Is it THAT time again already? YES! And it's unbelievably wonderful to note that this will be our TENTH ANNIVERSARY of presenting YOU, the PEOPLE, in your own PEOPLE PARADE!

Get ready to tune up for another exciting event in honoring our great and wonderful Nation. This year we'll be including such favorites as the Best-of-Show Bike Contest and a Float Decorating Contest, among other exciting events, including some NEW surprises!

Since this is The Parade for and BY YOU PEOPLE, there are no entry fees to partake in the Parade or any of the events. Whether you are an observer or a participant, it's YOUR time in YOUR PLACE, Miles City, Montana! And visitors are also welcome to join-in for a truly great time of remembrance!

Since our PEOPLE PARADE is our "main course," don't forget the DESSERT, a grand old-fashioned get-together of our whole community
at Riverside Park....just follow the parade there!

Stay tuned right here as this thread weaves its way into one of the happiest times you can have on the FOURTH OF JULY, 2013!!

Looking forward to the NEW surprises!

JMD and All:

SO AM I!!! I'm certainly ordering the great weather we've had for the previous PEOPLES PARADES! Don't you feel the excitement welling from within? I know I DO!

Last year showed us how much folks enjoyed presenting their own floats, so hopefully more folks will feel the enjoyment of parading theirs past friends and neighbors. If you have one in mind, NOW'S the time to get started, you know how time flies!

It's also not too soon to get those entry forms in for whatever venue you have in mind. Great Grains Health foods at 21 South Ninth Street is the place to pick up an RETURN those forms, or call 234-5811 for more information. You can also call Mary Elizabeth Irion at 234-1900 or 853-1952.

I will again this year have the distinction of being the BUTT-END of the Parade in my colorful garb, flag, and red white and blue whirligig! Ah, butt this will signal the BEGINNING of the Riverside Park festivities and FUN FOR ONE AND ALL!! More details forthcoming!

I will be thinking of all of the wonderful people that make this such a success.

Tucker:

Seems to me you helped start this wonderful event a decade ago! And we all miss you folks, too!! I sure am sorry I missed you during our other big event, the Bucking Horse Sale. Especially knowing you left a legacy that keeps growing each year!

Our PEOPLES PARADE has evolved greatly from that first day of a couple of lone horse riders, Joe walking his dog and you others who were brave enough to DODGE TRAFFIC during that initial brave event. HA! HA! What a memory!

As we catapult toward our 10th year,(WOW!), I hope to bring along the kid in me and sneak over to the cotton candy line and revert to the youngster who always awaits such a triggering event. And the recollection of those yesteryear times in the park with Grandpa, Grandma and my family as we picnicked in the park as the band played Susa marches from the gazebo. Generations have passed since then, but the current generation can foster the same type of memories by joining our fabulous PEOPLE PARADE and Riverside Park's wondrous array of activities for everyone!

As we move ever-closer to these exciting events, I'll highlight their various aspects to help you prepare to join us.

I'd mentioned the type of floats that you ride or pull (but not EAT!)and you can win a prize if you qualify for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place! These prizes will be based on Originality, Amount of Actual Construction of the Float, and how well the Float is Put Together and Arranged. (Example: Floats built from scratch using materials like chicken wire and tissue paper will rank higher than using Pre-fabricated Materials and placed on a flat bed trailer.) So GET OUT THERE and have some fun producing something you'll be proud of!

More details and fun ideas next time. GET EXCITED!!

In yesterday's snippet I'd mentioned cotton candy as being one of the elements of our 4th of July celebration. And it takes the fine volunteers of Community Baptist Church who are continuing to bring us that treat, as in the past years. The snow cones AND THE BOUNCE HOUSE for the kids, too! They represent the very reason these yearly PEOPLE PARADES and RIVERSIDE PARK FESTIVITIES are so special, because they are completely VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN! All due to the wonderful Community in which we live!

There are NO FEES for any event and FREE OFFERINGS of food and entertainment. And all put forth by businesses and organizations that are thankful for your involvement in keeping the wheels of progress moving and aiding those in need in our Frontier Town.

