For those celebrating the Fourth of July holiday in the lakes area, following is a roundup of activities, including parades, fireworks and more:
Brainerd/Baxter
Friday, June 30
5 p.m.: 21st annual Show and Shine Car Show, The Body Works, Baxter.
Friday-Sunday, June 30-July 2
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31st annual PleasureLand RV Show and Go, Brainerd International Raceway.
Sunday, July 2
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: 43rd annual Arts in the Park, Gregory Park, Brainerd.
Tuesday, July 4
The American Celebration
Noon: Free corn on the cob feed hosted by the American Legion Post No. 255, 708 Front St., Brainerd.
4 p.m.: Parade, Brainerd.
6:30 p.m.: Headline band, The Dweebs, Don Adamson Sports Complex, Brainerd High School. Free admission.
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10 p.m.: Presentation of the flag and Amanda Longie performs the national anthem.
10:15 p.m.: World Class Fireworks-Flashing Thunder with fireworks set to music on B93.3, Don Adamson Sports Complex, Brainerd High School.
Friday, July 7
6 p.m.: Wounded Warriors softball game, Mills Field.
Friday-Saturday, July 7-8
Third annual Iconic Fest, the Green Lantern.
Saturday, July 8
8 a.m.: 18th annual Susan G. Komen Brainerd Lakes Race for the Cure, Forestview Middle School, Baxter.
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8 a.m.: Paul Bunyan Extreme Race, Mount Ski Gull.
Saturday-Sunday, July 8-9
"This One's for Hop" softball tournament called the Hopper Tourney, Memorial Park, Brainerd.
Crosby
Tuesday, July 4
11 a.m.: Parade beginning in Ironton.
There will be a beer garden and live music at Crosby Memorial Park on Serpent Lake.
Fireworks at dusk.
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Fairfield Township
Tuesday, July 4
9 a.m.: Annual reading of the Declaration of Independence, Fairfield Town Hall (approximately 15 miles north of Crosby or 5 miles south of Emily on Highway 6, just north of the intersection of State Highway 6 and County Road 36).
There will also be a short program of patriotic readings and music with light refreshments to follow.
Mission Township
Saturday, July 1
11 a.m.: Independence Day Parade will start at Oak Spur and proceed up Mission Park Drive to Mission Park. Those interested in having an entry in the parade should arrive at Oak Spur at 10:30 a.m. to line up. No registration is needed. A trophy will be awarded for the best float.
After parade: Root beer floats will be served at the Mission Park pavilion. Gary Stacken will provide a variety of music. There will be a scavenger hunt through the woods. The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District will provide an information booth on private forest management. Other booths will offer information on pollinators with materials provided by The Xerces Society and youth tennis opportunities.
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Crosslake
Saturday, July 1
Dusk (10 p.m.): Celebrate America-Crosslake fireworks show with fireworks launched from barges anchored near Sand Island on the south end of the lake. View the fireworks from the water and shores of Cross Lake.
Views are best from a boat, but for people on the shore, the County Road 16 bridge on the northwest side of Crosslake near The Wharf offers parking on the shoulders.
Viewers can also see the fireworks from the beach at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crosslake Recreation Areas (the campground). The recreation area entrance is at the intersection of County Road 3 and Route 66 but offers very limited parking.
Park at Andy's corner or at nearby businesses along Route 66 and walk into the northwest picnic area. Bring blankets or chairs to sit on, and be respectful of the campers while walking through.
The community asks visitors and residents to contribute to the cause by putting extra change in specially marked donation cans at Crosslake merchants. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to:
Fireworks - The PAL Foundation
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14126 Daggett Pine Road
Crosslake, MN 56442
Nisswa
Sunday, July 2
8 a.m.: Nisswa Firecracker Run featuring 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run, downtown Nisswa.
6-10 p.m.: Party at the Pines featuring live music, kids games, face painting, blow ups, food, beverage and more at The Pines golf course at Grand View Lodge. Cost is $10 per person and free for ages 11 and younger.
10:15 p.m.: Fireworks at The Pines.
Monday, July 3
Downtown Nisswa
All day: Eats, treats and shopping.
1-3 p.m.: Turtle race registration.
3 p.m.: Turtle races.
3-5 p.m.: Hans Blix & the Weapons Inspectors perform benefit concert for Nisswa Lake Park in the Pocket Park at the highway tunnel.
3-7 p.m.: Crow White band performs on outdoor stage at the Ye Olde Pickle Factory.
5:30 p.m.: Unicycling Unicorn at the turtle track.
7 p.m.: Parade down Main Street.
8:15 p.m.-1 a.m.: Lisa Wenger performs on outdoor stage at the Ye Olde Pickle Factory.
Pequot Lakes
Monday, July 3
Trailside Park unless otherwise noted
5 p.m.: Food vendors.
6-10 p.m.: Beer garden.
6 p.m.: Bean bag toss tournament; $10 per two-player team; cash prizes.
6:30 p.m.: Band performance by SOLO.
After dusk: Fireworks by Hollywood Pyrotechnics, Inc. behind Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 30985 Front St. Note the change in location from previous years. Recommended viewing locations are Trailside Park North and South, Pequot Lakes High School varsity baseball field, Pequot Lake Middle School parking lot and TDS Telecom parking lot.
Tuesday, July 4
Trailside Park unless otherwise noted
7-11 a.m.: Fire department pancake breakfast, fire hall. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Flea market, craft fair, food vendors and live music by Carlos Quinche (contemporary and Andean folk music).
9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Bungee Trampoline and Kids Climb, Trailside Park South.
10 a.m.: Money in the Haystack and Golden Bobber Hunt, Trailside Park North.
10:30 a.m.: Kiddie parade and bed races (five per team) registration, bandshell.
11 a.m.: Kiddie parade, Veterans Memorial Walking Path.
11 a.m.: Bed races, Paul Bunyan Trail in Trailside Park North.
Noon: Stars & Stripes parade.
County State Aid Highway 11/Main Street and County Road 112/Rasmussen Road will be closed to through traffic at 11 a.m. July 4 for the parade. Parking will be available at TDS and Pequot Lakes High School (cross at stoplights). Handicapped parking will be available on Government Drive, East Butler Street, St. Alice Church and Old Highway 371 (Pequot Lakes Dental). Spaces will be marked.
Free bus shuttle service will be offered from Eagle View Elementary School to the Pequot Lakes Fire Hall. Arrive early.
Parking will not be allowed along the parade route or on CSAH 11. Vehicles parked there will be ticketed and towed.
