Laurel's 4th of July Celebration

Fireworks from the 2017 celebration in Laurel Montana.

A day for family, friends and fun

There is nothing like a small town 4th of July Celebration. Most people come for the parade, gather in Thomson Park, and stay the day, waiting for the fireworks at dusk. It’ll be a day you will remember for a long time.

21st Annual Chief Joseph Run

• Sign in at 6 a.m. 8 milers: Race starts at 6:30 a.m. 2 & 4 milers: Race starts at 7 a.m.

• Thomson Park Picnic Shelter - 6th Street

Annual Jaycees Pancake Breakfast

• 6 a.m. - 11 a.m. Fireman’s Park at Main & 1st Ave.

Food Fair

• 9 a.m. - Dark Dodger Parking Lot - 8th St. and First Ave.

Craft Fair

• Begins at 10 a.m.

• 8th St. and First Ave.

Kiddies Parade

• 10 a.m. Meet at Western Security Bank

Grand Parade

• 11 a.m. Starts on Main & Alder and goes west

Fireworks

• At Dark. Thomson Park area

On the 4th, if you are in the park, please purchase from one of the vendors in the vendor area. They are the official vendors, who have paid for the opportunity to be a part of our celebration. Their payments help pay for the porta potties and the clean up. Several opportunists may try to sell to you in the park; however these people are not approved vendors. Please support the Laurel July 4th Celebration and our vendors.

Safety and Candy at the Parade

This year at the July 4th Grand Parade candy and handouts will no longer be allowed. This is happening all across the nation. It is increasingly difficult to get insurance for this event because of the liability issue and significant safety issues. In the past, parade participants have been asked to have any candy, etc. thrown to the curb by walkers to keep the children out of the streets. This has not been successful. Many walkers toss the candy to the kids and not to the curb resulting in the crowd moving further and further into the streets, floats have had to slow down to allow the walkers to catch up causing gaps in the parade, and some participants have blatantly disregarded the rules and just thrown from the floats. The candy, etc. also causes significant amounts of litter.

The parade is a valuable community event, but we can no longer allow this to continue. Safety is our top priority. We ask that you understand that without insurance, the Chamber can no longer host this event. Please keep your children out of the streets and enjoy the parade.