Retiring Bigfork business owner and community leader Donna Lawson got a big surprise Saturday afternoon when the town held a surprise parade in her honor.

Lawson, the longtime owner of the Jug Tree liquor store, a business her father started in 1949, has sold the business and officially retired May 1.

Since Lawson — the unofficial mayor of Bigfork — is actively involved in everything that goes on in the community where she grew up, the big feat was keeping the parade a surprise, said Sharon Tillett, a friend who helped with the event.

“It was over-the-top great,” Tillett said about the surprise.

Volunteer Bigfork Fireman Mike Shea lured Lawson outside under the pretense that there could be smoke coming from next door, and asked that they vacate the building.

Lawson was surprised to see the parade unfolding her honor. Her good friends Michelle Bell and Tara Hoveland planned the event, and many others pitched in.

Afterward at the Garden Bar, a proclamation was read, declaring April 28 as Donna Day from here on out.