Great Falls, Mont. — A free concert in downtown Great Falls is set to mark America’s 250th and give people another reason to stay downtown after the annual Fourth of July parade.
NonStop Local spoke with sponsors and supporters of the Hootenanny, who said the event helped spotlight downtown and support local businesses. The concert also includes food trucks and other vendors.
Ed Brown, president and CEO of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber sponsored the event to help businesses in the city center.
"Our goal for helping out here is to help local businesses downtown because it’s a big event. Without being able to support them, the event couldn’t happen," Brown said.
Brown said a live concert in the middle of downtown Great Falls, local musical artists and a nationally recognized headliner helped set the celebration apart from other Fourth of July events across Montana.
"It allows the community to see Great Falls is celebrating 250 in a way only Great Falls can," Brown said.
Downtown Great Falls Business Improvement also supports the event. Executive Director Kellie Pierce said the concert creates a connection between the annual parade and the fireworks while keeping people together downtown.
"Thousands of people downtown for this concert it’s people right on their front door steps that may not come downtown on a regular basis that are here for the parade and the concert and it’s free for the community. Anything free for a family to do is going to bring people down," Pierce said.
Downtown streets may have looked quiet ahead of the event, but organizers expect thousands of people to attend the Hootenanny on Saturday. They recommended people make plans early for a safe and sober ride.