2019 4th of July Celebrations
June 1, 2019 | by rebecca stewart
The 4th of July, a day that often rivals all other holidays with its fraction of the fuss and stress, yet still manages to gather family and friends to enjoy great food, fun, and of course fireworks, all in celebration of our beautiful, complicated country. Read on to discover what’s happening in our community and beyond this Fourth of July to help round out your festivities.
CLOSE TO HOME
Laurel
Known for lighting up the night sky with the “biggest fireworks display in the state,” crowds of people descend upon Laurel year after year to experience this incredible show and the fun and celebrations that come before it.
July 4 Schedule
- 6am-11am, Laurel Jaycees Pancake Breakfast– Held at Fireman’s Park, Main Street and 1st Avenue ($8/adult, $5/children ages 12 and younger, Free/children ages 6 and younger)
- 6am- Sign-in for Chief Joseph Run- Begins near Laurel High School Track; 6:30am- 8-mile start; 7am- 2- & 4-mile start. (Register up until July 3 at https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Laurel/ChiefJosephUphillRun)
- 10am- Kiddie Parade- Begins at Western Security Bank, ends at Firefighter's Memorial (2nd Avenue and 1st Street)
- 11am- The Grand Parade (theme: Parade of Stars), the parade starts at Alder, going west on Main Street, to First Avenue, north to 8th Street, and west to 3rd Avenue.
- 10am-9pm- Food & Craft Fair– Tasty eats, creative fare, activities, entertainment, and music in Thomson Park (Go here: http://laurelmontana.org/july-4th-celebration/ for updated info
- The Main Event: Fireworks as soon as it gets dark! Thomson Park, Laurel High School’s lawn and beyond fills up quickly, so be sure to get there early to secure your spot.
Billings
Celebrate Freedom
It’s fun for the whole family at Harvest Church’s annual Celebrate Freedom festivities. Held at Castle Rock Park, there will be free activities, food, and fireworks!
July 4 Schedule
Free fun for the family, starting at 5pm:
- Laser Tag * Rock Climbing * Bounce Houses * Splash Park * Lawn Games * Preschool Area * NEW: FrontierLand, featuring hunting and outdoor activities
- Live music:
- o Tophouse
- o Family Show (act TBD)
- o Day Old Donuts
Food:
- Discounted meals - hot dog, potato chips, side, and a drink
- 2/$1 treats - ice cream, popcorn, fresh lemonade, snow cones, root beer floats
Starting at dark:
- Epic fireworks by PyroFX
For more information about the day’s festivities (or to volunteer) go to https://www.cfbillings.com/.
Summer Jam
Keep the 4th of July fun rolling into July 5 with Rimrock Mall’s Summer Jam. These free concerts are being held throughout the summer, but it’s this evening that also includes fireworks!
July 5 Schedule
Starting at 6pm, make your way to are outside of the main entrance at Rimrock Mall
- Acoustic duo, The Fab Folk will be performing the music of The Beatles and more
- Food Trucks, non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverages will be available onsite
- At dark watch for the 20-minute fireworks show, shot from Stewart Park
DOWN THE ROAD
Roundup Independence Days Extravaganza (RIDE)
Hit the highway and head to Roundup for their 15th annual four-day festival that’s all about celebrating western history and national pride. A RIDE Wristband ($35/adult, $5/youth, ages 6-12) will get you into all events, except the 5k Run, Rodeo, and Water Wars. Food and vendors will be at the concerts all three nights, don’t forget your chairs and blankets!
July 4 Schedule
Roundup City Park Stage
- 7:30am- 5K Run-Walk-RIDE (pre-register at imathlete.com)
Downtown
- 11am- Main Street Parade by the Chamber
- After parade- Beer Barrel Water Wars, fundraiser for RVFD
Roundup Fairgrounds
- 2pm- Rodeo Roundup (RIDE wristband does not include admission to rodeo).
City Park Stage
- 7pm- Jason Larson opens for The Georgia Satellites
- Fireworks following entertainment
July 5 Schedule
Downtown
- 11am- Main Street Parade by the Chamber
- After parade- Beer Barrel Water Wars, fundraiser for RVFD
City Park
- 12-5pm, Kids Kountry (all kinds of fun and activities for the kiddos!)
