BERTHOLD — The Berthold community not only wil be celebrating the nation’s independence on July Fourth this year, as it also will commemorate the town’s founding from Thursday-Saturday with a street dance, parade and pie eating contest among other festivities.

According to a history documented in the Ward County centennial book, Berthold was officially founded in April 1900. The town’s name came secondhand from Barthelemew Berthold St. Louis after whom Fort Berthold was named. Situated about 25 miles west of Minot, the town was the nearest railway point to the post, only 40 miles from the nearest corner before the boundaries of the reservation were shifted.

Frederick C. Walther, known as the father of Berthold, arrived to settle on a homestead adjoining the townsite. He built the first store and aided in establishing the first school, railroad station and donated lots for a city park which still bears his name.

The celebration’s activities will be centered around Main Street in Berthold, beginning with a coin hunt starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday. Food trucks, vendors and bounce houses will be available. A street dance headlined by Tripwire will kick off at 9 p.m. along with a mechanical bull, with the evening concluding with a fireworks show.

A July Fourth parade will begin at 11 a.m., with the rest of the day offering a variety of activities from go-karts, an egg toss and a pie eating contest. Line-up for the parade will begin at 10:10 a.m. at Berthold Public School, and no registration is required. Registration for a four person golf scramble is scheduled for 1 p.m., with a shotgun start set for 2 p.m.

The fun will continue on Saturday at noon, with yard games, water bounce houses, as well as dart and cornhole tournaments at 2 p.m.