Getting ready to celebrate

Parades, festivals, fireworks part of the Copper Country’s Fourth of July activities

By MICHAEL H. BABCOCK, DMG Writer

COPPER COUNTRY - When it comes to celebrating the Fourth of July, the Copper Country knows how to do it. With over a half-dozen communities to hold parades, fireworks or street dances, it won't be hard to find somewhere to celebrate the United States of America's 233rd birthday.

The action will begin on Friday night with street dances in Ahmeek and Baraga and bands playing in Lake Linden and Dollar Bay.

The Twin Lakes State Park will host their 11th annual boat parade at dusk. The parade includes upwards of 30 boats decorated for the Fourth on Lake Roland.

"Our big thing is the Fourth of July," said Twin Lakes Site Ranger Rich Pirhonen. "People put a lot into decorating their boats."

Friday night will also offer a fireworks display at dusk in Lake Linden. The celebration in Lake Linden is one of the biggest in the area.

"Last year we were thinking there was upwards of 3,000 people in the park," Village Clerk Bob Poirier said. "The park is a little over four acres and it's pretty much filled with people, so we get a pretty good crowd.

"Everything is on schedule, the Lake Linden Fire Department is the ones that do the bulk of the planning, they are in charge of the fireworks, which are paid for through donations from local businesses, residents and booster buttons."

Poirier said there will be an increase in the amount of food vendors this year.

"If people are attending, they don't have to bring a lunch because there will be plenty of food available in the park," he said.

Saturday morning, the events begin early with pancake breakfasts, flag raisings and parades.

The first parade of the day will be in Lake Linden at 9:30 a.m., followed shortly after by neighboring Hubbell-Tamarack at 10:30, then Dollar Bay at noon, Twin Lakes at 1 p.m., Gay at 2 , South Range at 2:30 and Baraga at 3:30.

Ahmeek will continue their centennial/fourth of July celebration with an all-day park social.

South Range will host a slew of activities during the day including a village yard sale, classic car show and little league baseball.

The music will continue Saturday with Hubbell-Tamarack hosting a band at 4 p.m. and Lake Linden holding a street dance Saturday night at 6 p.m.

The weekend celebrations end Saturday night at dusk with fireworks in Copper Harbor and Baraga.

The fireworks in Baraga will signify the end of their Lumberjack Days. For more information about those festivities, visit baragalumberjackdays.com.

Michael H. Babcock can be reached at mbabcock@mininggazette.com.