The bagpipe band met at the Great Falls Scottish Rite at 9:30am, loaded up and then made the bus ride to Dutton to participate in Dutton’s Fun Days and the 100th Anniversary of Dutton.

The number of people in town for the 100th anniversary was impressive and the parade lineup appeared to be as long as the Great Falls 4th of July parade without the gaps. Luckily we were in the front, just behind the EMS vehicles and the cars carrying the Dutton celebrities. We made the trip down to the mud racing flats without incident and the band seemed to be playing very well. We then waited for all of the various parade participants to make it to that point and then made the return trip, up the hill to the starting point.

While marching past one of the bars on the main street, the band was invited to come and play in the bar after the parade. We then finished the parade, loaded up on the bus and drove back down to the bar. We played a few tunes for the crowd in the bar and a round of drinks was purchased for the band members by one of the bar patrons. After playing a few more tunes, we all loaded back up into the bus for the return trip to Great Falls.

The band lining up at the beginning of the parade. Photo by S Wagner.

The band marching at the beginning of the parade. Photo by S Wagner.

The band enjoyed the great weather on the morning of the 4th while marching from 8th Street to the Civic Center. Although the parade lineup had the band in middle, behind the dreaded ice cream truck, due to a very spread out parade we were able to get in earlier to avoid the hour and 15 minute wait we would have had to wait for our original position.

Overall, it was a great parade and everyone had a great time and many compliments were received on the walk back to 8th street. After the walk back,  the band enjoyed lunch at the Great Falls Masonic Temple.

The band steps off to start the march down Central Ave during the 4th of July Parade.

The pipers in the July 4th Parade.

The drummers in the July 4th Parade.