Patriotic parties

International Falls

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.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “100 years of papermaking in the Falls,” a continuation of Friday’s celebration of the papermaking centennial of Boise Inc.

Bob Anderson, chair of the Falls festivities, said that this theme would continue the papermaking celebration to make a week-long event from June 25 through July 4.

Anderson explained that papermaking is not the only thing that has been going on for 100 years in this community — Independence Day celebrations have been hosted here for more than a century as well, with many of the same traditions still intact. This, he said, is like many small-town Fourth of July celebrations across America.

The festivities will kick off early Saturday July 3 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 or by calling Jen Erickson at 285-9598.

Booths in Smokey Bear Park will open Saturday 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. At 7:30 p.m., Pipes and Drums of Manitoba will present a show at the bandshell. Pat Porter will play a country western concert and dance in the park from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.

On Sunday, July 4, 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 and run 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 12th Avenue at noon. The parade will run on Third Street from 12th 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.

The planning committee is also looking for local people to ride on a “parade marshal’s logging truck.”

Any retired or current paper mill employee or logger is invited to ride as a parade marshal. Chairs will be provided. Those wishing to participate should report to the Mannco logging truck by 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The truck will be parked at the beginning of the parade lineup across from Meyers Sports. Participants’ names will be added to the parade marshal banners.

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. A chip pile for ages 4-10, 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 and 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.

“The (Falls) Fire Department has another great year of fireworks planned,” Anderson promised.

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 who wish to participate in the main parade, contact Kevin Adee at 283-2035 or 218-244-0684 or Penny Strongman at 283-6288. 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.

Birchdale

The Birchdale area has several claims to fame when it comes to its Independence Day celebration.

It boasts the “world’s greatest potluck” and annually invites dignitaries, including Pres. Barack Obama and U.S. senators, to join the festivities. This year, Mike Hanson said, Sen. Al Franken was hand-delivered an invitation and his attendance is uncertain. Besides politicians, Hanson said that the “usual cast of characters” will be in attendance, as well as “a couple (mystery guests) that are going to be creepy.”

“If you want to see America at its best, come to Birchdale,” Hanson invited.

Participation in the 11 a.m. “America’s Parade” is encouraged. The July 4 parade is already scheduled to include the Fort Frances Highlanders, Indus School band and more floats than in years past, according to Hanson.

The parade will be followed by the community potluck. Games will be available for children and adults.

Hanson explained that Highway 11 will remain open on July 4 for general traffic. Ongoing construction on the highway between International Falls and Birchdale will be halted for the holiday weekend.

Big Falls

Big Falls will hold its annual Fourth of July Festival on Saturday evening and Sunday. This year, locals and visitors attending the Littlefork-Big Falls All School Reunion that weekend are encouraged to attend the event.

A potluck supper and chili cookoff will be held Saturday evening. Deadline for chili entries is 5 p.m., with the potluck beginning at 6 p.m. A street dance with “Bad Influence” will follow the meal at 9 p.m.

The two-day event is sponsored by the Big Falls Lion’s Club.

Sunday, the day will start with a community auction at the pavilion. An Olson Memorial Horseshoe Tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Also at that time, a treasure hunt will begin with clues posted at the Big Falls Community Building. Art, craft, novelty and food stands will also open at 10 a.m.

Lunch will start at 11 a.m. at the community building. Also at 11 a.m. will be a kamikaze rubber ducky race and opening of a bounce house. Children’s races will start at 12:30 p.m. in front of the community building. Bingo, games for children and adults at the water tower, a loader contest, dunk tank and minnow races all open at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., a sawdust pile, Dave Stadler’s sawing exhibition and a sawing contest will begin.

A kiddie parade will start at 3:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first through third places. Participants are to line up for the main parade at 4 p.m. The parade begins at 5 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for three categories: patriotic, original and antique car.

A back-seat driver contest for participants age 16 and older will start at 6 p.m. Band “Back Home” will play at 6:30 p.m. at the pavilion. “Bad Influence” will follow that act at 8 p.m. with a street dance. Raffle drawings will be held at 9 p.m. at the ball park.

Fireworks will be lit at dusk.