will be permitted.