4th celebration goes smoothly
With clear skies and temperatures in the 80s, the Brainerd lakes area couldn't have asked for better weather Saturday to celebrate the Fourth of July American Celebration.
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People swarmed the Brainerd streets for the two-hour parade, many waving the American flag given to them by Mills Fleet Farm, Mills Ford, Mills GM and The Body Works. Children eagerly waited for candy to be thrown as well as other treats, such as Freezies, Frisbees and T-shirts.
Activities on the Fourth of July in Brainerd culminated in a fireworks display at Don Adamson Field at Brainerd High School.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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Parade marshal was Mike Padgett, 66, Brainerd, who won a gold medal in Level II figure skating in the Special Olympics World Winter Games at Boise, Idaho, this year.
After the parade, the American Celebration moved back to Don Adamson Field where there were children's games, entertainment and families hanging out having a good time.
Down on the field after the parade, Nancy Cross, Brainerd Community Action, a nonprofit organization that has sponsored the Fourth of July Celebration, said it was a flawless day.
"All day I kept waiting for something to drop, but it never did," said Cross. "Hats off to our police department and the street department. They all did a marvelous job.
Painted for the holiday, Andrea Grussendorf (left) Corina White and Kayla White cheered a passing float in the Brainerd American Celebration Parade Saturday.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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"This was a perfect day. The weather was gorgeous."
At dusk, a person couldn't see Don Adamson Field it was so jam-packed with people sitting waiting to watch the spectacular firework display. Cross said there were about 40,000 people on the field alone watching the fireworks that was put on by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale alone with Dean Kuhn.
After the fireworks throngs of people walked through a smoky haze that settled onto the low lying Don Adamson Field, finishing off another beautiful Fourth of July in Brainerd.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
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The surrounding area also was flooded with people who watched the fireworks that went off with a bang.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.