Arlee parade celebrates "Home of the Free"
BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months, 2 weeks AGO
This young lady and her pony, Rocky Boy, enjoyed riding in the parade. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Science Women walked in the Arlee Fourth of July Parade wearing white coats and leopard print, and urging the crowd to "protect our Constitution." (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
A young bike rider in the Arlee Fourth of July Parade dresses as Uncle Sam complete with a "We Want You Sign." (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
By gosh, driving a tractor is serious business, parade or no parade. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. Contact her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | July 10, 2025 12:00 AM
The weather was overcast with occasional spits of rain; but it was the Fourth of July, and Arlee celebrated with a parade – number 76 to be exact. The 2025 theme was “Home of the Free Because of the Brave.”
Sonny and Virginia Dumontier, long time Arlee residents, were the grand marshals and led the parade. Then there were floats, lots of horses, and lots and lots of kids. Some dressed in red, white and blue or had painted faces or carried flags; they rode bikes, tiny tractors, ponies and horses, marched with their families, and threw candy from floats or collected candy from the side of the road.
After the Arlee Firemen’s Pancake Feed, the parade began at Arlee High School at noon and circled through Arlee, returning back to the high school.
One gentleman commented that the last time he attended the Arlee Fourth of July Parade, it was on Main Street. Another family group said they always attend though they live in Missoula.
The candy, according to pint-sized connoisseurs, was “great.”
People clapped, cheered, visited with neighboring attendees, and enjoyed themselves.
Parade award winners were:
Patriotic — Jim Pickens
Commercial — Valley Bank
Clubs— Arlee Little Guy Wrestling
New Business — Courtney Moran family
Patriotic Youth — Danielle Hower
Classic Van — Don Dean
Western Family — Dillards
Best Hot Rod — Tim Kline
Western Youth — Evelyn Clough
Patriotic Family — Cable Family
Novelty Adult — Science Women
Novelty Family — Chelsea Allaire family
Novelty Child — Picture Mountain Ponies
Novelty Youth — Ivanoffs
Car — Fred Matt
Science women walked in the Arlee Fourth of July Parade wearing white coats and leopard print. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
A young bike rider in the Arlee Fourth of July Parade dresses as Uncle Sam complete with a "We Want You Sign." (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
By gosh, driving a tractor is serious business, parade or no parade. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS
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