Get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The fireworks for the Fourth of July 2019 are expected to be “bigger and better.”
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Family Fun Night will be at the Boundary County Fairgrounds preceding the fireworks show.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN With a wide variety of fireworks, some are themed, while others are expected to make shapes, such as a heart.
BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County Fairgrounds will be busy on July 4, beginning with preparations for the evening’s events.
Anyone wishing to participate in the parade should head over to the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. for the lineup. Everyone is welcome and there are no entrance fees. The parade then starts at 5 p.m. looping around downtown and back to the fairgrounds.
About 6 p.m. the opening ceremonies will commence, beginning with the Boundary County Fire Chief’s Association Honor Guard presenting the flags, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Gary Leonard. Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer will lead the Invocation, and Kristie Campbell will perform the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The Bonners Ferry Lions Club will be hosting Family Fun Night, beginning at 7 p.m. with events such as the Three Legged Race, Potato Sack Race, Water Balloon Toss, and Addison’s Potato Gun for Fun.
At 8 p.m., the Bonners Ferry Orchestra will be performing in the covered area by the playground. The orchestra has been a part of the community for 45 years, and this will be the first time this group will perform at the annual Fourth of July celebrations. The orchestra of about 30 musicians, from Idaho and Montana, will be playing patriotic music that attendees may be familiar with.
At 9:30 p.m., there will be a raffle drawing, followed by Len Pine presenting the audience with “God Bless America.”
At 10 p.m. the fireworks display will begin. This year’s fireworks are 100 percent electronic, with a backup system in place. There are 498 mortars, each with their own tube, and “cakes,” which are themed and the fireworks are set off in a timed manner.
The City of Bonners Ferry wants to remind people that it is illegal to discharge fireworks within city limits per Bonners Ferry City Code 7-4-4. This includes both aerial and ground fireworks. Violation of this code may result in a misdemeanor offense, and the local authorities will be patrolling the city to ensure that all citizens and visitors are abiding by the law.
Attending the annual fireworks show allows not only the viewing of the fireworks display, but the opportunity for fun with family and friends.
For questions or concerns about the use of fireworks within the city limits, call Bonners Ferry City Hall at 208-267-3105. To report the use of fireworks in the city limits, call the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office at 208-267-3151.