Le Mars Fourth of July Festivities
Le Mars is gearing up for a 4th of July celebration. There will be a parade, a picnic, a band concert and, of course, fireworks. Le Mars Fire-Rescue Chief Dave Schipper previewed the fireworks rules for the 4th of july at this week’s city council meeting. He says this year, residents can set off fireworks for three days in a row.
The American Red Cross has a list of safety tips for a safe 4th of July if you are shooting off fireworks at home. Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging, keep a supply of water close by and always wears eye protection. Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”You should store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets. Never use fireworks around pets, keep pets indoors.
But before the fireworks on the 4th there will be a parade in downtown Le Mars.
Julie Arens of Friends of the Fourth says this year the parade’s theme is “Hometown Heroes,” which she says is heartfelt tribute to C Troop 1-113 Cavalry during their current deployment. Arens son is currently deployed.
Arens says the annual 4th of July Parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday on 8th Street (The Boulevard) and travel north onto Central Avenue, turning west at 3rd Street Southwest, and ending at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
Once the parade participants and watchers get to the museum, there will be a picnic lunch. The museum’s director Jennifer Scholten says since the Fourth of July is on Friday it can be sometimes difficult to get people to come visit the museum. But she says when the parade arrives, people line up for the free will picnic lunch.
There will also be a Le Mars Municipal Band Concert in Foster Park at 7:30 in the evening. And the fireworks will begin at dusk at the County Fairgrounds. During the fireworks, KLEM will broadcast Sky Show 2025, a patriotic musical salute. You can listen from your vehicle or bring along a radio to your favorite vantage point.
Oyens 4th of July Tractor Parade and Playground Fundraiser
A group in Oyens in Plymouth County is holding a 4th of July tractor parade, dinner and raffle to raise funds for a playground in their town of around 100 people. The Oyens Community Development Committee is a group of parents in Oyens who are raising money for new park equipment, and so far, they are 80% of the way there.
Residents of the town say the goal is to create a safer space for the local kids to grow up in. Nicole Owen is the Oyens Community Development Committee Organizer. Owens says as mother herself, she finds it sad and frustrating that the kids in town have no set place where they can all meet and play. This year the tractor parade will help raise money for the play ground.
Owen says building the playground is the main goal of the fundraiser, but for her, the bigger goal is to set an example for the children of the town.
Owen says the 4th of July Fundraiser and Block Party will take place in Owens this Friday from noon to 3:00 p.m. The tractor parade will kick things off and get rolling at the old Oyens Elementary School.
There will be tractors, pulled pork, bounce houses, raffles, and one big reason to celebrate. Nicole Owen says the goal is to raise $28,000 dollars to build a playground. For more information about the event or to contribute the the fund, you can go to: https://oyenscdc.simplero.com/
