Index:
NISSWA / page 2
PEQUOT LAKES / page 3
CROSBY-IRONTON / page 4
FLAG / pages 5-6
CROSSLAKE / page 7
BRAINERD-BAXTER / page 8
FIREWORKS ROUNDUP / page 9
PARADE ROUNDUP / page 9
The Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal wish all of our area residents and visitors a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!
Firecracker Run slated July 6
NISSWA — Celebrate freedom in Nisswa on Wednesday, July 3, with a full schedule of activities, culminating with the evening Freedom Days Parade and fireworks at dusk.
New this year is that no parking will be allowed on Main Street starting at 3:30 p.m. July 3. Festivities throughout the day include Turtle Races, Water Wars, live music, food vendors and more.
The Freedom Days parade will start at 7 p.m. Spectators can line both sides of Main Street to watch the parade that includes various floats, marching veterans groups, area royalty, fire trucks and much more.
Following is a schedule of events:
Wednesday, July 3
• 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Petting Zoo at A&W Restaurant.
1 p.m.: Turtle Race registration at the Turtle Track by the chamber building.
2 p.m.: Turtle Races at the Turtle Track.
• 3-7 p.m.: Music by Groove Hawks at The Pickle Factory.
6 p.m.: The Unicycling Unicorn Show at the Turtle Track.
• 7 p.m.: Parade on Main Street.
• 8 p.m.-midnight: Music by Sugar Buzz at The Pickle Factory.
Dusk (approximately 10:15 p.m.): Fireworks from the Nisswa Community Center.
Firecracker Run
The 15th annual Nisswa Firecracker Run will take place Saturday, July 6, on Main Street in Nisswa.
The event offers a 5K, 10K and Kids Run starting at 8 a.m.
This event is known for its laid-back atmosphere; comfortable event shirts; crawfish boil; free beer; a Red, White and Blue foam party; and a Slip’N’Slide finish line.
The courses are spectator friendly with scenic views from Main Street to the nearby peaceful wooded roads and trails.
Professional chip timing and event management are part of the Firecracker Run. For more information and to register, visit www.RunUpNorth.com.
The free Zorbaz Kidz Run, sponsored by Zorbaz, is for youth ages 10 and under and takes place after the 5K and 10K races are complete. Check in at the finish area at the Nisswa Community Center on the day of the event.
A parent or other family member must participate in the 5K or 10K run for a child to participate in the kids run. The Nisswa
Firecracker Run is a beneficiary to Bridges of Hope, a Brainerd lakes area organization that serves children and families in Crow Wing County and the surrounding communities.
New July 3 event is loon calling contest before fireworks
PEQUOT LAKES —
Celebrate Stars & Stripes Days in Pequot Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday, July 3-4, with fireworks, the annual parade and many more activities.
The event will feature food vendors, bean bag toss tournament, kids’ activities, kiddie parade, music, craft fair and more. New this year is a loon calling contest.
Following is a schedule of events:
Wednesday, July 3
5 p.m.: Food vendors in South Trailside Park.
• 5 p.m.: Bean bag toss tournament registration in South Trailside Park. Cost is $20 per team with two players per team. Youth bracket is for ages 8-14. Adult bracket is for ages 15-plus. Cash prizes will go to firstthrough third-place teams in each bracket.
• 5 p.m.: Kids’ activities in South Trailside Park, including bungee trampoline, bounce house and kids climb.
• 6 p.m.: Bean bag toss tournament in South Trailside Park. Each team will be responsible for keeping track of their own score (honor system). Teams playing for first through third places will play for cash prizes.
• 7 p.m.: Sign up for the Loon Calling Contest.
7:30 p.m.: Loon Calling Contest.
• 8 p.m.: Live music by Hillbilly Rock.
• Dusk: Fireworks by North Star Fireworks from the Pequot Lakes High School practice field. Best viewing locations are Trailside Parks, Pequot Lakes School and TDS parking lot.
Thursday, July 4
• 7-11 a.m.: Pancake breakfast at the Pequot Lakes Fire Hall on Main Street, sponsored by the Pequot Lakes Fire District.
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Craft fair and food vendors in South Trailside Park.
• 9 a.m.: Kids’ activities in South Trailside Park.
• 9:30 a.m.: Kiddie parade at the band shelter in North Trailside Park.
• 10-11:30 a.m.: Parade lineup in the Pequot Lakes Middle School parking lot.
• 10 a.m.: Pie eating contest in front of the band shelter on North Trailside Park. Cost is $5 per person with cash prizes for winners.
• 11 a.m.: The Unicycling Unicorn Show in front of MN Traders.
11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Beer Garden by Pequot Lakes American Legion Post #49.
Noon: Stars & Stripes Days Parade with a bobber theme.
The parade will start on South Oak Street on the west side of Pequot Lakes School with the route traveling to Brown Street, Front Street, East Sibley Street, Government Drive, Main Street, South Washington Avenue, East Woodman Street and West Woodman Street, ending back at the school.
After parade: The Unicycling Unicorn Show in front of MN Traders. Fireworks donations To donate to next year’s fireworks show, visit pequotlakes.com, scroll down and click on “Donate to the fireworks show.” Or search @PequotLakesChamber to send a donation via Venmo. Mail donations to: Pequot Lakes Chamber, P.O. Box 208, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472.
CROSBY/IRONTON — The annual Crosby-Ironton Fourth of July parade will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 4, in Ironton.
After the parade, head to the Crosby Memorial Park where there will be live music, entertainment and various activities for all ages.
Fireworks will be at dusk over Serpent Lake.