Many treats will be available by non-profit organizations in the Park with NO OBLIGATION and free-will offerings will be accepted.
Many businesses also help each year through promotional materials and in providing the many elements that make these celebrations possible. We'll tell you more about these venues as we move along.

A NEW EVENT is being formulated this year, THE PATRIOTIC CONTATA! A choral group that will radiate the musical essence of Freedom! How would YOU like to be a part of that exhilarating group? Rehearsals are planned for anyone interested in being a participant. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE! Rehearsals take place on Sundays, June 16th, 23rd, and 30th at Noon in the First Baptist Church, 900 Palmer, across from Washington School SING OUT!!

More interesting happenings just ahead, NEXT!

'ALLO-'ALLO again! As our multi-events begin falling into place, the whole process takes a great number of folks to make it happen each year, and we appreciate those who enjoy making it all possible!

Our 4th of July festivities grow in different ways each year which calls for more participation from you adventurous types, looking for ways to energize our community! Unless you've ever been a part of these particular annual events, you're missing a great opportunity.

Just imagine THAT DAY of INDEPENDENCE as you stand among the Parade activity, people arriving from all directions, finding their places through coordinators at the line-up location. Types of vehicles arriving for placement, cyclers, and walkers roaming for assignments....a CIRCUS atmosphere unfolding before your eyes! And YOU right there being a PART OF MAKING IT HAPPEN!! And all because you've wanted to actually TRY being a part of something special for your community! NOW is your chance!

One way is by helping to formulate the whole process. Our 4th of July PEOPLES PARADE/ ACTIVITY COMMITTEE has some very dedicated folks who return year after year to accomplish the successes you have seen in the past. Some of our past help have relocated elsewhere and we can use replacements who can offer new ideas or help our other members carry out theirs. Why not sit-in with us and see what it's all about? Wednesday (19th) is the next meeting.

Perhaps you like to entertain as a single or in a group? Sing? Play? Stand-Up? It happens at the gazebo in Riverside Park after the Parade.

If you have the inclination to become a part of our Great Celebration and would like more information, call Kay Weischedel at 853-0975, Scott Elder at 234-5811 or Mary Elizabeth Irion at 234-1900. Thank you!

Among the events will be a float-decorating contest and Best-of-Show Bike Contest (ALL age groups invited!) plus many other activities at Riverside Park. More details, as promised earlier, of the various events, free food, entertainment and contributions. Bye for now!

Yes, it's ME again, with great enthusiasm about our PEOPLE'S PARADE and the abundant activities over at Riverside Park on the 4th!

A bit more this time for those of you who just might be thinking of doing some form of entertaining down at the Park. The gazebo entertainment is being manage differently this year by those of the Committee who are lining up that activity. They are leaving 15-minute intervals between each performance for you who would like to step up to the microphone to play an instrument, sing, dance, recite a poem or whatever your expertise or spontaneous performance might be. (Nothing RACY, of course)! Ha! You could be a single, couple or group act to just enjoy performing!

The committee had thus far signed-up eight performers and three are groups or couples. SEE? So if you would like to sign on early, or have questions about the event, you may call Kay (ENERGIZER) Weischedel at 853-0975, Scott(The Scoop) Elder at 234-5811, or Mary Elizabeth(SuperWoman)Irion at 234-1900. They'll be happy to hear from you!

And remember the exciting PATRIOTIC CANTATA! This group was formed and performed at the very FIRST 4th of July People's Parade and Riverside Park activities a decade ago! Imagine being a part of THIS YEAR'S performance for our 10th Anniversary! You STILL can be in the Group, and have only two Sundays left to rehearse, on the 23rd and 30th this month. They take place at Noon at First Baptist Church just west of Eagles Manor. And for those of you who have cantata books, please bring them to rehearsals. For further information, call Cori Schock at 853-5760! (Sorry I didn't mention you before, Cori, Ma'am, you can give me a good cuffing)!

