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| ‘Freedom — It Works for Us’ is July 4 celebration theme |
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| Wednesday, 24 June 2009 | |
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A four-day Independence Day celebration is set to open on Wednesday, July 1 in Forest Lake. “Freedom — It Works for Us,” is the theme for the 2009 holiday event. The 85th annual celebration under sponsorship of American Legion Post 225 will conclude on Saturday, July 4 The four-day event will include many of the popular attractions that have made Forest Lake the Fourth of July Capital of Minnesota, according to Post 225 parade co-chair Kathy Diaz and Krista Richter. The Post 225 grounds at 355 W. Broadway Ave. will serve as celebration headquarters for free dance music, a beer garden, bingo under the big top and plenty of food offerings. Magel’s Midway will also be in action with its carnival rides and attractions on the Legion grounds from Wednesday, July 1 through Saturday, July 4. The big day Saturday, July 4 will be the big celebration day. The annual parade starts at 10 a.m. and will be led by longtime Legion supporters Tim Beimert and his mother, Helen Beimert, serving as parade grand marshal and honorary grand marshal, respectively. The parade goes rain or shine with best viewing spots along W. Broadway Avenue, NW Centennial Drive and Lake Street (US-61) through the city’s downtown district. Those planning on securing parade watching spots along city streets are reminded that chairs, blankets and tarps are not allowed along the parade route until sun-up on Saturday, July 4. The big day will be capped at 10 p.m. with a gigantic fireworks display over First Lake. A good vantage point to watch the fireworks is Lakeside Memorial Park in downtown Forest Lake. Community Help Richter and Diaz are the leaders of a local campaign that has a goal of raising $34,000 in community donations that will fund the Legion parade and fireworks. The drive marks the third year of involving the community in the fund-raising effort. Many local businesses, organizations and individuals have made donations to the 2009 fund-raising campaign. Other fund-raising events continue. T-shirts carrying the 2009 celebration theme remain on sale at Post 225. They are $10 each with the exception of double X and triple X sizes which sell for $12. Tub time again Friar Tuck’s Pub, 1500 S. Lake St., will host its annual dumpster hot tub party on Saturday as a fund-raiser for the Fourth of July celebration. The event has been a popular and successful event the past two years in raising money for the celebration. The dumpster hot tub party starts at 2 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. The special menu item for the day is a broasted chicken dinner for $10, served 2-8 p.m. For $20, participants will get the chicken dinner and entrance into the hot tub. Live music will follow from 8 p.m. until midnight. An appearance by the Forest Lake Bathing Beauties is also anticipated. Safe rides A new public service project is also being started this year to offer the public safe rides home on Friday, July 3. Roberts Family Funeral Home and State Farm Insurance, both of Forest Lake, have hired Lakes Taxi to provide complimentary safe transportation home on July 3rd from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. People who need a ride home can contact Lakes Taxi at 651-464-1020 and the two locally owned businesses will pay for the first 15 miles. “The days of celebration around the 4th of July are great traditions in our community and we want to ensure that it is enjoyable and safe for area families” said Kelly Roberts from Roberts Family Funeral Home. “Having grown up in Forest Lake and now raising our own families in the area, we always look forward to the 4th and are pleased we can help provide this safe alternative.” Parade details Late parade entries are still being taken for July 4th. Parade application and rules are posted on the Legion web site for participants to download at www.post225.com or can be obtained at Post 225. For more information on how to help the 2009 celebration or to register a parade unit, call the Legion at 651-464-2600. The celebration planning and sponsorship is a joint effort of Legion Post 225, Auxiliary Post 225, the Sons of the American Legion and Voiture 44 40 et 8. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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