Fireworks, parades, concerts on tap for 4th of July in Great Falls

The fun starts at 11 a.m. downtown for the annual Fourth of July Parade, running from 1st Ave South to 8th Street, north to Central Avenue and heads west to Park Drive and ends at Margaret Park north of the Civic Center.

The Fourth of July Hootenanny begins after the parade at 1 p.m. in downtown Great Falls, a free event with live music featuring country music star Rodney Atkins at Central Avenue and 5th Street. Food, beverage and alcohol vendors will also be available at the Hootenanny, which will wrap up around 5:15 p.m.

The Electric City Water Park at the Mitchell Pool will be open from noon until 6 p.m. on the Fourth, featuring the Power Tower Plunge, the Kersplash Rock Wall, the Riptide Slide and the Lazy River.

The People’s Park and Recreation Fireworks Community Fireworks Display will begin later in the evening starting around 10:15 p.m. at West Bank Park. The City of Great Falls recommends Elk’s-Riverside Park as the best viewing spot for the show at River Drive North between Central and 5th Street, with parking available at Gibson Park. West Bank Park will be closed all day on the Fourth to set up for the show.

Other popular places to view the fireworks are Eagle Falls Golf Course and Centene Stadium, where the Great Falls Voyagers baseball team play at 7 p.m. with their own fireworks to follow.

A community celebration is being held at Eagle Falls Golf Course starting at 6 p.m. with live music, games for kids and food and drink specials at the Taphouse. Those interested in golfing can sign up for the 9-hole, two-person scramble starting at 5 p.m. For more information call 406-761-1078.

Residents are allowed to set off fireworks in the city limits starting Tuesday through the Fourth from 8 a.m. to midnight on those days. Fireworks must be discharged only on private property in areas such as the sidewalk leading to a residence or a driveway. Fireworks may not be set off in any city parks, public sidewalks, streets, public easements or alleys.

Trash pickup in Great Falls will also remain on a normal schedule this week, according to the City.