Area festival, parades and fireworks planned to celebrate Independence Day

Staff

Published Thursday, June 30, 2005

By Geri McShane, Tribune Lifestyles Editor

Bricelyn continues a 47-year tradition with its annual Independence Day celebration Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The highlight of the celebration is the famous Bricelyn chicken barbecue planned Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Barbecue tickets will be sold in Bricelyn that day for $7.

Fireworks are the other long-standing tradition for the Bricelyn festival. Set off to music, the fireworks are launched so spectators may be seated directly under the display, closer than they've ever seen fireworks before. The show is scheduled to begin at dusk Saturday.

The celebration begins Friday night with a children's theatre presentation of "Jack and the Amazing Multi-Coloured Beanstalk" set for 7 p.m. in the Bricelyn School auditorium. After the show, a pie and ice cream social is slated at the Bricelyn Lutheran Church social hall.

The celebration's grand parade will make its way down Main Street at 1 p.m. Saturday. A horse show begins immediately following the parade Saturday at Dr. Jack Peterson's arena on the west side of Bricelyn. A horsemanship demonstration will be given and exciting poles, barrel racing and other games and classes are on the afternoon ticket.

A classic car show in memory of the late Bricelynite Jason Johnson is planned Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. An ATV mud bog show has been added to this year's festival for the first time. It begins at 2 p.m. Both the car show and the mud bog show will be held adjacent to Highway 253 on Bricelyn's southeast side. There's also a water show beginning at 7 p.m. at the pool and a variety show planned for 8 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium.

Other live music scheduled during the celebration includes a dance Friday night at the Bricelyn American Legion featuring "Somethin' Country."

A community worship service is at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Bricelyn Park. People are invited to enjoy the Bricelyn Firemen's pancake breakfast that morning from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Bricelyn Legion. An antique tractor pull is planned for 10 a.m. Sunday on the southwest side of Bricelyn and an antique tractor show will run Saturday as well.

The Bricelyn Area Historical Society Museum located in the Bricelyn Baptist Church and Janet Peterson's Little Red Schoolhouse will both be open from 10 a.m. until noon Sunday.

Following is a roundup of other events happening in the area this weekend.

Friday, July 1

- The Pelican Breeze offers a pizza cruise at 6 p.m. Cost is $12 per person. Reservations are needed by 4 p.m. Call 383-2630.

Saturday, July 2

- The Albert Lea Farmers' Market opens at 9 a.m. at the corner of Water Street and Washington Avenue.

- The Doc Evans Jazz Festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Fountain Lake Park gazebo. Admission to the festival is free.

- The Pelican Breeze holds a public cruise at 2 p.m. Cost is $9 per person.

Sunday, July 3

- The Albert Lea Shrine Club will hold an amaranth pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fairlane Building on the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

- The Pelican Breeze holds a public cruise at 2 p.m. Cost is $9 per person.

- The Albert Lea July 3 parade begins at 6 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The parade travels down Bridge Avenue to Fountain Street to St. Mary Avenue before ending at Central Park.

Monday, July 4

- The Albert Lea Bayside Skiers will present a show at 2 p.m. on Edgewater Bay of Fountain Lake. This year's show theme is "Scooby Doo and the Curse of the Tiki Mask."

- The Pelican Breeze will take people on an 8:30 p.m. tour to watch fireworks. Cost is $12 per person, and pizza and pop will be served. Reservations are required. Call 383-2630.

- The Albert Lea Fourth of July fireworks will go off over Fountain Lake at dusk. Youth for Christ/The Rock will be selling glow sticks before the fireworks in the downtown area. Volunteers will be wearing T-shirts that identify them.

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