Activities in the park give service organizations and community clubs a way of reaching their fundraising goals by collecting donations for special projects or to rally participants for their cause. You may set up your booths in designated areas in the Park for anyone to visit during the 4th of July festivities. Any parties interested in setting up a booth may call Mary Elizabeth Irion, the Parade Committee's Park Coordinator, at 234-1900 or 853-1952.

More to come about the exciting activities ahead in a couple of days or so! Hang in there and HANG ON!!

Gene, be sure and let us know who the Grand Marshall will be this year.

HEAR-YE! HEAR-YE! Do you realize that in just a SMIDGEON over one week THE 4th of JULY WILL BE HERE? WOW, we're on a TIME EXPRESS and will pulling into The 10th Annual PEOPLE's PARADE with that deer-in-the-headlights-look! Seems like every time I turn around it's another day.

How about YOU! If you plan on being in the PEOPLE'S PARADE do you have your registration form(s)in yet? Remember, there are no entry fees because this is a FREE event. And you don't have to be concerned about a THEME...there isn't one. Here's your chance to pull your favorite chicken down the street in a baby carriage (WITHOUT THE BABY!) if you wish. SO many ways to prove to your friends and/or neighbors just how talented you can be! (We suggest, however, that you DON'T put your dog on roller skates, he doesn't have the ankles for that). But there are scads of neat things you can do to have fun in your very-own Parade. So get those entries in SOON, you don't want to miss out on this one!!
For registration forms and information call: Great Grains Health Foods (Scott Elder) at 234-5811 or Mary Elizabeth Irion at 234-1900 or 853-1952. Thank you.

Then there is the FLOAT DECORATING CONTEST to see if you can win a prize and the respect of the OTHER guy! The judges will be looking at the originality of your float, how well it's constructed, and its arrangement of uniqueness. If you haven't started now, GET CRACKIN"!

Among other events and contests the third annual Best-of Bike Contest also takes place this year at Riverside Park and it's open to all ages for some very nice prizes. There will be a Mini Cool Car Show, too, that will be exciting. So many more events following the Parade there.

I'll be doing an overview of all the happenings occurring in the 4th of July PEOPLE'S PARADE and RIVERSIDE PARK events as we become ready to spring into action and release as much excitement as your heart can take! In the meanwhile, just envision cars, wagons, floats, motorcycles, tractors, bicycles, tricycles, unicycles,(and a guy at the end of the parade who needs to be RECYCLED), and pedestrians with assorted surprises!! WOW! (And this isn't COUNTING the flurry PARK events)!

These great INDEPENDENCE DAY PEOPLE's PARADE and RIVERSIDE PARK events would never be possible without all the sponsors and volunteers, who will be gratefully mentioned in the overview to come.

I just read that in 1963, plans were being made for the annual Kiddies Parade for the 4th of July. We've come a long way, Baby!

FLASH! Be looking in the Miles City Star tomorrow (26th) for a scheduled article on these events by Mary Elizabeth Irion for the FULL picture of what's ahead!

I'll be back!

Gene said "I'll be back" and he will, along with Mary Elizebeth Irion, Scott Elder and Ah hell, I can't name everyone but I can thank them and so can you. A big thumbs up to everyone that have contributed to ten years of this wonderful event, for the people and by the people of Miles City, Montana.

"Long May You Run."

Mary Elizabeth's information is in the Star tonight in the Entertainment section. Be sure to check out all the happenings and join us for a great time.

Thank you, Lynne. Another hard worker who helps make this all happen!!

If you received tonight's (June 28th) Miles City Star, you'll see the nice ads on Page 7 which makes you want to BE THERE more and more to enjoy the fun set out for you! Wake Up-Lace-Up is featuring the REDNECK GRILL that will be producing some mighty delicious hamburgers and hotdogs and will be among the many great food offerings to choose from as you wonder through the park on the 4th. Free-will donations accepted! How can you go wrong?