Hallett Freedom 5K The Hallett Freedom 5K run/walk, a bib timed loop in Crosby, will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, July 5, starting at the Hallett Center of Crosby. Cost is $40 race fee plus a $3.10 signup fee. Sign up at https://hallettcenter.
–Francis Scott Key
On July Fourth, we celebrate the birth of the United States of America, and all the great things our nation represents. We’re proud of our country and the values it upholds, and we gratefully salute the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who fight to defend America and her ideals.
God bless the U.S.A.
Wishing You and Yours a Safe and Happy Independence Day!
The flag is sponsored by Wilderness Land Clearing
CROSSLAKE —
The 54th annual Celebrate America fireworks show in Crosslake will take place shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, July 6, launched from Sand Island on the south end of Cross Lake.
Tune into Skeeter 101.5FM radio to hear patriotic music simulcast to the fireworks. Watch the show from the water or from the shores of Cross Lake.
Fireworks donations
To donate to this and future fireworks shows, make checks payable to the PAL Foundation and mail them to: Crosslake Chamber, P.O. Box 315, Crosslake, MN 56442. Or visit crosslake.com to make a donation, or donate through Venmo by searching @ CrosslakeChamber.
Music Before the fireworks, listen to Reverend Raven from 6-8 p.m. in the Crosslake Town Square band shell as part of the Music in the Square series sponsored by the CrosslakeIdeal Lions Club.
Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye
Also taking place Saturday, July 6, is the 27th annual Grandpa’s Run for the Walleye and Kids Sunfish Dash, based at the Crosslake Community Center. The event will begin with the 10K run at 8:15 a.m., followed by the 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m., and the Kids Sunfish Dash at 9:45 a.m.
Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome for the 5K race. The 5K and 10K races will be on certified courses and will be
professionally chiptimed by Pickle Events. Results will be available at www.pickleevents.
com. The 5K and 10K awards ceremony will be at 9:30 a.m.
Online registration is available by following the Run for the Walleye quick link at www. wapoa.org.
Participants can also sign up and pick up race packets from 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 5, at the community center. Race day registration will be open at 7 a.m.
Registration cost for the 5K and 10K is $35. The registration fee for the Kids Sunfish Dash
Arts in the Park slated Sunday, July 30
BRAINERD/BAXTER —
The Brainerd/Baxter Fourth of July parade will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4, near downtown Brainerd and Brainerd High School. Live music with Hans Blix and the Weapons Inspectors will be at 8 p.m. at the Lyman P. White Park Amphitheater on East River Road.
There will be family relays at 8 p.m. at Don Adamson Field, east of the high school football playing surface.
Fireworks will begin at 10:15 p.m. at the Don Adamson Field near the high school football stadium. Arts in the Park Hundreds of local artists and vendors will gather in Gregory Park in Brainerd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 30, for the annual summer arts fair.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch File Photos
Sights from the July 4, 2023, Fourth of July parade in Brainerd.
The following Fourth of July holiday parades will take place in the Brainerd lakes area: Wednesday, July 3
Nisswa: Freedom Days Parade, 7 p.m., Main Street, downtown.
Thursday, July 4
• Crosby-Ironton: 11 a.m., starting in Ironton.
• Pequot Lakes: Stars & Stripes Parade, noon, downtown.
Brainerd: 6 p.m., near downtown and Brainerd High School.
The following Fourth of July holiday fireworks shows will take place at dusk in the Brainerd lakes area:
Wednesday, July 3
• Pequot Lakes: High school practice field. Best viewing locations are both sides of Trailside Park, Pequot Lakes School and the TDS parking lot.
• Nisswa: Community center.
Thursday, July 4
Brainerd: Don Adamson Field at Brainerd High School.
• Crosby: Over Serpent Lake at Crosby Memorial Park.
• Gull Lake: Gull Lake area fireworks show on the south end of Gull Lake sponsored by Madden’s and Cragun’s resorts. Watch from the
East Gull Lake airport, the Madden’s driving range on County Road 77 or by boat on the south end of Gull Lake.
Friday, July 5 Bay Lake fireworks show near Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort. Watch from the shores of Ruttger’s or from the waters of Bay Lake.
Saturday, July 6
Crosslake: Sand Island on Cross Lake. Watch from the shores of Cross Lake or by boat on the water. Tune in to Skeeter 101.5 for music choreographed to the display. If viewing from shore, the best spot is the eastern shore of Cross Lake at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Area.
Sunday,June30
•ArtsinthePark:GregoryPark: 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
Monday,July1
•BrownBagAuthorEventwith FredrickSoukup:Brainerd PublicLibrary:12:00-1:00p.m.
•TexasHold'emPoker:JackPine Brewery6:00-9:00p.m.
Tuesday,July2
•BrainerdFarmersMarket: FranklinArtsCenter8:00a.m.12:00p.m.
Wednesday,July3
•TheSpot371FarmersMarket: 7:00a.m.-12:30p.m.
•NapaStreetLegalDragRaces: BrainerdInternationalRaceway
Thursday,July4
•Farmer'sMarket:Northern PacificCenter:3:00p.m.
•BrainerdParade:6:00p.m.
• LiveMusic:LymanP.WhitePark: 8:00p.m.
• FamilyRelayGames:Don AdamsonField:8:00p.m.
• Fireworks:DonAdamsonField: 10:15p.m.sharp
Friday,July5-7
• PleasurelandRVShow&Go: BrainerdInternationalRaceway
Saturday,July6
• NCSKnockout:NorthCentral Speedway:5:00-11:00p.m.
• LiveMusicbySirPsycho&Andy D.atJackPineBrewery:6:009:00p.m.
