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Independence Day is full of tradition and celebration events throughout Bonner County celebrating the nation’s independence.

From starting the morning by getting active in Clark Fork to watching the fireworks displays in Priest River, East Hope, or Sandpoint, the community will have no shortage of choices for the holiday.

The city of Clark Fork will be starting its morning early on the Fourth with the annual Freedom Fun Run, formerly Haden’s Heart, which will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The 5K “fun run” is a fundraiser that keeps the tradition of Haden’s Heart. Funds raised from the fun run go to a scholarship fund that will benefit a Clark Fork senior and will also support the local non-profit Christian youth center, known as The Filling Station.

Registration for the fun run is open and will remain so leading up to race day. Entry fees will vary depending on age and partnership. Adults will pay a $25 entry fee while students up to 12th grade, and anyone entering with a student will pay a $15 entry fee. Everyone who participates will get a T-shirt and will already be awake and ready for the parade. The race starting point will be The Filling Station located on First and Main at 7 a.m.

For more information or to register visit The Filling Station website.

Starting the same time as the race, 7-9 a.m., My Place Cafe will be serving a pancake breakfast complete with sausage and eggs.

Then the rest of the day will be turned over to the Clark Fork Rod & Gun Club. With the day beginning at 8:30 a.m. for the gun club the first event to take place will be a flag-raising on the school grounds by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Line up for the parade will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m., followed by the start of the parade, led by the VFW honor guard, at 9:30 a.m.

After the parade, folks can head back over to high school for foot races before the party is moved to the baseball field, where a beer garden and other drinks will be available. Then in the afternoon, the fun will kick up a notch with the plane drop followed by turtle races, watermelon-eating contests, log sawing competitions, and the Clark Fork Rod & Gun Club raffle drawing. All leading up to the fireworks show at dusk.

For a full schedule visit the Clark Fork community page on Facebook.

While Clark Fork may have a lot of different events, its parade and firework show won’t be the only game in town.

The Sandpoint Lions Club will uphold its tradition of giving Sandpoint its Independence Day celebration starting with the morning parades, with the kid's parade at 9 a.m, and the Grand Parade to follow at 10 a.m. The parade route will circle downtown starting at the parking lot west of Fifth Avenue, then onto Church Street, turning north onto First Avenue, then onto Cedar Street, and returning to Fifth Avenue. Then just before dusk grab a spot at City Beach for the fireworks show over the water.

Registration for the Sandpoint parade is currently open. For more information visit the Sandpoint Lions Club Facebook page.

In Priest River, according to events listed by The International Selkirk Loop, the fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. and can be enjoyed from City Park.

For the city of East Hope, the council approved a $500 donation to the annual fireworks show that will take place at sundown hosted by The Hope Marina. With many places to choose from to watch the East Hope firework display, that list includes the newly updated East Hope City Park.

In addition to all the events in the county, the Bonner County Sheriff's Office issued a press release on Facebook urging citizens to use “safe and sane” fireworks with the reminder that despite aerial fireworks being illegal to fire in Idaho, the state still sees a considerable number of firework-related property damage, injuries, and wildfires.

The press release, published June 22, explains that “non-aerial” fireworks are fireworks that do not travel outside a 20-foot diameter and includes a list of “safe and sane” fireworks such as cone fountains, wheels, and whistlers. While fireworks will be able to be purchased and used, according to the statement it would be wise to look to local ordinances as they can further restrict firework use and to always follow the instructions on the firework packaging to ensure proper use.