Light up the Fourth with fireworks, parades

For years, former Leader editor Doug Hanneman wrote about his hope for a Fourth of July event in Hutchinson. Word of Life Church stepped up for a couple of years and hosted a patriotic picnic. Otherwise, it's been a non-event locally.

This year, local members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution will read the Declaration of Independence at 9 a.m. Wednesday, in Library Square. It seems fitting for the descendents of Revolutionary War patriots to read the document for which they fought and died.

While Hutchinson doesn't roll out the red carpet for the Fourth of July, there are plenty of towns that do. Here's a list of events within a 60-mile radius:

• Annandale's Fourth of July celebration began in 1889. It features a parade at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The parade route begins at Poplar Avenue/Cedar Circle and follows Chestnut Street to Oak Avenue to Park Street and ends at Hemlock Street. Fireworks are shot off at dusk at Annandale Municipal Park. Festivities begin Friday, June 29, and continue through Wednesday, July 4. For more information, visit www.annandale4thofjuly.org.
• Chanhassen started its Fourth of July celebration in 1984. Festivities begin Monday, July 2, and continue through Wednesday, July 4. On Wednesday, July 4, a two-hour parade begins at 2:30 p.m. The route starts on West 78th Street and Chan View and follows Kerber, Santa Vera Drive, Laredo and ends on Chan View. Fireworks are at 10 p.m. at Lake Ann Park. Onsite parking is available. 
• Delano bills itself as having the "oldest and largest Fourth of July celebration in Minnesota." The first known event took place on July 4, 1857. This year's festivities begin on Friday, June 29, and continue through Wednesday, July 4. Fourth of July festivities begin with a parade at 10:30 a.m. The parade route starts at the intersection of Wright County Road 30 and River Street. The parade route goes south to Railroad Avenue, east to Second Street North, north to Elm Avenue, and east to the Tiger Drive intersection. The evening ends with a 27-minute fireworks display at 10:30 p.m. Best place to watch the show is on the dike near Central Park. For more information, visit www.delano4th.com.
• High Island Lake Conservation Club in New Auburn will host a two-day event beginning Tuesday, July 3, through Wednesday, July 4. Fourth of July festivities include a Car/Truck Bike Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bean Bag tournament at 11 a.m., a Swap/Craft/Vendor Sale, bingo, chicken and fish dinners, plus fireworks at dusk. For more information, visit the High Island Lake Conservation Club's Facebook page.
• Spicer's Fourth of July celebration begins Thursday, July 28, and continues through Wednesday, July 4. The Grand Day Parade is at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The route will follow Lake Avenue. The fireworks show starts at 10 p.m. at Saulsbury Beach. The best place to watch the show is from a boat on Green Lake. For a schedule of events, visit bit.ly/2MWVb8n.
• St. Cloud's 72nd annual Fourth of July Fireworks takes place at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Fireworks are synchronized to music. For best viewing, visit Wilson and Hester parks, and along Fifth Avenue North. For more information, visit stcloudfireworks.org.
• Waconia Fireworks Festival is at dusk, Wednesday, July 4. Fireworks are launched from Lake Waconia Regional Park. Best viewing is at Lola's Lakehouse, the In Towne Marina, Sovereign Estate Winery, Laketown Parkway and from a boat on Lake Waconia. For more information, visit waconia.destinationwaconia.org.

In case you have plans for the Fourth, but love fireworks. The Litchfield Watercade summer festival is hosting a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Friday, July 14, at Lake Ripley Memorial Park. Music is provided by 94.1 The Loon. For a schedule of events, visit www.watercade.com.

EARLY FOURTH OF JULY OBSERVANCES

Just for the record, things weren't always quiet on the Fourth in Hutchinson.

Someone took the time and made a record of Hutchinson Independence Day observances beginning in 1915. Way back when, the Fourth was celebrated with parades, speeches, ball games, street games, pageants and dances.

It's not surprising there were no celebrations in 1917 and 1918. Those were war years during World War I. In fact, the $700 raised for the 1917 celebration was donated to the Red Cross. The following year, the money was divided among different communities.

Things picked up again in 1920. The Fourth of July bash was described in the Leader as the "biggest and largest celebration Hutchinson ever pulled off."

The 1921 celebration featured all-night dancing and a show that consisted of acrobatic acts, a jazz quartet and aerial performers took place on a raised platform in the Public Square.

The 1924 observance celebrated two local milestones: The paving of Main Street was completed and the Armory dance floor was ready for use. The Leader noted, "No casualty or accident; no arrest for drunkeness nor any evidence of liquor in the city."

The country celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1926. Locally, an industrial parade attracted 25,000 attendees. There was also a patriotic address, street sports, a ballgame, kiddie parade, fireworks and a dance at the armory.

In 1932, it was time to celebrate the bicentennial with a three-day Fourth of July bash. There was a beauty pageant with three titles at stake — Miss Hutchinson, Miss America and Miss 1932. The winners were determined by popular vote. The Fourth of July Parade featured 10 historical floats with George Washington, Betsy Ross and Paul Revere. The highlight was the George Washington pageant in which 300 people participated. It was billed as a "brilliant spectacle at the fairgrounds."

The 1933 two-day celebration had a transportation theme due to the dedication of the new $25,000 State Highway Bridge, which spanned the Crow River on North Main Street.

The Fourth continued to be celebrated in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938 and 1940. In 1941, the first Water Carnival took place.

Due to World War II, the Fourth was observed in 1942, but there was no celebration in 1943. The festivities in 1944 took place on the Crow River, so more than likely it was the second year of the Water Carnival.

By 1947, the Water Carnival moved its dates to the end of June. From then on, this became Hutchinson's No. 1 summer celebration.