BIG SKY

Big Sky Community Corp. Fourth of July Celebration
Come down to the community park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 4 for a number of activities suitable for the whole family including a 5K race; kids activities such as a 1K fun run, arts and crafts, games and face painting; basketball and tennis tournaments; a skate-park jam; Home Run Derby; and a dunk tank. A barbecue lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All proceeds go to support the Big Sky Community Park.

Schedule:

7:30 a.m. – Information and registration desk opens
8:30 a.m. – 5K race starts
9 a.m. – Disc golf
9:30 a.m. – Kids activities
10 a.m. – 3-on-3 basketball tournament
10:30 a.m. – Tennis tournament
11:30 a.m. – BBQ Lunch
12 p.m. – Skate-park jam
1 p.m. – Home Run Derby

Firecracker Open
Big Sky Resort Golf Course, 10 a.m.
The Firecracker Open has a shotgun start at 10 a.m., and the entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, range balls, lunch, flag prizes and awards. “This is a great way to kick off the Fourth of July weekend prior to the live music in Town Center with the evening of fireworks,” said Sheila Chapman, PR Manager at Big Sky Resort.

Music in the Mountains: The Tiny Band
Town Center Park, 6 p.m.
What better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than with a dance party! Town Center Park’s biggest concert of the summer is on July 4 with the Bozeman-based Tiny Band. The park opens at 6 p.m., with kids activities, food and beverage vendors and the band starting at 7 p.m. A fireworks show is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. to celebrate America’s birthday.

The Tiny Band’s repertoire is a blend of Motown, rock, soul and pop standards will keep Town Center Park pulsing. Since July 2010, they’ve entertained guests at weddings, parties and special events with hits ranging from Stevie Wonder to the Beatles, and Michael Jackson to Adele. The Tiny Band brings big vocals, high energy and anything but tiny sound.

No glass containers or pets are allowed in the park during concerts. The show is free, suitable for all ages, and there is plenty of free parking.

The Electric Sunday
Broken Spoke, 10 p.m.
This Montana rock ‘n’ roll band’s sound is a fusion of rock, blues and funk. The Bozeman-based group is Josh Moore on lead guitar/vocals; James Salestrom on lead guitar/vocals/keys; Travis Todd on the rhythm guitar; Chad Basaites on drums/percussion; and Dustin Crowson on the bass guitar.

BOZEMAN

8th Annual Reach Race for Independence
Reach Inc., 8 a.m.
Celebrate the independence of our country and the people served by Reach Inc. by joining them for a 1K, 5K or 10K run or walk on the trails of north Bozeman. Event proceeds will go to Reach Inc., a local nonprofit that helps adults with developmental disabilities to lead more independent, fulfilling lives.

Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market
Haynes Pavilion at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market provides an opportunity and location for local vendors of homemade food, handmade crafts and locally grown produce to market, display and sell their goods to promote economic well being and support the development of home-based businesses.

Ice Cream Social
Museum of the Rockies, 2-4 p.m.
Celebrate an old-fashioned Fourth of July at the Museum of the Rockies’ Living History Farm. Step back in time and enjoy ice cream, games, crafts, the Heirloom Garden and traditional Fourth of July activities.

Bozeman Symphony and the Lions Club present Festival of the Fourth
Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.
This all-ages event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a fundraising barbecue at the Haynes Pavilion. A portion of ticket sales from the barbecue will support the free concert and festival, and an anonymous donor will match 50 percent of the donation.

The Bozeman Symphony will perform a program of patriotic favorites at 9 p.m., leading into the traditional fireworks display at 10:30 p.m. The concert and fireworks are free and open to the public.

The Gallatin Empire Lions Club has presented the Festival of the Fourth for 18 years, providing free entertainment and fireworks to the greater Bozeman community. This is the fifth year the symphony and Lions Club have collaborated presenting this community event, attracting over 5,000 attendees from southwest Montana.

Contact the Bozeman Symphony at (406) 585-9774 or info@bozemansymphony.org to purchase barbecue tickets.

ENNIS/VIRGINIA CITY

Moods Brew and Spirit Fest – July 3
Ennis, 3-8 p.m.
Kick off the holiday weekend at the first annual Moods Brew and Spirit Fest in Ennis on July 3. Featuring more than 150 beers and spirits to sample, this will be the largest combined brewery and distillery event in Montana.

Doors open at 3 p.m. and the 21-plus event ends at 8 p.m. Live music will be performed by Ethan Kunrad, MT Fools Gold, and Cure for the Common. Cosmic Pizza, Island Noodles, Madison Foods Smokehouse, and MT Zest will have food available for purchase. Rustic camping is available for a donation, adjacent to the festival grounds.

Proceeds from this event go to support the Second Annual Moods of the Madison music festival, held on July 17-18 in Ennis. Lift your spirits and get your brew on!

Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Ennis Fire Hall, 6 a.m.
Eat pancakes at the annual Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser and support the Madison Valley Rural Fire Dept., which serves the city of Ennis and the rest of Madison Valley.

Ennis Fourth of July Car Show
Sportsman’s Lodge, 9 a.m.
This patriotic show will take place on the lawn of Sportsman’s Lodge in Ennis. Registration is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Participants are welcome to bring parts to swap or sell.

80th Annual Ennis Fourth of July Parade: “Boots, Chaps & Cowboy Hats”
Main Street, 10 a.m.
One of the Madison Valley’s most celebrated events, the traditional Fourth of July parade begins at 10 a.m. and follows a route through historic downtown Ennis. Horses, floats, marching bands, and classic cars highlight the annual event, which draws crowds in the hundreds to Ennis’ Main Street shopping district. All proceeds go to support the cost of the parade.

