Celebrating 100 years of bridging two countries will highlight the theme of this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
“The 100th Anniversary of the International Bridge” has been chosen by a July 4 planning committee as the 2012 theme, and with both the U.S. and Canada celebrating independence the first week of July, committee members see the theme as “a perfect fit.”
“It will flow nicely with the celebrations,” said Bob Anderson, chairman of the Falls festivities. “We are hoping to get folks who are tied to the bridge involved.”
The International Falls Fourth of July celebration will feature a parade and many of the same events that the community has come to expect and enjoy, Anderson said.
“We are still working on the parade marshal, but everything else is falling into place,” Anderson said of the planning efforts.
He added that this year will have the makings of all the celebrations of the past, including booths, beer gardens and activities for the kids.
“I think it’s a day to celebrate America and our community,” he said.
June 30 events
The festivities will kick off June 30 with the second open-air concert at the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheater at the Rainy River waterfront.
American rock band 38 Special will headline the concert with The Poor Boys and Arch Allies providing opening performances for the night.
Tim “Chopper” McBride, told The Journal in May that he expects the performance to top last year’s by the Canadian rock band Loverboy. McBride serves as president of the Falls Economic Development Authority, which sponsors the open-air concert and uses profits to reinvest in future events.
McBride said he has been a long-time 38 Special fan and is confident those who come out for their June 30 performance will enjoy the show.
“These guys put on a fantastic show,” he said. “Just fantastic. You can’t miss (the show).”
July 1 events
Festivities move across the border for Canada Day July 1 and will feature the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.
The first-time event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sorting Gap Marina in Fort Frances.
Organizers described a dragon boat as a human-powered large, canoe-like watercraft that holds 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer or “sweep.”
“We are excited to be planning the festival, it’s going to be family-orientated and a great new event for Canada Day”, said Jennifer Greenhalgh, chair of the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat committee. Greenhalgh said the city has partnered with 22Dragons, a professional club out of Montreal that specialize in helping communities start festivals from scratch.
“They will be bringing in their boats and their people on the day of the event to ensure it is successful,” she said.
To register a team, or to sign up individually, visit www. bwdbf.ca. The cost is $25 per person and participants must be at least age 14. Call Greenhalgh at 807-274-2282 with questions.
July 2 events
July 2 features a match-up between the two countries during the Pulling for Peace tug-of-war competitions.
The July 2 annual event is known as “International Peaceful Borders Day” in Fort Frances and International Falls and is held between the international sister cities.
Scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Pat Roche Landing, this year will be a three-tiered event comprised of a celebrity pull, community pull and an all-new power pull for competitively strong athletes. The physically strong as well as high-spirited Americans are asked to join in by contacting the Falls Chamber of Commerce at 283-9400.
Canada won the event in 2011 despite the efforts of Minnesota Viking alumni Matt Blair, Stu Voigt, Bob Lurtsema, Greg Coleman, Frank Youso, and John Swain, who all pulled for the U.S.A. team.
“This is a matter of national honor,” said International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason. “We need the help of strong American women and men to get back the trophy the U.S.A. lost to Canada in 2011. I do not want our country to lose two years in a row.”
Mason recruited the participation of Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton for this year’s event and several Viking alumni are expected to return.
Canada and the United States share the longest undefended border in the world. International Peaceful Borders Day is an effort to promote peace throughout the world by celebrating the peaceful border enjoyed between the United States and Canada.
July 3 events
Booths in Smokey Bear Park will open July 3 from 2 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. A beer garden will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Childrens karaoke will be offered by King of the Road Entertainment at the Pete Peterson Bandshell from 4-6 p.m. Anderson said this year, adults will have the chance to participate in karaoke at 6 p.m.
July 4 events
The Independence Day celebration kicks off early July 4 with the Bronco 5K Run/Walk at 9 a.m. at the Falls High School track. Race-day registration begins at 8:15 a.m.
A Kids Fun Run (400 meters for ages 6 and under, 800 meters for older children) will begin at 10 a.m. Cost for the 5K is $13. Kids Fun Run is free. Medals will be awarded to the top finishers in each age category.
Registration and complete information can be found at www.northlandrunner.com, Community Education office in Falls High School, Snap Fitness or by calling Jen Erickson at 285-9598.
Later in the afternoon, food and game booths as well as craft tables will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Smokey Bear Park. The beer garden will be open from noon to 5 p.m.
A Kiddie’s Parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Third Street from Ninth Avenue to Third Avenue. Children are to organize on the south side of the Ninth Avenue and Third Street intersection.
The color guard will lead the main parade, which will start at 1 p.m. Parade participants are to organize on Twelfth Avenue at noon. The parade will proceed on Third Street from Twelfth Avenue to Third Avenue.
The parade committee asks that parade participants not throw candy, and that spectators stand for the flag as it passes in the parade. Prizes will be awarded for theme and non-theme floats.
Anderson said that the committee still welcomes participants for both parades.
Races for children ages 3-10 will begin at 2:15 p.m. near the bandshell. Prizes will be awarded for boys and girls in first through fifth place. For ages 4-10, chip pile, where children can dig for buried money, will begin at 2:45 p.m. near the bandshell. Also at that time, a concert from John Faith & the Community Band will begin in the bandshell and folks can get their fill at a watermelon feed.
At 9 p.m., Pipes and Drums of Manitoba will play a pre-fireworks concert on the frontage road along Highway 11/71. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. over the clearing between the Falls High School track and Rainy River Community College.
“We will end the day of celebrations with a great display of fireworks put on by the Falls Fire Department,” Anderson said.
For those who wish to participate, there are several people to contact. To host a booth in Smokey Bear Park, including craft tables, call Becky Roeder at 218-341-0880. Fees will be charged and are to be paid in advance. For those to wish to participate in the main parade, contact Kevin Adee at 283-2035 or 218-244-0684. To participate in the Kiddie’s Parade, call Sherrie Lessard at 283-5108. For childrens karaoke, participants ages 16 and younger, call John Streiff at 283-5755 or 218-324-0216.
