The 4th of July is quickly approaching and the Flathead Valley is full of amazing activities to keep you busy! Here’s the top events you don’t want to miss on Flathead Lake on the 4th of July:

1. Watch the fireworks over Flathead Lake

   Flathead Lake is home to multiple fireworks shows. In fact, you can catch multiple shows from Flathead Lake on the 4th of July since they are at different times and on different days! For example, Lakeside’s public firework show begins at 11pm on the 4th of July and is completely community funded. The Polson fireworks display will be on July 3 at the Polson Fairgrounds. If you’d like to get the best views and skip the parking madness— consider renting a sailboat and watching the fireworks on the lake!

2. Attend a Flathead Lake 4th of July parade

   One of the best 4th of July parades in the Flathead Lake area is the Bigfork parade. As they state on the Bigfork website, “Bigfork knows how to throw a party. And when it is our country’s birthday, Bigfork really knows how to celebrate.” The parade begins at noon and includes food trucks, live music by the Fetveit Brothers (starting at 10am in the downtown parking lot), and free shuttle service from the intersection of Highway 35 and 82 to downtown.

3. Celebrate at the Arlee Powwow

   While not on Flathead Lake, it’s well worth making a trip down to Arlee on 4th of July weekend for the annual Espapqeyni Celebration. This 4th of July Powwow celebration has been a tradition for well over a century. This celebration is a beautiful way to better understand Montana’s history and culture as well as appreciate some truly talented artisans and dancers. Find the full schedule of events for the powwow from June 28th-July 4th here.

4. Rent a Kayak, Sup or Sailboat on Flathead Lake

   Escape the hustle and bustle of Flathead Lake on the 4th of July by hitting the water in a sailboat! While many people take out speedboats and pontoons on the 4th of July, sailing is a truly unique way to experience the lake and take in the holiday. Additionally, SUP and kayak rentals are also available in Dayton, if you would prefer to paddle through the holiday! Find out more about all the rental options here