SANDPOINT — Who the grand marshal at the Sandpoint Lion's Fourth of July parade will be is anyone's guess.

Actually, to be more accurate, it's everyone's vote.

This year, the Lions are inviting the community to both submit nominations on who they would like to see selected and vote on potential candidates.

"We really want more feedback and to make sure we're electing the right people to represent our amazing community," Sandpoint Lions president Janice Rader said.

Candidates should be people involved in the community and who have the area's best interests at heart. Past honorees include Wendy Franck, area law enforcement officers and funeral home owner Dale Coffelt. In total, about 75 people have served as the Fourth of July grand marshal since the Lions Club first began hosting the annual parades in 1954.

A poll has been created on the Lion's Facebook page at bit.ly/4eirUni where community members can both nominate individuals and vote for suggested candidates, Rader said.

The deadline to submit nominations is June 20 to allow the Lions time to reach out to the community's selection and ensure they are available to take part in the parade.

In addition to the annual children's parade and Grand Parade, the Lions will be hosting a community carnival at City Beach immediately afterward.

To help fund the Fourth of July festivities, the Lions are raffling off a wood stove donated by All About Chimneys; with a second-place prize of $1,000 in Bonner Bucks. The first-place winner will get to take their pick. To buy raffle tickets, go to bit.ly/3SbExYQ.

Other fundraising activities include a beer garden at City Beach on the Fourth of July as well as food vendors at the beach. In addition, the Lions will again be offering fireworks for sale at their booth in the parking lot of the Sandpoint Safeway, which is set to open June 23.

As in the past, the Kids Parade kick off the fun and starts at 9:30 a.m. At the fan favorite event, youngsters take center stage on bicycles, electric toy cars and skateboards — all decorated with everything from red, white and blue-crepe paper and ribbons to balloons and wind-mill toys.

All youth are invited to take part with participants meeting at the corner of Fifth and Church and ending at the Bonner General Health parking lot, where goodie bags will be handed out to all participants. There is no need to register.

Then at 10 a.m., it's time for the Grand Parade. Local law enforcement lead off the parade, with a "whirp, whirp" of the sirens and flashing lights, followed by a color guard and floats paying tribute to the nation's servicemen and women.

Then come the floats — from local youth groups to fully loaded log trucks to service groups performing routines and the local animal alliance bringing along a few four-legged friends— this parade has it all.

This year, the theme for Fourth of July parades is America's 250th birthday.

To take part in the parade, all it takes is filling out an application at bit.ly/4eiPPTO. All are invited to participate.

The Grand Parade operates on a "first come, first through" basis with the parade assembling at the parking lot west of Fifth Avenue between Pine and Church Street. The parade will then proceed east on Church Street to First Avenue, north on First Avenue to Cedar Street, west on Cedar Street, and end at Fifth Avenue.