CLARK FORK — The Filling Station Youth Center will kick off the Fourth of July Celebration with a 5K fun run this year.

The sixth annual Haden’s Heart fun run was started as a memorial to Haden Kistler, who passed away from brain cancer in 2011 at age 13. The race generates scholarship funds for Clark Fork High School graduating seniors who want to further their education as well as supporting the youth center. This run or walk race is a family oriented event perfect for starting out a full day of events in Clark Fork.

The race begins at 7 a.m. on Main Street near the high school and heads north up the Lightning Creek valley. The first kilometer is level before the scenic course begins to climb up to the Clark Fork cemetery loop and back down to the starting line. A custom T-shirt is included and medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each category. Entry is $25, but participants can save $5 by getting their entry postmarked by today. 

Clark Fork's Fourth of July parade begins at 9:30 a.m, followed by foot races, food and raffles in the high school yard. At 1 p.m. the action moves to the Clark Fork ball field beginning with an airplane drop. Coupons for snacks and drinks at local businesses are showered down over the field by a small plane.

A watermelon eating contest, frog and turtle races, tug-of-war and money-in-the-hay games, as well as a dunk tank all provide entertainment for the kids. Logging competitions include an axe throw, pole climb, chainsaw cutting and two-man, crosscut saw challenges. Of course, no Independence Day celebration would be complete without a fireworks show after dark.

For information and entry forms for the Haden's Heart 5K visit hadensheartrun.com.