Montana's Ham Radio Forum

GFAARC will once again be participating in the City of Great Falls 4th of July parade this year!

Ken (W7WOF) has volunteered to drive the Commo Van in the parade, but we have room for several other decorated vehicles to join in. We are entry No. 53 this year. The parade starts at 3:00 PM, but all participants have to start forming up at 1:00 PM in their assigned staging areas.

Our staging area for the parade is the same as last year: along Park Drive (behind "Double G Engraving" and the "Carpet Garage"). Last year we were closer to the "Double G Engraving" end of Park Drive, so I recommend you drive down 2nd Street South and turn at "Double G Engraving", which is in the "Morin Professional Building, and go around back. Look for the white paper plate on a stick with "53" written on it. The Commo Van will be parked along the curb at the front of our designated "slot". Please pull in behind it with your decorated vehicle.

There is a parking lot behind the building for those who want to park their vehicle and ride with someone else who has decorated their vehicle for the parade. This way we ensure enough "hand wavers" are available to man both sides of the participating vehicles.

Because the 4th of July falls on a Sunday this year, the parade organizers chose to have an afternoon start time. There are a lot of participants with various vehicles, floats, horses, etc. This takes time to get organized, so that is why we start lining up so far in advance of the actual start time. Please come prepared with plenty of water, sun screen, hat, etc. to weather out the afternoon sun while we wait for the parade to start. A book, magazine, or newspaper might not be a bad idea either to help pass the time while the entries find their starting spot.

So, start practicing your "Vanna White" or "Queen of England" wave and I'll see you there!

Hi Bruce, can you define a "decorated vehicle"?

A "decorated vehicle" for the 4th of July Parade involves a red, white, and blue theme. Some red/white/blue bunting draped around the vehicle or float. Some red/white/blue bows or crepe paper strung along the sides, over the mirrors, and on down the side of the vehicle. At the very least a few small (5 X 8 inch) American flags on wooden sticks attached to the vehicle. Some folks with pickup trucks without toppers will stick full size flags on poles in the stake pocket holes. The poles must be long enough to keep the flags from touching the vehicle itself.

We don't get too elaborate with decorating our vehicles - mainly we add a few of the small flags on a stick to the vehicle. You can also attach them to your AM/FM antenna and whatever other antennas you might have installed. The goal is to at least have SOME flags on your vehicle in keeping with the Independence Day holiday theme.

We are entered in the parade under the category of a "public service" function. We are NOT being judged, unlike some of the other float (flatbed trailer) entries that will be decked out from top to bottom with crepe paper and other displays. So don't go overboard on decorating your vehicle. Some tastefully attached flags and/or crepe paper will suffice.

And I don't want to see anything like the parade float from Delta House in the movie, "Animal House"!!!

Thanks for the explanation Bruce. I hope to be there...

"Animal House huh?"

Well count me in, my wife picked up some crepe streamers and bows for decorating.

Bruce, do you know the route for the parade?

See ya at 1:00!

The City of Great Falls 4th of July parade route starts on the downtown end of 1st Avenue South, with all the participants flowing onto the route from the various staging areas downtown and along River Drive South. We go up 1st Avenue South until 8th Street, where we turn left and then turn left again onto Central Avenue. We then follow Central Avenue all the way down to the end at the Civic Center. The Civic Center marks the end of the parade route. Turn right and "disperse" from there.

Usually whomever is driving the Commo Van will just cross over the bridge onto Central Avenue West and continue towards Black Eagle, where the rig is usually parked.

It might be best to approach our Park Drive staging area from 10th Avenue South, turning onto 2nd Street South and driving north until you can turn left onto Park Drive. You will see the south end of the brown brick Morin Professional building, with "Double G Engraving" on your left side. Park Drive is the side street on the left just before "Double G Engraving".

Avoid River Drive South, since it is also used as a staging area and will be rather congested. I think River Drive North past Gibson Park will also be jammed with floats and other entries getting lined up. Everything is set up so various side streets "flow" onto the begining of the parade route at the end of 1st Avenue South.

Since this is a "in-town" event, we can coordinate on the 147.300 MHz local repeater and leave the 146.730 MHz repeater free for regular use.

73 de
Bruce, KA2ODP

We had a great time today...

And what a way to end a beautiful 4th of July weekend:

Man what a great picture. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Jim...