Havre 4th of July celebration set in Pepin Park

What started out as two brothers putting on a picnic for people who had nothing else to do July Fourth has turned into a massive community party.

More than 1,500 people are expected to be on hand Monday for the 15th annual Havre Fourth of July Festival at Pepin Park.

Bands will perform. There will be face-painting for the kids. Hots dogs and hamburgers will be served. Gift baskets will be raffled off. And mostly, there will be friendship and a sense of community as people gather to celebrate Independence Day.

Sherri Simonson, the director of this year’s event, said 1,400 people have shown up for the food in recent years, and they expect there will be at least as many this year.

The spirit of the event will be the same as it has been in the past. The organizers will have enough food for everyone.

In addition to the meat, “there will be plenty of watermelon and plenty of baked beans,” she said.

The committee has been securing food from throughout the community, she said. Opening ceremonies will be at noon, she said, when Boy Scouts of America will open with the presentation of colors. The national anthem will be sung.

She said the celebration would not be possible without the work and the donations of many Havre residents and organizations.

Fifteen years ago, when Vince and Allen “Woody” Woodwick started the picnic, Vince was in charge of the food, and Woody convinced area bands to contribute their musical talents.

They started asking business people and others to make donations of food and other items for the festivities as it grew in popularity with teh community.

After several years, Vince Woodwick turned his part of the festivities over to other volunteers.

Woody Woodwick is still in charge of providing the music, and if anyone is interested in performing, they are urged to contact him at 262-3546. They are looking for people who can perform music, tell a story or read a poem.

If any one can donate money, gift cards or raffle items, they can call Mary Chute at 262-3456.

If people want to have a booth at the festivities, they should call Simonson at 399-5672.

People who want to volunteer to serve food, cook or set up can stop by 10:30 a.m. or so on Monday, she said.