There will be plenty of celebrating in International Falls this weekend.
The city’s July 4th Commission has lined up four days of activities, culminating with a fireworks display on July 4.
It will begin early Saturday at 8 a.m. with the Broncos 5K walk/run at the Falls High School track. A kids’ run will follow.
Mayor Harley Droba says they then shift to the Amphitheatre for a free concert later in the afternoon.
“We’re going to be starting with the Strolling Clones. It’s a Rolling Stones tribute band, and Paradigm will be opening that night. Starting at 4 p.m., we have all kinds of entertainment, and we hope to have good weather so that the Canadian fireworks will be in the background of the Amphitheater after that concert,” says Droba.
The day kicks off with the Broncos 5K walk/run at the Falls High School track. There is a kids’ run that will follow.
On Sunday, activities shift to Kerry Park.
“The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) has sponsored a whole host of events at Kerry Park. We have some hot dogs and S’mores for the kids. Karaoke is at 6 p.m., and then we have the movie Top Gun Maverick at 7:30 p.m.”
A glow run takes place after the movie along the Blue Ox Trail.
“We have some Chem lights for people. We have some glow-in-the-dark necklaces for the kids to have a good time.”
Droba also encourage the public to pitch a tent at Kerry Park for a campout.
The festivities continue on Monday at Smokey Bear Park with booths, a beer garden and music.
“Bill Piekarski is opening up our music at 6 p.m. He is playing until 7:30 p.m. Then what I am the most excited about and, I think, is drawing a lot of buzz in our community is the Dirty Vandals are coming to town. This is a band that the lead singer is originally from International Falls. His name is Mike Torgason. He goes by the Great Torgy now.”
Droba says The Dirty Vandals have made a name for themselves playing in the Chicago, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne areas.
It is a packed day of events on July 4 at Smokey Bear Park.
“We have our kids’ parade, and our main parade is going to be at 1 p.m. Then we have all kinds of events in the park. The one that I really want to showcase, we have a whole bunch of kids’ activities.”
“That’s one of the things that we’ve heard from people in the past, that we haven’t had a lot of kids’ events in the park. And we really wanted to showcase that. We’re doing something about that this year.”
The celebrations will end with a fireworks display lit from the field at Falls High School at 10:15 p.m.
