BUTTE, Mont. – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama celebrated the Fourth of July with his family in Montana.

Cheers greeted Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters as they arrived to watch the town parade. The crowd also broke into song, singing a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Obama's oldest daughter, Malia, who turned 10 on Friday.

Obama joked that he told the birthday girl not to get caught up in all the fuss.

“All the fireworks and stuff are not just for her,” he said to laughs.

After the parade, the Obamas were hosting a “family picnic” for hundreds of people – part campaign rally, part birthday party for Malia.

They also were to spend part of the afternoon sitting for interviews with such family friendly magazines as People, Essence and Parenting. Aides were seen carting Hula Hoops, coloring books and whiffle balls so the girls could be photographed while playing.

At the parade, Obama praised Montana's beauty, saying he was making a play for every state in November, including reliably Republican ones like Montana. He delivered a shorter version of his campaign speech, and asked the audience to remember those suffering amid all the Independence Day celebrations.

He shook a few hands afterward and then sat in the stands to watch the floats pass by.

Obama apologized for not walking the parade route, citing security concerns that would have required everyone to show their hands to Secret Service agents along the route. He said that might have ruined everyone's fun.