Excited as I am to be on the committee, I happened to mention that I could hardly wait to see those MINI CARS that will be in the park! Boy was MY face red!! "There are NO MINI CARS, Larson....," there are just FEWER REGULAR COOL CARS which is the "mini" part of the description! So I figured we should call that entry a "mini COOL CAR SHOW!" (As I crawled along the floor and out of the last meeting, hopefully unnoticed, I decided I'd best make this event's description clearer to all. Mary Elizabeth came up with an even better title: PEOPLE'S CHOICE COOL CAR SHOW. (May I be excused)?

Looks like we need more of you to get your entry forms in as soon as possible to give us an idea of how many folks plan to be in the Festivities. After all, being the tail-end of the Parade, and if a lot of last minute drop-ins participate, I'D like to know how far OUT OF TOWN I might have to be walking from! That way, I'd have time to take some quick ROLLER SKATING lessons! HA!

The registration forms are available at GREAT GRAINS HEALTH FOODS, 21 South 9th Street in Miles City. Phone 234-5811. Or call Mary Elizabeth Irion at 234-1900. Git 'Em!

PARADE MARSHALS for this year will be Cliff and Darlene Boutelle, Miles City natives and long time business owners. Cody Steiner will be chauffeuring them in his 1970 Pontiac GTO convertible. WOO-HOO!

NOTE:
Fifth Street will be closed on the 4th of July from Bridge to Fort Streets to accommodate the 5th Infantry's military vehicles and overflow of the mini COOL CAR SHOW in Riverside Park.

Remember, only one Sunday left if you'd like to be a part of the community Patriotic Cantata for final rehearsal over at First Baptist Church on Palmer Street, across from Washington middle School. HUMMMMMM!

The teasers keep on a-comin' and pretty soon I'll REALLY have to let loose!! I'll be here! Until next time......

Thank you, Gene for all of your updates! Hope everyone joins us for a fun time at the parade and then the park.

In 1938, they skipped the Fourth of July parade and had a Water Conservation Days Mardi Gras later in the month. The local WPA Arts and Crafts group made "grotesque masks" they wanted everyone to wear. Maybe a theme for some upcoming year!

I plan to be in the park in my new hat. It is splendiferous.

What time doest everything start?

The Parade begins at 11:00am sharp. For those participating in the Parade, meet at the Convent at 10;00am for line-up. The Parade ends at Riverside Park where all THAT excitement begins!

Here we are, less than three days away from OUR BIG July 4th Celebration and things are looking great! As of this morning we had twenty-nine entries, some with multi-elements involved! But still not too late to jump in and be a part of the activities through volunteerism or participation in the fun. Getting excited? I sure am!!

Get set to see the likes of cars, wagons, tricycles, motorcycles,
unicycles, popcycles, momcycles, kiddiecycles, pedicycles (people on foot), animals of sorts, colorful costumes and things of all colors, tractors of age and beauty, floats of varying arrays, AND our famous "Mr. Scooper" and (hopefully) his Poo-Patrol Assistant shoveling along the route following behind the Poo-Ploppers ahead in the Parade! (Whew!) SO much to see! And I'll be the guy at the end of the PEOPLE'S PARADE being herded by a police patrol car (unless he/she has something more exciting to do).

Each year the PEOPLE'S PARADE leads you right to Riverside Park and into all types of activities, entertainment and more food than you dare ingest! Remember to bring your lawn chairs for your personal comfort. If you're unable to bring a chair along, Jack Larson has volunteered to bring some bales of hay to alight upon as you watch the entertainment from the beautifully decorated gazebo.

The kids are not being left out, at the Park. Jordan Pehler, Education Director for the Waterworks Art Museum, plans to have art activities set up near the playground for the children to show off their artistic talents depicting what freedom means to them. AND Community Baptist Church will have their bounce house set up for the kids as well as providing ANYONE with cotton candy and snow cones!

Once you get a whiff of the bar-b-cueing burgers and wieners over at the Park, you may morph into hungerville, a trance-like state! So be careful to not walk into a tree! (Sorry, getting ahead of myself)!

LATER!

