Baudette Will Once Again Be The Place To Be On The 4th of July
People are often heard saying, “There’s no place like Baudette on the Fourth of July.” This year will be no different as the Baudette-Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce has once again planned a full day of fun, food, entertainment and of course, Northern Minnesota’s Most Spectacular Fireworks Display, to celebrate our nation’s birthday. So don’t miss any of the fun in Baudette on Tuesday, July 4.
Firecracker 5K Run/Walk
Same-day registration and racer bib pick-up for the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, CHI LakeWood Health and Lake of the Woods Foods will open at 7:30 a.m. at the Historic Baudette Depot with the actual race starting at 9 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register by Friday, June 22 with pre-registrants guaranteed a souvenir t-shirt and free 4th of July button. You can pre-register online at www.baudettelwchamber.com or by filling out a form and mailing to the Chamber. Forms can be picked up at area banks as well as the Northern Light Region office. There is $25 entry fee.
Questions about the race can be directed to Jaime Boretski-LaValla at 218-634-3486 or jaimeboretski@catholichealth.net.
Entertainment
A full slate of entertainers are on the schedule for the day.
Headlining the event with three shows during the day will be The Sound Exchange.
The Sound Exchange is a five member a cappella group based in the Twin Cities. They bring dazzling harmonies, great stage presence, and wise-cracking audience interaction together in a whirlwind a cappella experience that is not to be missed.
These stellar performers bring a wealth of musical experience and their unique sense of humor to every show. But, above all, they truly love performing and do it with a contagious joy that will have you laughing and clapping right along with them.
Whether you love soulful ballads, blistering rock anthems, jazz standards or chart-topping singles…. or, perhaps you just love to laugh and have fun, then, you’re in for a treat with the hijinks & harmonies of The Sound Exchange.
The Sound Exchange will perform on Main Avenue at the Border State Bank Stage at noon, 4:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Also performing that day will be T. Texas Terry.
T. Texas Terry is that high-energy, very fun cowboy character created by Terry DaVolt. Terry was a long-time Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus performer and has also performed at casinos and concerts and shows throughout the world. T. Texas Terry was also the lead opening act for Brooks and Dunn as part of their Neon Circus tour. With whips, ropes, guns, and lots of humor, Terry gets everybody involved in a comedy western show that is sure to make everybody smile and have a great time.
A winner of the National Wild Western Arts Comedy Award and Harrah’s Entertainer of the Year, Terry blends outstanding cowboy skills and down-home comedy with colorful tales that would make Will Rogers proud.
You’ll find Terry performing as he wanders along Main Avenue from 3-5 p.m. and be sure to also watch for him during the main parade.
The Fort Frances Highlanders Pipe and Drums will once again return for Baudette’s Fourth of July Celebration. Always a favorite, the group will entertain the crowds with their bagpipes, drums and dancers at a special concert at 3:30 p.m. following the parade. The concert will take place on Main Avenue at the Border State Bank Stage. You’ll also see the Highlanders as they march the parade route.
Headlining the street dance will be Tami and the Bachelor.
The band comes to us from Minneapolis and is a favorite of , performing a huge range of music from 1940’s to current day top 40 hits. Regardless of your musical tastes, you’re likely to hear some of your favorites as they perform hits from Megan Trainor, Lady Gaga, Patsy Cline, Neil Diamond, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Journey and many, many more.
The street dance is scheduled for 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.-10 p.m.
Parades
As always, two parades will take place on the afternoon of the Fourth.
A Kiddie Parade will get underway at 1:30 p.m. No pre-registration is necessary for the kiddie parade and participants are asked to be in front of Helgeson’s Funeral Chapel on 1st Street SW no later than 1:15 p.m. The kiddie parade will start at that point and travel north along 1st Avenue, crossing Highway 11, and end at 2nd Street NW by Pirkl Apartments.
The Main Parade gets underway at 2 p.m.
Pre-registration is required. Cost is $5.00 per entry. Register online at www.baudettelwchamber.com or by stopping in or calling Border State Bank at 634-3300.
Line up will take place along 5th Street SW in front of CHI LakeWood Health and the Baudette Arena with overflow line up along County Road 1.
The parade will travel north along Main Avenue up to 1st Street SW, where it will go west one block to 1st Avenue where it will continue along the same route as the kiddie parade.
Pre-registration is requested by June 30. After that date, registrations will still be accepted but will not qualify for prizes and the entry fee raises to $10 per entry.
Food and Other Fun
You won’t go hungry this Fourth of July with plenty of food options available.
Start the day off with a breakfast at the Moose Lodge. That will be sponsored by the Women of the Moose with serving taking place from 8 a.m. until noon.
A pie and ice cream social is set for noon until it’s all gone. The social is sponsored by the VFW Auxiliary and will be held at the VFW Club.
Main Avenue will also be lined with vendors serving up a variety of food options as well as other merchandise. The vendors are set to open at 11 a.m. will and most will remain open into the evening hours.
There will be several other things to take in during the day including:
• The Lake of the Woods County Museum will be open 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. All exhibits will be available for viewing along with a special “World War I 100th Anniversary Exhibit” and an “Air Force Base Memories Exhibit” opened in honor of the Air Force Base Reunion being held in Baudette over the holiday.
• The Baudette Depot will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. where visitors can enjoy free ice cream cones as well as the opportunity to view the exhibits there.
• The Water Wars Game and several inflatables will be open for the kids from noon-2 p.m. and again 3:30-5:30 p.m. The games are free of charge.
• Bingo will take place at the American Legion Club beginning after the parade and continuing until 5 p.m. Bingo is sponsored by the Lake of the Woods Women of Today with proceeds going toward the Post-Prom Party.
• Lake of the Woods Women of Today will also be holding Kiddie Races at Willie Walleye Park beginning at 4 p.m.
• The annual Bobber Race, sponsored by the Baudette Rotary Club, will take place at 5 p.m. Bobber tickets are available from area Rotary members.
Northern Minnesota’s Most Spectacular Fireworks Display!
Capping off a full day of events will be the annual fireworks display. The display billed as “Northern Minnesota’s Most Spectacular” generally draws crowds up to 5,000 people with spectators coming from all over. The show will begin at 10:15 p.m. and spectators are encouraged to find your spot on the hill at Willie Walleye Park, where viewing is best, early as the park fills up fast and early.
