Independence Day activities run the gamut throughout valley

Kick up some old-fashioned fun this Fourth of July with all the festivities planned around the Flathead Valley. Here's a look at what's happening in and around town.

Whitefish

The 42nd annual Festival of the Arts is a highlight of Whitefish's Fourth of July festivities and will be held Friday through Sunday at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The show offers everything from metal sculptures, paintings and photography to woodworking, pottery, jewelry and clothing. There's always a variety of Montana-style art available.

Numerous food vendors will be open on Whitefish City Beach in the early evening and stay open until the fireworks start. There are also kayak and paddleboard rentals. No dogs are allowed. The main City Beach lot will be closed to parking, and parking will be limited all day around the beach. The City Beach boat launch will close at 5 p.m. and Whitefish Lake State Park's boat launch will close at 9 p.m.

Whitefish's fireworks show will begin around 10:30 p.m. and last about 30 minutes.

A free shuttle bus service will run between downtown Whitefish and City Beach from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Buses will load on Central Avenue in front of the O'Shaughnessy Center.

Call the Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department at 406-863-2470 with questions.

Marion

The Marion Fire District and Marion Fire Auxiliary are co-hosting Marion Freedom Day beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Marion fire station.

There will be a parade on Gopher Lane starting near Homesteaders Way and ending at the school, featuring lights, sirens, polished chrome and a patriotic spirit. Games, food and live music are planned, including rubber duck races, a watermelon eating contest, a kids' firefighting obstacle course, a dunk tank, a bouncy house, water fights and more.

For more information, call 406-854-2828 or email Chief Katie Mast at kmast@marionfd.org

Kalispell

Kruise Kalispell is hosting its first Fourth of July parade for the city of Kalispell. It will get underway at noon Sunday.

Kruise Kalispell is a nonprofit that hosts events for the Flathead and helps other nonprofits reach their fundraising goals. This year's parade will start at the Kalispell Center Mall and run south down Main Street. There will be floats, prizes and lots of old-fashioned fun. During the parade, the organization will collect donations of nonperishable food for the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry. The drop-off location will be at the Kalispell Center Mall near the Starbucks.

Bring the kids in the wagon or stroller and park your family on either side of Main Street for a close-up view of the parade.

The Conrad Mansion in Kalispell also will host a free ice cream social at 330 Woodland Ave. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the ice cream is gone.

There will be live music from the Montana State Old Time Fiddlers from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch can be purchased from the Porteus BBQ truck.

Enjoy self-guided tours of the mansion on the Fourth of July for $5 per person.

There will also be a pie bake-off. Categories are apple, cherry and huckleberry. To enter a pie, call 406-755-2166.

And Woodland Water Park's Red, White and Blue Day will run from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy reduced admission of $3 per person and free hot dogs while supplies last.

Bigfork

The annual Bigfork Fourth of July Parade will return to the downtown corridor at noon Sunday. The parade typically draws between 3,000 and 5,000 attendees each year.

Parking will be available in the large grass lot at the intersection of Montana 35 and Montana 82 with free shuttles transporting guests back and forth from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handicapped parking will be available at First Interstate Bank at 800 Grand Ave. No traffic will be allowed downtown the day of the parade.

The theme of this year's parade is "Essential Workers: The Heart of Bigfork."

Lakeside

Lakeside's Fourth of July Fireworks Show is a touchstone summer event on Flathead Lake and an annual family tradition for many generations. The fireworks are launched from a floating barge off the shore in Lakeside.

Organizers anticipate a 20-minute show with plenty of sparkles, bangs and booms. The fireworks can easily be seen from Lakeside Harbor and Volunteer Park. Many boaters choose to motor out on the lake to watch from their watercrafts.

Polson

Polson's Fourth of July Parade will begin at noon at the Linderman School. This year's theme is "1909 to 2021: Celebrating 112 years of Growth."

The fireworks show over the Flathead River begins at dusk. The best place to watch is Riverside Park.

Troy

Troy, population 950, has thrown its traditional Old-Fashioned Fourth of July celebration for more than 100 years. Now, more than 6,000 people visit the town to take part in the free, family-friendly event.

Events take place in Roosevelt Park on the Kootenai River and include a parade, a car show, food vendors, a beer garden, craft vendors, live music all day, and the largest fireworks display in the region.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and the fireworks display is at 11 p.m.

Polebridge

There will not be a Fourth of July parade in Polebridge this year, according to the Polebridge Mercantile.