by Dennis Dalman
On a very hot but pleasant Fourth of July Festival weekend, thousands of people gathered for music, fireworks, a big parade, food and lots of socializing in St. Joseph.
Temperatures shot up to the 80s, but a gentle cooling breeze offset the heat, especially during the St. Joseph Lions 80-minute Fourth of July Day Parade.
The weekend began with the 19th annual “Joetown Rocks” concert, which – as it’s done every summer – attracted many local people as well as music-lovers from far and wide.
The concert began the evening of July 3 with singing by a choir of school children and a benediction. Then the band “Killer Vees & Friends” took to the stage to perform a rousing set of tuneful songs. The “Friends” included performers Maggie O’Donnell, Michael Shynes, Esera Tuaolo and Clayton Ryan. They each sang alone, but toward the end of the concert they and the Killer Vees all retook the stage to perform together a rip-roaring set of songs.
A dazzling fireworks display followed the concert.
The parade
At 10 a.m. Friday the Fourth, the annual parade began, starting on West Minnesota Street and moving onward east through downtown St. Joseph.
Thousands of spectators along the curbsides smiled, waved and cheered as the floats, vehicles and entertainers moved on down the city’s main street. Clumps of eager children holding treat bags also lined the curbsides scurrying for pieces of candy tossed from floats or from candy-tossers walking along the street. The children squealed with delight as they swiftly grabbed the candies to put into their sweet-tooth stash bags. Some parents tried to slather their excited-squirming children with sunscreen.
The grand parade was led by a flag-bearing contingent of the American Legion of St. Joseph as spectators stood up at attention and waved.
Other noteworthy features of the parade included the following:
Grand Marshal Ann L. Scherer, passenger in a yellow car, who was chosen as grand marshal for the parade because of her years of dedicated hard work for the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.
Riding in the back of a convertible were Mayor Adam Scepaniak, his wife and their 6-month old son.
The Alexandria High School Marching Band.
A float with many members of the Jubilee Worship Center.
The Ringsmuth Riders, young people on unicycles performing in long lines while doing intricate riding maneuvers.
A float celebrating 25 years of the St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, as well as a float for Woods Farmer Seed and Nursery.
Floats and performers from National Karate, Snap Fitness and several featuring trios of princesses – to name just some of the float attractions.
There were convoys of St. Joseph Fire and Police vehicles and trucks, their horns honking and sirens wailing as well as convoys of horn-honking trucks from Scherer Trucking, Brenny Transportation and several other companies.
Winners
Three independent judges chosen by the St. Joseph Lions Club chose the parade they deemed “best.”
Here are the categories and winners: “Wow! Extreme” (Ringsmuth Riders, North Star Curling Club); “Best Dressed Business” (St. Joseph Farmers Market, Woods Farmers Seed and Nursery); “Classy Vehicles” (Great Northern Model T Club, Brian Ogg); “Cool Youth” (St. Cloud Skatin’ Place, National Karate); “Fourth of July Theme” (Snap Fitness, Miss Sartell Royalty).
Post-parade
After the parade, big crowds of people began to gather on the front and back lawns of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Food and refreshments were served, Bingo games began, kids enjoyed kiddie rides (including a mini-merry-go-‘round), a musical group performed, and inside the church an auction of beautiful homemade quilts by the St. Joseph Parish Quilters group, followed by a raffle drawing.
The Fourth of July Festival in St. Joseph, which began about 100 years ago, has long been the biggest fundraiser of the year for the St. Joseph Parish.
Bonnie and Mark Gohmann of St. Joseph enjoy the Fourth of July St. Joseph parade under the shade of an umbrella.
Ben Schackmann, 6, of Cold Spring keeps a sharp eye out for candy at the Fourth of July St. Joseph parade.
Gary Buermann of Sauk Rapids performs a shoot out with the Wild Creek Entertainers at the Fourth of July St. Joseph parade.
Wild Creek Entertainers
The Wild Creek Entertainers are a favorite act at the Fourth of July St. Joseph parade. Pictured are (left) Jill Kothman of Rice and Mady Bertsch of Sartell.
A military veterans’ color guard leads the Fourth of July St. Joseph parade.
A man leads a festooned donkey in the St. Joseph Fourth of July Parade.
The Alexandria High School Marching Band play a spirited tune as they march down Minnesota Street during the Fourth of July Parade in St. Joseph.
Spectators along the south side of Minnesota Street await more units in the St. Joseph Lions’ Parade, one of the many events at the annual Fourth of July Festival.