SANDPOINT — In an effort to bring more music to the Fourth of July Grand Parade, the Sandpoint Lions Club dubbed this year's theme, "The Sounds of Freedom."

"Parade themes, every year, are very difficult to come up with," said club president Judy Dabrowski. "After 50 years, we've used a bunch of them. We are always trying to come up with fun ideas, and one of the things we've heard repeatedly from the people who watch the parade — we don't have enough music."

The theme is always patriotic, she said, so club members thought the theme would be a "fun" one.

Also, for the first time in 50 years, the parade route has changed this year due to the construction work on Cedar Street.

"We tried to change it as little as possible, because we know there are families who have sat in the same spot for 50 years," Dabrowski said.

The parade will start at Fifth Avenue and Church Street, heading east on Church and taking a left on First Avenue, another left on Oak Street, proceeding west on Oak and taking a right on Fifth, ending at Fifth and Cedar.

The Fourth of July festivities begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 4, with the kids parade. Kids who would like to be in the parade should decorate themselves or their bikes and meet at the city parking lot, Third Avenue and Church Street, between 8:30-8:45 a.m. There is no fee to participate, and each youngster will receive a goodie bag. The Grand Parade will begin at 10 a.m. The fireworks show will begin at dusk at City Beach.

The public can contribute to the festivities by purchasing raffle tickets from Lions Club members. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five, and the first place prize is a 2018 Polaris Sportsman 450 AND 2018 Polaris Outlaw 110, second place prize is $2,000 in Bonner Bucks, and third place prize is $1,000 cash.

Information: 208-263-4118