A community barbecue hosted by the Lion’s Club will take place at Peter T’s Park immediately following the parade.

Fireworks display
Virginia City, dusk

A professional fireworks display begins at dusk from the Boot Hill area of town. Bring a blanket to the library lawn and be dazzled.

The Blundering Herd
Virginia City Opera House, 2 and 7 p.m.

Founded in 1948, the Virginia City Players Theatre Company performs authentic 19th century melodramas and vaudeville variety acts in the Virginia City Opera House.

In “The Blundering Herd,” Long Horn Ranch is in danger of closing. In order to make enough money to save the ranch, owner Peggy Houston turns it into a dude ranch. However, disaster strikes when the majority of her employees quit because they don’t like her idea. Determined to make it work, Houston, along with her foreman Walrus, set out to train city dudes to act like cowboys so they can entertain the tourists that are already on their way. Gold discovery, mistaken identity and ranch-hand ineptitude will have the whole family rolling with laughter.

LIVINGSTON/PARADISE VALLEY

JULY 2

Roundup Parade
Downtown Livingston, 3 p.m.

This family event is free to the public. Leave your pets at home and no parking is allowed on 2nd & Main Streets from 2 p.m. until the parade ends.

JULY 2-4

28th Annual Festival of the Arts
The Depot Center, 10 a.m.

The Livingston Depot Center’s Festival of the Arts will be held in the Depot Rotary Park, adjacent to the Depot Center, in downtown Livingston, Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. This popular annual event is open to original artists and craftspeople in all media.

Roundup Rodeo
Park County Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.
The Livingston Roundup Rodeo has been a popular local event in this area since 1924. Every year on July 2-4, top rodeo cowboys and cowgirls from across North America compete in multiple events. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the rodeo starts at 8 p.m., and fireworks close out the event each night.

JULY 4

Liberty Dash 5K & 10K
Sacajawea Park, 8:15 a.m.

Monty Python’s “Spamalot”
The Shane Lalani Center for the Arts, 8 p.m.
“Spamalot” is the award-winning comedic musical adapted from the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Funnier than the Black Death, “Spamalot” revisits the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they encounter scantily-clad showgirls, bovine projectiles, flatulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits.

Peculiar Patriots
The Murray, 9 p.m.
“Mix New Orleans Jazz, soul, blues and a hint of some low down dirty funk, and you have the Peculiar Patriots. Based out of Laramie, Wyo., each member lays down their part as if they were the only one on stage, and the front-man harness’ his inner Sachmo so well, if you closed your eyes, you would think you were back in a ‘20s speakeasy.” – 107.9 The River

Strangeways
The Mint, 9:30 p.m.
Strangeways is a rowdy, irreverent three-piece power trio, featuring Kevin Toll on guitar, Steve Palmer on drums and Jordan Jarosky on bass. The band’s homegrown Livingston sound is aptly referred to as “non-genre.” They fill the night with electrified Americana sounds riddled with songs of outlaws, whiskey and women. A mix of original music compliments their range of songs from Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, to Prince and Jimi Hendrix, and everything in between.

Denny Earnest & The Resonators
Chico Saloon, 10 p.m.
At the heart of Denny’s style is his trusty vintage 1930s Dobro that’s painted like a Campbell’s Soup can. From Paradise Valley, Earnest concentrates on music for TV and film and playing in and around Bozeman with his band “Denny & The Resonators.” The band’s rootsy blues music always draws a packed dance floor.

WEST YELLOWSTONE

JULY 3

Caldera Music Festival
Pioneer Park, 1 p.m.

Kick off the July Fourth weekend early by enjoying some free music during the first Caldera Music Festival at Pioneer Park in West Yellowstone.

Lineup:

12 p.m. – Thread Only Left
1 p.m. – CowTown Crisis
2 p.m. – Justine Marie
3 p.m. – Tales of Ghost Town
4 p.m. – Erin Harp & the Delta Swingers
6 p.m. – Dave Walker Band
8 p.m. – John Gospodarek Band

JULY 4

Pie on the Porch
Union Pacific Depot, 1-5 p.m.
Gather on the porch of the historic Union Pacific Depot for a homemade slice of pie from some of the best bakers in Montana to celebrate Independence Day in West Yellowstone. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser support the Yellowstone Historic Center Archive Program. Get there early for your favorite pie by the slice!

Buffalo Chip Chuck
Union Pacific Dining Lodge, 3-4:30 p.m.
Be the first to say you flung the dung! The Buffalo chip toss competition on the west lawn of the Union Pacific Dining Lodge is fun for the entire family. Rubber gloves will be provided. This event is sponsored by Friends of the Library and is a fundraiser for the West Yellowstone Public Library.

Celebrating America
The Fourth of July celebration this year includes some “down home” fun with a hometown parade, music in the park and fireworks – conditions permitting. The parade lines up at 5:30 p.m. and starts at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks start approximately at 10:15 pm.

Free Music in the Park
Pioneer Park, 7 p.m.
Join the town of West Yellowstone for a great night of free music in the park featuring Jamel Boast and The Adam Ezra Group. The Adam Ezra Group’s live performances are sweaty, passionate affairs that have been compared to those of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Having toured with Rusted Root, The Wailers, Blues Traveler, among many others, the Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the local Boston scene to the national level with a momentum that is catapulting them towards being one of the country’s most talked about bands.