Fireworks show returns, events on tap for holiday weekend
City Beach is a popular spot to watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Whitefish’s annual Fourth of July festivities and fireworks display over Whitefish Lake will return Sunday after the event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Whitefish Arts Festival also takes place this weekend and pop-up drive-in movies are also planned at Smith Fields.
The City of Whitefish Parks and Recreation puts on the event annually and this year will include several food vendors at City Beach in addition to the fireworks display. Vendors will be serving food and beverages such as shaved ice, mini doughnuts, kettle corn, ice cream and barbeque food. Vendors will be open in the early evening and serve patrons until the fireworks begin.
The fireworks, presented by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, will start at approximately 10:30 p.m. and will last about 30 minutes.
The main City Beach parking lot will be closed to allow vendors to set up for the day and parking will be limited all day around City Beach.
Those attending the event are encouraged to walk or bike to help alleviate traffic congestion and parking in the area. The chamber is offering a shuttle, compliments of Rocky Mountain Transportation, from the O’Shaughnessy Center to City Beach from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
No dogs are allowed at City Beach in both the beach and park areas. No personal fireworks, alcohol or glass containers are allowed.
The holiday weekend will also feature the 42nd annual Whitefish Arts Festival in Depot Park from Friday through Sunday. The event is free and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 4.
The Whitefish Christian Academy sponsors the festival and it has become an annual favorite for locals and visitors alike. The festival features high quality arts and crafts such as metal sculptures, paintings and photography, woodworking and more. All the art is handmade.
For information, visit http://www.whitefishartsfestival.org/
Winterland, a nonprofit organization behind a planned film festival, along with Project Whitefish Kids is holding two drive-in movie nights at Smith Fields.
On Friday, July 2 the 1980s classic “The Goonies” will play and on Saturday, July 3 the movie will be “Forrest Gump.”
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the films start at sunset. Tickets are $10 per person, veterans with military ID get tickets at half price. Tickets can be purchased at the entrances and space is limited so attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
Concession will also be available. For more information, email info@winterlandfilmfestival.com