It’s the weekend we’ve all been waiting for.

The Independence Day weekend officially gets under way today with the Albert Lea July 3 parade, which starts at 6 p.m. Floats line up at 5 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

The 1.3-mile parade route runs down Bridge Avenue, along Fountain Street and ends at Central Park.

According to Tom Jones, parade co-chairman, roughly 100 units are registered. That’s down about 20 units from last year’s parade. Jones attributes the difference to the fact that it’s not an election year, so there won’t be the usual bunch of candidates. He also said the slow economy may be having an impact as well.

“It’s still going to be a good parade,” he said.

This year’s parade grand marshal is 103-year-old Harry Neel. Neel is a retired doctor who has resided in Albert Lea since 1940. Longtime physicians Clayton Nelson and Lowell Barr are slated to ride with Neel.

Here is a rundown of what’s happening on Independence Day weekend in Albert Lea, Austin, Blooming Prairie, Bricelyn and Northwood, Iowa.

Friday, July 3

Merriam’s Midway Carnival kicks off in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot in Albert Lea. The carnival includes rides for teenagers and adults, a merry-go-round and a few other kids rides. It will be the first year for the carnival during the Fourth of July holiday.

Freedom Fest in Austin starts with Family Day in the Park at Bandshell Park from 2 to 10:30 p.m. There are slides, rides, carnival games, food and live music.

Youth for Christ will have a fundraiser for The Rock in Albert Lea from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot featuring Cold Stone ice cream, water, pop, walking tacos and cotton candy.

Pelican Breeze Pizza Cruise is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Albert Lea Lake. Reservations are needed by 4 p.m.; call 383-2630.

The Jaycees Street Dance in Austin begins at 6:30 p.m. at Torge’s Live.

A teen dance will be held at the park in Bricelyn from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Somethin’ County will play at a street dance at the Bricelyn Legion from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 4

Merriam’s Midway Carnival continues in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot in Albert Lea.

There will be no Albert Lea Farmers Market this morning.

Hog Jog, a 5-mile run in Austin, begins at 8 a.m. from East Side Lake.

At 9 a.m. in Bricelyn, there will be a 5-kilometer run, a 1-mile kid run and a 1-mile fitness walk.

There will be a Fourth of July Parade in Northwood at 11 a.m. After the parade, there will be carnival games in Swensrud Park.

The Independence Day Parade in Austin begins at 11 a.m.

Live music performs at Bandshell Park in Austin from 1 to 10 p.m.

Sheltered Reality will perform by the gazebo in Northwood at 1 p.m.

A horse show will be held in the Dr. Jack Peterson Arena after the parade in Bricelyn.

Mud bog races will be held near Highway 253 just outside of Bricelyn at 1:30 p.m.

Bayside Skiers present “Bayside Under the Big Top” at 2 p.m. in Edgewater Park in Albert Lea. Preshow activities, featuring the younger skiers, start at 1:15 p.m. Admission is free, but the club does pass the hat to help defray expenses. Concessions will be available.

Music and bingo will be in the Bricelyn park from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fourth of July Parade in Blooming Prairie is from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Albert Lea Lake.

Fourth of July festivities, concessions, bingo, kids games and other fun get rolling in Blooming Prairie at 4 p.m. and go until 9 p.m.

The Youth for Christ food fundraiser will continue from 7 to 11 p.m. in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot in Albert Lea. That night, glow items will also be for sale from 8 to 10 p.m.

Richie Lee will perform at the Grandstand in Northwood at 7:30 p.m.

“Rambone” plays ‘50s and ‘60s rock and some country from 8 p.m. to midnight in fron of J&H Liquors in Blooming Prairie.

Stub Highway 253 will perform at the football field in Bricelyn at 8:30 p.m., and the group will play patriotic music at dusk before the fireworks.

The Austin Community Band performs from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Servicemen’s Club in Blooming Prairie host teen dance from 8:45 to 11 p.m.

The Pelican Breeze will hold a fireworks and pizza cruise starting at 9 p.m. on Albert Lea Lake. Reservations are needed; call 383-2630.

Fireworks in Albert Lea begin at dusk — approximately 10 p.m. — over Fountain Lake.

The Austin fireworks show will light up the sky at dusk.

The Bricelyn fireworks display will start around 10 p.m.

The Northwood fireworks will be shot off from the airport at 10 p.m.

Fireworks go off at Victory Field in Blooming Prairie at 10 p.m.

Following the Bricelyn fireworks, Boss Grant and the Johnny Cash Revue Band will perform at Wildman’s Bar & Grill.

Sunday, July 5

Merriam’s Midway Carnival continues in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot in Albert Lea.

Morning Lions Fly-in Breakfast takes place at the Austin Airport from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Eagles in Albert Lea will hold a pancake breakfast at the Eagles Club from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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

Kids Fishing Contest takes place in Austin from 9 to 11 a.m. at East Side Lake.

Registration for the 25-mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race opens at 11 a.m., with the race starting at noon at the J.C. Hormel Nature Center.

The Drive Me Wild Car Show will begin at noon in Bricelyn, and awards will be announced at 3:30 p.m.

The Pelican Breeze will hold a public cruise from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Albert Lea Lake.

A gospel music concert featuring several bands will go from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fountain Lake Park gazebo in Albert Lea.