In these unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic
and social distancing requirements, the Forest Lake Parade committee
and American Legion have made the hard decision that the annual
Forest Lake celebration that we have seen in the past will look
different this year. There will not be a carnival, bingo, street
parade or fireworks.
It has been a hard decision as this would have been
our 97th year. The only other time that
the celebration has been canceled was during another trying time
for our Country and our Greatest Generation.
Rest assured; we are finding a creative way to make
this parade one we will not forget. This years 4th of July
Parade is a parade truly about the community with the theme Parade
for the People: Celebrating our Community Heroes! Independence
Day is a time for us to come together to commemorate our freedom
as a nation and this year we want to also celebrate the great
work of those community members who have worked tirelessly to
help keep our communities safe and healthy during this pandemic.
As this year is a Parade for the People, think of
creative ways to decorate your homes and businesses in a way that
is Celebrating our Community Heroes. Send in photos and videos
of your commemorative presentation. You can send an email to Forestlakeparade@gmail.com
with a photo of your decorations with a contact name, contact
number, and address. You may get a surprise visit from the Parade
Committee to check it out and say hello.
This time you will not be sitting on the sidelines!
This year, we will not be having our traditional parade in person,
filling the streets of Forest Lake with pomp and circumstance
and displays of red, white, and blue. Instead, we ask that you,
your family, and your businesses take a moment to put together
a video to be shared online that highlights those in the Armed
Forces that have protected our freedom as a nation and additionally
thanking those public safety, health care, and essential workers
that are striving to keep us safe and healthy during these unparalleled
times.
Get creative! This is your chance for a virtual
shoutout to thank the heroes in our community and share a personal
message from you, your family, and your work team. Videos can
be filmed on a phone or any recording device, not to exceed one
minute in length. Videos submitted will be shared on the Forest
Lake 4th of July Facebook page from July 1st to July 4th. This
is a great way for your business to promote your summer highlights.
Please share positive and uplifting messages as we come together
for this virtual parade of honor and commemoration. We also encourage
stories of hope from members of our communities employed in public
safety, health care, and essential work roles to highlight the
remarkable contributions being made during this time.
Photo and Video requirements:
Stay tuned for surprise announcements from the Parade
Committee, the American Legion, and the City of Forest Lake leading
up to the 4th of July. To see announcements, view videos, and
photos from our community, you can click Follow or Like
on the Forest Lake 4th of July Celebration page on the
Facebook platform.
The 4th of July has historically been a time of
celebration and togetherness for the city of Forest Lake and this
year will be no different, just with a virtual spin. Livestream
content, photos, and videos from the community will be shared
on Facebook from July 1st to July 4th, with many live updates
and live feeds on the 4th of July. We will be starting early in
the morning for a new digital parade experience, starring you,
your families, and our community businesses, front and center.