Red, white and boom: Independence Day events
Bailey Hansen displayed Ol' Glory on her horse along the parade route on Tuesday morning during the Fourth of July parade in St. Regis. (Mineral Independent/Amy Quinlivan)
Independence Day revelers will have a long weekend to celebrate with the holiday falling on a Friday this year.
There are plenty of events planned around the region, from parades and cookouts to fireworks displays. Here's a rundown of what's happening this Fourth of July weekend.
Noxon hosts its annual Fourth of July parade with the theme "Fun in the Sun, let's Make a Splash." The day kicks off with a 5K fun run at 8 a.m. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. in the park. The VFW serves up breakfast at the senior center from 7:30-10 a.m.
At noon the parade runs through town. Lineup begins at 11 a.m. at the school. Immediately following at 1 p.m. will be food booths, kids games, a cake walk, horse shoes and a bouncy house.
Turtle races get moving at 3 p.m. Register your reptile at 2:30 p.m. Next up is chicken poop bingo at 4 p.m., along with live music by Dan and Mary.
St. Regis kicks off Fourth of July celebrations with a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. at the St. Regis Community Center. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Register by 10 a.m. at the Dog House Saloon. A kids party in the park runs from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Don't miss with chili cook off in the park at 3:45 p.m.
The always impressive fireworks display by the fire department caps the night at dusk.
St. Regis also hosts its Liberty Bash softball tournament from July 4-6 at St. Regis Park.
Troy's Old Fashioned Fourth of July shouldn't be missed. Start the day off with breakfast at the park, 9 a.m. The best parade in the county starts at 11 a.m. and runs right down the highway in beautiful Troy.
Head back to the Roosevelt Park to hear music, shop both food and craft vendors, look at the classic cars and hot rods show presented by Troy Cruisers on the lawn. In the late evening dusk sit back and enjoy the largest fireworks display around.
Polson's Fourth of July celebration begins with the highly anticipated fireworks show over Flathead Lake on July 3, followed by a new kids' parade and the community parade July 4.
The Polson VFW along with Raven Hall MRC will once again host a patriotic skirmish against the British Redcoats minutes before the Fourth of July Parade in Polson. Now in its fourth year, the skirmish is narrated and action-packed.
The Marine Honor Guard will lead the United We Stand-themed parade through Charlo at noon July 4.
The parade, which typically loops through town twice, will showcase floats, antique vehicles, fire department equipment, horses and more.
A Block Party will run from 3-7 p.m. on the Charlo school grounds and offers vendor booths, a dunk tank, Bounce House, and a hot-dog eating contest, plus a DJ and a place to dance.
The annual Fourth of July ATV/UTV/OTHER Parade is in Huson on Friday. The parade starts at the corner of Ranch Lane and Ridgeview Drive at 1 p.m. The parade proceeds to West Ninemile Road, crosses the single-lane bridge and turns left up the valley on Nine Mile Road to the Nine Mile Community Center. Watch the parade along the route and meet at the Center for a potluck barbecue lunch in the outdoor pavilion at 1:30 p.m. A kids parade on the center grounds begins at 2 p.m.