Brainerd’s Fourth of July parade and festivities are expected to be back in Brainerd.
The Brainerd City Council heard from Nancy Cross, Community Action executive director, Monday. Cross said a list of events are coming together and the parade route will again be on East River Road. The plans are to have the fireworks at the high school athletic field along East River Road. Cross did note the field was flooded last year so if that were to happen this summer there could be complications. Cross told the council moving the parade to Baxter last year with the College Drive construction project going on proved it can move if needed. Last year’s parade functioned through blazing heat and ended with tornado sirens in the middle of the fireworks.
Cross said moving the parade last year was never an intent of moving the parade elsewhere permanently. Cross said having the ability to walk between events from the parade to the fireworks and entertainment was important.
Mayor James Wallin said he took a lot of grief himself with the vote to move the Fourth of July to Baxter, but said it is a Brainerd celebration and a celebration of the communities.
The council approved $8,000 for Community Action from the special projects fund for the Fourth of July. Baxter also funds the Fourth of July event with the same amount. Brainerd also supported spending $500 from the recycling dollars for waste removal.
Cross said the funding from the two cities goes toward the fireworks display.
RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz.
Comments (3)
Add commentparade
It will be interesting to see how they line up the parade this year considering if you are coming across the bridge heading east you can't make a left turn onto River Road and if you are parked at the Boom Lake Park you can't drive straight across to River Road. Anyway I'm glad its back to normal. I better get my camper set up down there now to avoid the rush.
Parade
I celebrated the 4th of July in Brainerd for years and I always thought the structure of the city was perfect for that type of event. Being able to walk from the parade to the fireworks grounds was really nice. And then being only a few blocks from the downtown area was another plus.
I wasn't around last year when Baxter hosted the parade but I thought it was an odd idea. I can see the strategy in trying to include Baxter in more of the festivities, but glad to hear it is back in Brainerd. I may have to travel down this year for the 4th of July. Bemidji puts on one heck of a display with the fireworks right on Lake Bemidji, but the Brainerd parade is just so much more impressive. Not to mention I remember the Brainerd fireworks lasting like 20 minutes longer than Bemidji's.
Natorade
Please dont tell me you work or used to work at one of those health thing stores up there?