Best of the Parade: Looking Back at an Incredible Fourth of July
There are months of planning behind a parade that lasts less than an hour.
By the time our float rolled onto the street for Livingston's Fourth of July Parade, countless hours had already gone into designing, building, decorating, organizing supplies, and making sure every little detail was ready for the big day.
Then, naturally, Mother Nature decided to throw us one more challenge.
A Sunny Morning... Until It Wasn't
Robin attaches decorations.
Our team spent the morning assembling the float under blue skies, putting the finishing touches on decorations, inflating balloons, organizing candy, testing the giant Jay cornhole game, and making sure everything was parade-ready.
After moving into the staging area, we settled in for the familiar parade tradition of "hurry up and wait." For nearly two hours we chatted with neighboring floats, tossed Frisbees around, met people walking through the staging area, and enjoyed the excitement as everyone prepared for one of Livingston's biggest annual events.
Then, almost on cue, the rain arrived.
Just as the parade finally began moving, a heavy summer shower rolled through and soaked nearly everyone on the float. Jackets came out in a hurry, decorations survived the downpour, and twenty minutes later the rain disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
Fortunately, the weather couldn't dampen anyone's spirits.
Building a Float That Invited People to Participate
The oversized Jay-themed cornhole game immediately became the centerpiece, while bright orange flying discs represented sporting clays soaring through the air. It gave people something fun to watch beyond another decorated trailer rolling past.
That interaction continued throughout the parade route. Children eagerly waited for fans and candy while others tried their hand at catching the flying discs before they were quickly retrieved and tossed back into action. We certainly didn't expect the handheld fans to become one of the day's most popular giveaways, but they disappeared almost as quickly as we could hand them out.
By the end of the route, we'd gone through nearly 150 pounds of candy and spent the entire parade moving from one smiling face to the next.
A Team Effort From Beginning to End
Some team members greeted spectators, others kept the giveaways stocked, some made sure decorations stayed in place after the rain, and a few somehow found enough energy to spend the entire route chasing Frisbees so kids could throw them again and again.
It was one of those events where everyone simply jumped in wherever they were needed; just a group of people enjoying the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Surrounded by Community
One thing that's easy to forget until you're standing in the middle of it is just how much work every organization puts into Livingston's Fourth of July Parade.
There were patriotic displays, pirate ships complete with sword fights, beautifully decorated floats, local businesses, community organizations, classic vehicles, and thousands of spectators lining the streets.
Being part of that tradition is something we never take for granted. For a few hours, the entire community comes together to celebrate, reconnect with neighbors, and enjoy one of Montana's favorite summer traditions.
We're grateful we get to be part of it.
Thank You, Livingston
To everyone who waved, stopped to say hello, caught a flying disc, grabbed some candy, or simply smiled as we rolled by...
Thank you!
Community events like this remind us why we love living and working here. We already have ideas for next year's float, but for now we're simply grateful for everyone who helped make this year's parade such a memorable experience.
Enjoy some of our favorite moments from the day in the gallery below, and we'll see you at the next community event.
About Chris Pontin
Chris is JTech’s Production Project Coordinator with over 15 years of experience in web development and design. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and is CompTIA A+ certified, blending technical expertise with creative problem-solving. An adept writer as well, Chris contributes to content creation alongside leading project coordination and overseeing platform maintenance—helping deliver thoughtful, user-focused digital solutions.