Fourth of July in the Helena Area

About Fourth of July in the Helena Area

Helena itself holds no official fireworks display and no downtown parade on the Fourth of July. The area's main fireworks show is in East Helena, shot from the old Asarco smelter site off U.S. Highway 12 known locally as the slag pile. It began in 1957 as a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10010 effort, was revived by a local nonprofit around 2010, and has been run by Shellie's Country Café together with the Prickly Pear Community Firework Celebration since about 2017. It is funded entirely through public donations, not tax dollars.

The East Helena show starts around 10:30 p.m. and is visible from pullouts along Highway 12, the rodeo grounds parking lot off Highway 518, and Main Street Park in East Helena, which fills early. Earlier in the day, the Old Glory Landmark Committee runs a free flag-raising program at Centennial Park from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with music, food and a helicopter flag delivery. Separately, Mountain View Meadows hosts a free community celebration at Mountain View Park, 375 S. Alice St., from 3 to 10 p.m., with a children's push-pull-pedal parade at 6 p.m. and fireworks viewing from the park that evening.

What happens

• East Helena fireworks show, running since 1957, shot from the old Asarco smelter site off Highway 12
• Old Glory Landmark Committee's flag-raising program at Centennial Park with a helicopter flag delivery
• Mountain View Meadows community celebration with a children's push-pull-pedal parade at 6 p.m.
• No fireworks display or adult parade inside Helena city limits

Tips

• There is no fireworks show inside Helena city limits; head toward East Helena on Highway 12 or watch from Mountain View Park.
• Main Street Park in East Helena and the Highway 12 pullouts fill up well before the 10:30 p.m. show; arrive early for parking.
• The fireworks show runs on donations only; organizers collect them at Shellie's Country Café, 1803 Cedar St., and online.