A busy week in Albert Lea for the Fourth of July holiday

Albert Lea’s Fourth of July will be filled with numerous festivities for all ages, including several annual favorites from previous years.

The July Jamboree will kick off on July 3 with food vendors set up in the North Broadway parking lot from noon to 8 p.m., and a mobile sign shop will run from 2 to 5 p.m. at Central Park.

The annual Third of July Parade will start at 6 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. The theme for this year’s parade is “Dancing in the Streets: Celebrating Community Successes,” and this year’s grand marshals will be the Albert Lea dance team.

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shari Sprague said organizers want to highlight a variety of successes in this year’s parade and hope businesses or organizations that have had successes this year will participate. She said they have also been working hard to get more bands lined up for this year’s parade.

The parade travels down Bridge Avenue and then turns on to Fountain Street, ending at Central Park.

At 7 p.m., Dariel will perform live at 112 on Broadway, and at 9 p.m. there will be a block party with DJ KB at Harold’s Bar.

On the Fourth, food vendors will continue in the North Broadway lot, and there will be cruises running on the Pelican Breeze II at noon, 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their own food or drink while cruising Albert Lea Lake. The boat seats 55, is handicap accessible, with an on-board restroom and is smoke free. Kids will enjoy waving at the big rigs as the boat travels under Interstate 35. During the cruise, people can also enjoy looking for the many pelicans and wildlife that the lake offers. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for ages 5 and under.

The Bayside Water Ski Club will have a performance on Edgewater Bay at 1 p.m., and the annual Fourth of July car show will be downtown from 2 to 6 p.m. on Broadway.

The Albert Lea Community Band will start its performance at 8 p.m. at the Fountain Lake Park Gazebo.

Fireworks will be launched at dusk from a new location this year on city property west of the Blazing Star Landing between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes.

Organizers said the fireworks are being moved from the former location at City Beach to bring the display into safety compliance with state code. They believe the new location will be visible from many different locations around both Fountain and Albert Lea lakes and downtown.

“We’re super excited about the new location,” Sprague said. “We expect visibility to be better than ever.”

Food vendors will start at 6 p.m. at Frank Hall Park on the Fourth to accommodate residents who watch the fireworks on that side.

Festivities continue July 5 with a flea market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds, food vendors in the North Broadway lot from noon to 8 p.m. and a street dance at 8 p.m. at 112 on Broadway with Will Barnett & Co.

On July 6 the Albert Lea Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon in the North Broadway parking lot, and the flea market continues at the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Food vendors continue in the North Broadway lot from noon to 8 p.m., and a boat parade will be on Fountain Lake at 3 p.m.

An indoor concert wraps up the night at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. with “A Journey Down Legends Lane.”

The flea market will also run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

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