Where to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary
By Reader Staff
Communities across the nation are coming together to celebrate America’s 250th — or semiquincentennial — anniversary Saturday, July 4 with all the necessary fireworks, barbecues, pomp and circumstance. North Idaho cities from Bayview to Bonners Ferry are going all out to mark the momentous occasion. Here’s a breakdown of local events so you know where to go to make the most of the Independence Day holiday.
Sandpoint
As usual, Sandpoint’s celebrations, put on by the local Lions Club, will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. with the annual Kids Parade, where children of all ages can don their red, white and blue outfits; jump on their decorated bikes, scooters or wagons; and cruise around downtown. The parade begins at the corner of Church Street and Fifth Avenue and continues down Church to North First Avenue, wrapping around to the Bonner General Health parking lot. The Grand Parade begins at 10 a.m., following the same route but ending near Fifth Avenue. From there, families will make their way to City Beach, where games, food vendors and a beer garden await. The grand fireworks display begins at dusk. Visit sandpointlions.wixsite.com/website or the Sandpoint Lions Club Facebook page for up-to-date information or to purchase raffle tickets supporting the Fourth of July festivities. Prizes include a brand-new woodstove from All About Chimneys and a bundle of firewood, or $1,000 in gift certificates.
Garfield Bay
Neighbors in the Garfield Bay community will kick off the holiday with a pancake breakfast fundraiser from 8-10 a.m. in the park (1226 Garfield Bay Road) for $7 per person, followed by the 10:30 a.m. public parade. All are welcome to decorate their ride — be it truck, tractor, bike or car — and join the procession down the street. After the parade, return to the park for an ice cream social at noon and enjoy the rest of the day outside until 7:30 p.m., when rockin’ county band Hogwire will perform on the water.
Clark Fork
If you’re celebrating in Clark Fork, prepare to rise bright and early for the 7 a.m. Freedom Fun Run, beginning at The Filling Station Christian Youth Center (108 E. First Ave.), followed by the 8:30 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars flag raising at the Clark Fork High School (502 N. Main St.). Activities continue at the school before moving to Memorial Field. The “Happy Birthday America! 250th” parade begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by family-friendly activities at 10:15 a.m. Participate in foot races, turtle races, watermelon-eating contests, log-sawing competitions and more, in addition to the usual food, vendors, drawings and airplane drop. The celebrations conclude with fireworks at dusk. Learn more at bit.ly/ClarkFork4th and register for the fun run at fillingstationyouth.com/freedom-fun-run.
Priest River
Priest River Youth Connections and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows will host the Fourth of July Family Fun Festival in Priest River — a day of games, activities, vendors and food. Centered on 111 Main St., the celebrations will include a mechanical bull, arena jousting, a foam street party, plastic axe throwing, minute-to-win-it challenges and game booths, along with plenty of delicious fare, craft vendors, informational booths and prizes. Free activities will run from noon-4 p.m., while vendors will be open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Fireworks begin around 10 p.m. at Bonner Park West (514 Railroad Ave.). Visit the Priest River Youth Connections Facebook page for more information.
Bayview
Residents of Bayview will get a head start on the holiday with a pre-Independence Day breakfast of “red, white and blueberry” pancakes on Friday, July 3, at 8 a.m. at the Bayview Community Center (20298 E. Perimeter Road.). All proceeds will benefit the Bayview Chamber of Commerce, which will host the Bayview Daze the following day. The July 4 parade begins at 11 a.m. — though participants should line up an hour before — and will run down North Main Avenue, adjacent to the party’s vendors and food trucks. Tour the tents and hang out on the water until 10 p.m., when the fireworks begin. See bayviewidaho.org/events-bayview-idaho for more info.
Bonners Ferry
Our Boundary County neighbors are all in for this year’s celebrations, which feature a bevy of musicians, food vendors, activities and displays. The day kicks off with the Community Parade at 3 p.m. — or 1:30 p.m for participants — beginning at the Boundary County Fairgrounds (6567 Recreation Park Road) and traveling downtown before heading up Riverside Street back to the fair. The parade ends with a community vote and prizes for Bonners Ferry’s favorite floats. Attendees can then visit local food vendors and activity booths with face painting, caricature drawing, custom T-shirts, craft tables and kids’ activities, as well as areas for sack races, volleyball games, cornhole competitions and bounce houses. Visit the VFW and American Legion station to admire an authentic 1841 mountain howitzer cannon and enter the raffle to win a chance to fire it. Attendees will also enjoy live country-Western and Americana music with Scott Stover from 4-5:15 p.m., The Herndon Girls from 5:15-6:15 p.m. and Brenn Hill from 8-9:30 p.m., interspersed with classical American samplings by the Bonners Ferry Community Orchestra from 6:30-7:45 p.m. The closing 25-minute firework show begins shortly after 10 p.m. Visit bonnersferry4th.com to learn more.
