Patriotism, parades and picnics all come together during community Fourth of July celebrations in west central Minnesota. Capped off with fireworks displays, family friendly events are being held throughout the region over the Fourth, with each community providing its own special touch of tradition to create lasting memories.
Granite Falls
Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort presents a free family fun night beginning at 5 p.m. Friday with bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, balloon twisting, bubble party DJ and more. Food will be available. A fireworks display, billed as the area’s largest with two times more fireworks than previous years, begins at dusk and will be synchronized to music.
Maynard
The celebration started on Monday with the medallion hunt.
The firemen’s burger feed will be from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, along with the firemen’s dance, featuring “Drop Tailgate.” Music begins at 8:30 p.m. behind Moldy’s and goes until 12:30 a.m.
July 4th activities begin with a Kiddie Parade at 10:30 a.m., followed by a grand parade at 11 a.m.
The day will continue at the Lions Park just south of Maynard. Big blowup games will be available in the park for kids of all ages to enjoy. A barbecue meal will be served, beginning at noon, with homemade pie and ice cream, sundaes and root beer floats also on the menu.
There will be an artist in residence from 1 to 3 p.m. at the park.
At 1:30 p.m. there will be entertainment by “Custom Made.”
Fireworks will be at dusk.
Paynesville
The July 4 events begin at 1 p.m. with a boat parade on Rice Lake. Decorated boats will line up at Fisher’s Resort.
Another boat parade will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday on Lake Koronis. Boats will line up by Koronis Ministry.
Fireworks will be held at dusk Saturday. They will be set off from First Island on Lake Koronis.
Prinsburg
Prinsburg’s annual Fourth of July celebration begins Friday with a community men’s baseball game at the city ball field. That will be followed by an ice cream social in the Unity Christian Reformed parking lot. The fireworks will be launched north of Unity Christian Reformed Church starting at 10 p.m. Friday.
On July 4 the events begin at 8 a.m. with the 2.5-mile Freedom Fun Walk/Run, Adam’s Race for those pre-K through sixth grade and a new 1-mile race for 4th through 8th graders. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. by the Central Minnesota Christian School Elementary.
The day continues with a patriotic service at 10 a.m. at First Christian Reformed Church, followed by a pork roast dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A freewill donation will be accepted for the meal.
From 1 to 4 p.m. there will be inflatable fun, mini-golf and a dunk booth, all west of the high school. The concession stand opens at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. kids can test their pedaling strength and endurance with the Pedal Tractor Pull. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. A bean bag tournament begins at 1:30 p.m. and trap shooting begins at 2:30 p.m. There will be geocaching beginning at 2 p.m. for teens in grades 6-10. The kiddie parade and main parade begin at 6 p.m. Following the parade will be a talent show in the high school west parking lot. Concessions will be available.
ADVERTISEMENT
Spicer
Located on Green Lake, the city of Spicer draws thousands of people to the lakeside community during the July 4th holiday. Events begin Friday with “Hoops by the Lake” 3-on-3 basketball games beginning at 8 a.m. on Saulsbury Beach and the start of the three-day softball tournament at the Spicer Ball Diamonds.
The Briggs Motley Arts and Crafts Show and D&D pony rides will be held on the land just west of state Highway 23, while across the street is the Antique Flea market on the Bell Tower Plaza lawn. All three are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday with Briggs Motley also open on Sunday.
On Friday evening there will be BMX racing at 7 p.m. and the annual street dance in downtown Spicer beginning at 9 p.m. with an outdoor bar available. Music is by Tripwire.
The July 4 festivities begin with the Spicer Lion’s pancake breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. at the Lion’s Park in downtown Spicer.
The grand day parade begins at 10 a.m. on Lake Avenue. Come early to find the perfect place to watch the parade.
There will be a Pro AWF Wrestling from 3 to 5 p.m. across from Zorbaz with the gates opening at 2 p.m. Bring your lawn chair.
The day ends with a fireworks show at dusk over Green Lake.
The annual 12-mile Green Lake Road Race begins at 7 a.m. on Sunday in front of Zorbaz. The event brings runners from around the state for a competitive run around Green Lake. To register go to
www.glrr.zapevent.com
.
Across the street, the Spicer American Legion will host a Belgium waffle feed from 8 a.m. to noon.
The Kids Pedal Pull will begin with registration at 12:30 p.m. by Baker Printing on Progress Way. Check
www.spicermn.com
for more details.
Terrace
An old-fashioned family fun day is set for July 4 in Terrace.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Bring your own picnic to the historic Terrace Mill, located along the Chippewa River and the Keystone Arch Bridge. Coffee and lemonade will be provided. Old-fashioned games, like three-legged races, egg toss and other kid-friendly contests will be held, with races beginning at 6:30 p.m.
