There are myriad ways to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday in the Flathead Valley and beyond. 

Kalispell 

The annual Fourth of July Parade in Kalispell is a favorite for the holiday. The Flathead Marines host the parade through downtown beginning at 10 a.m.  The parade travels from Center Street down Main Street past the Flathead County Historic Courthouse.  

The Flathead Valley Community Band presents “Celebrating America” concert on July 4 at Depot Park. The program begins at about 10:45 a.m. following the parade.   

After the parade, head to the Conrad Mansion Museum grounds. The mansion is holding its annual Fourth of July Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the ice cream runs out.
This event is open to the entire community with free ice cream provided by Norm’s Soda Fountain.   

Visitors can enjoy lawn games, barbecue, and $5 self-guided tours of the Conrad Mansion’s interior.  

On July 5 and July 6, the Glacier Symphony hosts its Symphony Night at Rebecca Farm.   

The outdoor symphony pops concert is a favorite summer tradition. This year’s music is themed “The Great Outdoors” featuring music Aaron Copland, Johann Strauss Jr., John Williams. Billed as a concert to salute Glacier National Park with the Waterton-Glacier Park Suite by Michael Rihner, and movie music from “Jurassic Park,” “Far and Away,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Wicked.” 

The concert also features patriotic selections.  

Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the music while watching the sunset. Food and drinks are available to purchase from vendors.   

Tickets are $30 for adult general admission and $15 for child general admission. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.   

Bigfork 

Head to Bigfork for the community’s annual Fourth of July Parade at noon. This year's theme is "Spanning Legacies – Celebrating the Past and Welcoming the Future!" This year’s parade will honor two exceptional contributors to the Bigfork community – grand marshal Paul Mutascio and the team at Battle Ridge Builders. 

Parking for the parade will be in the field at the intersection of Montana highways 35 and 82. From this parking area only, a free shuttle service is available to downtown from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Parking is not allowed downtown after 8 a.m. on July 4. There is limited handicapped parking, with a decal, at First Interstate Bank until 11 a.m.   

There will be no parking on Electric Avenue, Grand Drive, River Street, Osborn Avenue or Bridge Street (going out to Montana highways 35 and Highway 209) after 6 a.m. on July 4. 

The Bigfork Rodeo runs July 5-8, bringing professional rodeo to the Flathead Valley. Enjoy a fast-paced, high-energy rodeo. The event includes food vendors, a kids area, free parking and live music.   

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7 p.m. The rodeo takes place at the Bigfork Montana Arena, 2840 Montana 82, Bigfork.   

Whitefish  

The 46th annual Whitefish Arts Festival is July 4-6, at Depot Park in downtown Whitefish. It is an event that has become a highlight for many over the Fourth of July weekend and is sponsored by Whitefish Christian Academy.  

The festival is open July 4 and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on July 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

The festival maintains a long tradition of high-quality arts and fine crafts. The festival draws top artists and craftspeople from all over the country who work across mediums from canvas art pieces to quality jewelry to unique sculpture and metal arts and everything in between.
The festival offers free admission to visit over 100 artist booths and food trucks. 

On July 4, Whitefish Parks and Recreation is holding a Fourth of July celebration at Whitefish City Beach with fireworks and food vendors.  

There will be numerous vendors at Whitefish City Beach on July 4. Vendors will open in the early evening and stay open until the fireworks start.  

The main City Beach parking lot will be closed to allow vendors to set up. Parking will be limited all day in and around City Beach.  

Traffic control will be set up by 7 p.m. on roads surrounding the beach area. The boat launch at City Beach will close at 7 p.m. Decontamination must be performed before launching in Whitefish Lake for watercraft that have ballast tanks or bags. The boat launch at Whitefish Lake State Park will close at 9 p.m.  

The fireworks, presented by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, will begin around 10:30 p.m. and will last approximately 30 minutes.  

The city of Whitefish is encouraging everyone to walk or bike to the beach to help alleviate parking and traffic congestion. The chamber is offering a shuttle, compliments of Rocky Mountain Transportation, from the O’Shaughnessy Center to City Beach from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.  

Dogs are not allowed at City Beach in both the beach and park areas. No personal fireworks, alcohol, or glass containers are allowed.  

Lakeside 

The Lakeside Fourth of July Fireworks Show is a touchstone summer event on Flathead Lake and an annual family tradition for many generations. This unique show launched from a floating barge off the shore of Lakeside brings excitement to both locals and visitors alike.  

The fireworks show begins at 11 p.m. and can be viewed from Lakeside Marina or from watercraft on Flathead Lake. 

Noxon 

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 

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. sharp. 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. A 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 

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 Lincoln County starts at 11 a.m. and runs right down the highway in beautiful Troy. Head back to 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 

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 at noon. 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. 

Ronan 

After a lengthy absence, Ronan is jumping back into the Fourth of July fray this year with a community celebration that includes fireworks at dusk. Also on tap are games for kids and families, including cornhole, horseshoes, yard-size versions of Connect Four and Tetris, water games and tabletop tennis, beginning at 4 p.m. The Missoula band Shodown will perform from 7-10 p.m., and Late Night Jukebox takes over after the fireworks. 

Charlo 

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. 

Huson 

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.