Parade draws patriotic crowd

An old-fashioned Fourth of July parade drew big crowds to Main Avenue Thursday morning in Park Rapids.

Instead of being held in the afternoon as been the tradition in years past, the parade started at 11 a.m.

The weather was perfect, with blue skies and a cooling breeze, in spite of earlier forecasts that called for rain.

While some people were not in favor of the time change, others said they liked being able to come into town and then go back to have lunch and spend time on the lake before returning for the fireworks. Customers packed downtown restaurants for a bite or cool refreshing beverage and explored shops in the area before returning home.

1/2: Patriotic pride was in evidence as members of the military, American Legion, and other groups featured veterans who fought for our freedom symbolized by the flags proudly carried and displayed in the parade. Photos by Lorie Skarpness/Enterprise.

2/2: No parade is complete without a band. Lively music by the New York Mills marching band set toes tapping. They even stopped in the middle of Main Avenue for an impromptu concert.