Hi-Line Living: An Independence Day tradition created in Havre, Montana

Pepin Park was already teeming with people Tuesday at noon when the annual Fourth of July Festival was scheduled to begin.

The thunder of guitar riffs and booming voices of a band performing at the park could be heard from blocks away, while the air was thick with the smell of grill smoke and sunscreen.

People of all ages were at the park. Toddlers tried to tackle inflated beach balls, youths in bright colored T-shirts and baseball caps threw frisbees or made conversation.

Grandparents in sunglasses sat in folding chairs, shielded from the sun by the treetop canopies.

The scene was reminiscent...