Fourth of July events abound in Bigfork, Valley
Bigfork Eagle
Bigfork will host its much-loved Independence Day parade at noon Sunday, July 4, in downtown Bigfork.
The parade lineup will start around 11 a.m. and wind up Grand Drive starting at Flathead Bank and up to the Lake View Care Center. No registration is needed. A traffic director will be present to guide entries. Positions are usually determined on a first-come, first-served basis, so get entrants who want to be in front should arrive early.
Parade participants are asked not to throw candy or other items from floats, but to have people hand them out in the crowd for safety reasons, said Bruce Solberg, executive director of the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce.
"It's dangerous," Solberg said. "Year after year, we ask people not to throw candy out."
The parade moves down Grand Drive and turns onto Electric Avenue, dispersing right before the one-lane Upper Bigfork Bay Bridge.
Following the parade there will be a children's carnival at Sliter Park. Events include a fish pond, obstacle course, horse shows and gymnastics for most of the afternoon.
At 4 p.m., the Ducks for Bucks race will take place along the Wild Mile of the Swan River.
The first ducks to go under the bridge will win cash prizes. Proceeds go to support the Bigfork High School scholarship program.
Ducks can be purchased at the Jug Tree or at the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce. Costs are $5 per duck or a 'six quack" for $25.
OTHER AREA FESTIVITIES
Kalispell — Kalispell will host its annual parade at 10 a.m. but on Saturday, July 3, in its downtown area.
Line up starts at 9 a.m. Register online at www.kalispellchamber.com or call 758-2800 to be in the parade.
Following the parade which was moved Saturday, there will be an old-fashioned ice cream social to celebrate the holiday at the Conrad Mansion. For more information, visit www.conradmansion.com.
Whitefish — This year, Whitefish will host a Freedom Fest all weekend.
It will start Friday, July 2, with a concert to benefit the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce's firework fund. The band, Commander Cody & his Lost Planet Airmen, performs at 7 p.m. at the Grouse Mountain Lodge Pavilion. Doors open at 6 p.m.
A street dance will be held the following night, July 3, in downtown Whitefish starting at 7 p.m. Flathead musicians Rob Quist & Great Northern as well as the Kenny James Miller Band will perform.
Whitefish's annual firework display will still take place on Sunday, July 4, at 10:30 p.m. at City Beach.
For more information or tickets to the concerts, visit http://whitefishchamber.org.
Polson — The Polson Centennial Fourth of July parade starts at noon Sunday at the Polson-Flathead Historical Museum on Main Street and Eighth Street and will end on Main and Third Street. To participate in the parade, contact Joan Hart at 883-8212 or pre-register on the morning of the event at 10 a.m. behind Cherry Valley School.
Following the parade, there will be an ice cream social from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum.
A fireworks display will take place at dusk at the south side of Polson's bridge.
Lakeside — Lakeside will host its 14th year of fireworks over Flathead Lake.
The display begins at 11 p.m. off of a barge in the bay area and will be choreographed to music on the Monster radio station, 103.9.