Submitted Photo There will be many fireworks displays in the area, including in Minot and area communities. Photo from Pixabay.

The use of fireworks within Minot city limits is illegal, but there is still lots of fun to be had on July 3 and 4 in Minot and the surrounding areas.

The first annual Minot Shriners Fourth of July parade will start at 10 a.m. on July 4, starting at the State Fairgrounds and ending at Ninth Street Southeast. From noon to 3 p.m., Minot Parks will be hosting the Fourth of July Festival at Roosevelt Park with food vendors and live music from Missing Lynx. The Hot Tots will be playing at Corbett Field at 4:05 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Nodak Speedway will be holding the modified and stock cars all-star qualifier race at the fairgrounds. The Minot Fireworks Association will host its annual fireworks display at 10:45 p.m. at the fairgrounds, which is free to the public.

At New Town, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, west of that city, will host a free fireworks display at dusk that is free to the public.

Independence Day fun starts on July 3 at Lake Metigoshe with the Club de Skinatique Show starting at 7 p.m. and at 10 p.m. will be the Lake Metigoshe Improvement Association’s fireworks display. The fun continues July 4 with the 10th annual Fourth of July Children’s Parade at 10 a.m. Participants are invited to bike, walk, pull a wagon, or drive a golf cart decked out in red, white and blue. The parade starts at the Lake Metigoshe Recreation Service Building. Ice cream treats will be provided after the parade.

The International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, will have its Family/Children’s Day where free arts and crafts will be available during park hours.

Velva’s festivities start with a 10 a.m. parade on Main Street. At Velva Park there will be a cake walk and turtle races starting at 1 p.m. and Rocky Top Petting Zoo will be open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. From 1-6 p.m., Velva pool will have free admission and at 4 p.m. Buen Field will host an alumni baseball game. At dusk there will be a fireworks display at Buen Field.

The Stanley Kiddy Parade starts at 10:30 a.m., with the main parade starting at 11 a.m. After the parade there will be a car show at Flickertail Village and at dusk there will be a fireworks display at the South Complex put on by Stanley’s volunteer firefighters.

In Berthold on July 3, Slamabama will be providing live music at the annual street dance and food vendors will be available. On July 4, the Berthold Parade starts at 10:30. There will be cash prizes for best float, best golf cart and best bike. After the parade there will be a pie-eating contest and egg toss, and at 2 p.m. will be the annual golf scramble. B & B Racers LLC will have a go-cart track set up in the school parking lot.

While the ignition of fireworks is illegal within Minot city limits, it is also important to note that fireworks are both illegal to ignite and possess on reclamation lands and waterbodies.

Due to the holiday, city services in Minot will be unavailable July 3 and 4, including government offices, garbage collection, public transit and the Minot Public Library.