The true spirit of Independence Day can be found on Main Street, Miles City and in Riverside Park. If I had two nickles to rub together and fewer family obligations I would be on my way to join in the festivities.

If you don't have a great day, well, it's your own fault.

Right you are, Tucker!! And we miss you folks every year since you "upped" and moved away. However, there comes a time when definite needs push us in other directions in life. And I think of you folks every time I step to the rear and move forward to another spectacular series of events you helped to start a decade ago....your spirits are always here! THANK YOU!!

As time draws ever so near, I can "feel" people hard at work completing their specialties for all to see in this PEOPLE'S PARADE.....and thinking of the duo-crowds lining the route to Riverside Park.

Nothing is better than the sights, the aromas, the act of BEING THERE as all of these events are taking place. Of moving through a day that will, again, foster yet another memory in time that only happens once in it's own realm. The fantastic "PEOPLE'S PARADE," all the festivities at Riverside Park with local entertainment, followed by the Niedgefest that rocks out and into the day's end of spectacular fireworks hosted by the VFW!! ONE MORE DAY AWAY!

My whirligig, blue jeans, white shirt, red tie, stars and stripes hat and sign are by my door and ready for me to administer. This "Little Boy" is ready for action! ARE YOU? (Heh, Heh)!

I'll have a wrap-up here tomorrow. OH!! Remember that there's a SIREN TEST tomorrow morning at 8:00am, so DON'T head for the hills! It's just a TEST and will last for about 3 minutes.

Happy Wednesday!

OK! HERE WE GO, the LAST post before today's events!!

HEY! The United Methodist Church Youth Group will be giving the first 200 people who arrive on Main Street for the Parade a large American flag to wave in celebration! The flags are being provided by Steadman's Ace Hardware. (Only if you wish, you may give a donation for a flag to the VFW Post No. 1579 to help pay for the public fireworks this year).

If you've followed along with these posts, you are mostly aware of the entries in this year's PEOPLE'S PARADE and RIVERSIDE PARK FESTIVITIES. However, there are bound to be some surprises with the various entries by kids and adults, along with their animals. You may even see a couple of red, white, and blue cars among the procession.

We have our own little "circus" each year at the Parade lineup due to last-minute entries, getting folks in their appointed places, and odd wonderings of people passing through the foray. Radios crackling out orders, entries coming in from the wrong directions or streets! Or maybe a vehicle that stalls as the Parade gets underway!
Oh, Boy! Loads of excitement prevails. YES!

Such a HUGE number of people (volunteers and businesses) are involved in this year's Festivities that it would be so much easier to direct you to last night's Miles City Star for complete details.
For those of you not local, it's just amazing the volume of participation it takes to form our multi-faceted Independence Day Celebration. And to all involved, THANK YOU for making this possible!!

Also, THANK YOU to those innovative folks who began and continued the growth of our Fourth of July Celebration over the last ten years: Joe Whalen, Tucker and Glenna Bolton, Scott Elder, Cori Shock, Maria Schock, Bruce Helland, Art Jacobsen, Erin Thermodsgard, Kay Weischedel and her daughter Lynne and, of course, Mary Elizabeth Irion who has been diligent in the pursuit of the many important details. Also others who have come and gone along the way. If I've missed anyone, please forgive me, everyone is important!

IT IS NOW JULY 4TH, 2013! Please honor our Flag on this Independence Day, go out and enjoy this day and KEEP IT SAFE!

[This message has been edited by Gene Larson (7/4/2013)]

Happy tenth anniversary. Have a safe and fun 4TH.

Kudos to all the wonderful people that Gene mentioned...and, lets add Gene to that as well!!

Thanks, Jeri, very kind of you. Hope you've had a great time today, we of the committee certainly have! Thanks to everyone who has made this successful annual event possible!!

Thanks to you, Tucker! MISS YOU FOLKS!!

Hope to see all of you again next year, Bye!

Miss you guys as well. I remember being tired at the end of the day but having a big smile. Good people, sharing community and having a good time in the process. What's not to like?