- o Booths & Food Vendors
City Park Stage
- 7pm- June 29 Talent Show winners open for the High Country Cowboys
July 6 Schedule
Shooting Range (83 Golf Course Road)
- 1-5pm- Roundup Sportsmen’s 2nd Annual Top Shot Competition
City Park Stage
- 7pm- Mike Morgan and Monty Sealey opening for Lonestar
July 7 Schedule
Ridge Riders Arena (405 12th Ave East)
- 8am- Cowboy Church (pretty informal, don’t forget your lawn chair!)
- 9:15-10am Check in- Buttons & Bows Youth Rodeo (Entries must be turned in and postmarked by June 24, for ages 3-18). http://roundupindependencedays.com/buttons_7.html
- 10:30am- Buttons & Bows Grand Entry
Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo & Parades
It’s traditional 4th of July at its very finest in Red Lodge, MT. The Home of Champions Rodeo has been a part of the community for 90 years! Pull on those boots and make your way to the mountains for a “ropin’ and ridin, singin’ and swingin’ good time!”
The Home of Champions Rodeo action runs:
- July 2 @ 6pm
- July 3 @ 6pm
- July 4 @ 3pm
For tickets or more information call 406.446.1718 or go to http://redlodgerodeo.com. Rodeo tickets can be purchased in Billings at Shipton’s Big R East and West.
Parades start each day, promptly at noon. This year’s theme is “Hometown Pride” with 2019’s Grand Marshall carrying on a family tradition. Lucky Homewood, whose dad Buck, was Grand Marshall in 1981, having worked the chutes from an early age and he has ridden in the parades all three days with a group of young folks for many years, riding in on horseback from Frannie, WY. A special group/theme is recognized with a variety of prizes awarded each day.
No entry fee for parade participants; line up starts at 9/9:30am (candy is allowed, as are other prizes/gifts for entrants to share with the parade-goers):
- July 2 – Children’s Day
- July 3 – Mining and Agricultural Appreciation Day
- July 4 – Traditional Independence Day
ROAD TRIP
Livingston Roundup Rodeo
Independence Day is one steeped in tradition and what better way to celebrate that than with a beloved piece of Montana’s own history, the Livingston Roundup Rodeo. Nearly a century in the making, it’s three days of outstanding rodeo action that sells out early, so get your tickets sooner rather than later! ($17/general admission, $28/reserved | https://livingstonroundup.com/tickets/tickets)
July 2 Schedule
- 3pm- Livingston Chamber of Commerce Parade (downtown Livingston)
- 8pm- Livingston Roundup Rodeo (First Responders Night, Fireworks) @ Park County Fairgrounds
July 3 Schedule
- 1pm- Kiddie Rodeo @ the Spur Line (uses stick horses, not live animals. Autographs with the Rodeo Queen)
- 8pm- Livingston Roundup Rodeo (Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night, Fireworks) @ Park County Fairgrounds
July 4 Schedule
- 11am- Barrel Racing Slack @ Park County Fairgrounds
- 8pm- Livingston Roundup Rodeo (Military Night, Crowning of Miss Livingston Roundup, Fireworks) @ Park County Fairgrounds
For more information or to reserve tickets: 406.222.3199
Cody, WY
Cody Stampede
Known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World,” Cody is home to the Cody Stampede Rodeo, hitting 100 years of thrilling rodeo action this year. So, get those tickets early, load up the family, and head on down to Cody where the world’s best Cowboys and Cowgirls will compete for over $400,000 in prize money!
- July 1-3 @ 8pm, gates to open at 6pm, tickets $21/adult; $10.50/child; Free/ages 6 and younger
- July 2 @ 10am- Kiddies Parade
- July 4 @ 5pm, gates to open at 3pm, tickets $26/person
- And don’t miss the Cody Stampede Parade, themed: Wyoming, Buckin’ thru Time, held July 3 & 4 at 9:30am. Begins at the Buffalo Bill Center of West, proceeds east down Sheridan Ave.
For more information or to order tickets go to: www.codystampederodeo.com/events
Originally printed in the June 2019 issue of Simply Family Magazine
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