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 year’s 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