Iron Range Fourth of July 2012

The Iron Range is an immigrant region. The immigrant cultures have Americanized since the early 1900s but vestiges remain, not least of which is the enthusiastic way that people here celebrate the Fourth of July. Iron Rangers use festive parades and fireworks to show their patriotism while using alcohol and emotional eating to reconcile economic struggles in this new land. It’s been going on a very long time and it's actually a lot of fun, even if you find healthier pursuits.

I thus present the 2012 schedule for Iron Range Fourth of July parades, street dances and fireworks. I have limited my scope to the three historic iron ranges of Minnesota -- the Mesabi, Vermilion and Cuyuna.

Saturday, June 30

• 8 p.m. (all night) - Keewatin Street Dance
• Dusk - Keewatin Fireworks

Tuesday, July 3

• 10 a.m. - Swan Lake (Pengilly area) flotilla parade
• 6 p.m. - Aurora Parade
• 7:30 p.m. - Gilbert Parade
• 8 p.m. (all night) - Eveleth Street Dance
• 8 p.m. (all night) - Nashwauk Street Dance
• 10:15 p.m. - Eveleth Fireworks
• Dusk - Nashwauk Fireworks

Wednesday, July 4

• 9 a.m. - Virginia “Calithumpian” Parade
• 9:30 a.m. - Eveleth Parade
• 9:30 a.m. - Mountain Iron Parade
• 11 a.m. - Side Lake Parade
• 11 a.m. - Tower Parade
• 11 a.m. - Hill City Parade
• 11 a.m. - Crosby-Ironton Parade (starts in Ironton, ends in Crosby)
• Noon - Aurora Children's Parade
• Noon - Nashwauk Parade
• 1 p.m. - Biwabik “Patriotic” Parade
• 1 p.m. - Ely Parade
• 2 p.m. - Keewatin Parade
• 7 p.m. - Biwabik “Calithumpian” Parade
• Dusk - Crosby Fireworks
• Dusk - Tower Fireworks
• Dusk - Ely Fireworks
• Dusk - Virginia Fireworks
• Dusk - Grand Rapids Fireworks (Pokegema Lake) POSTPONED DUE TO WATER LEVELS

If I've missed any or gotten something wrong, please e-mail or comment on this post and I'll update.

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