Residents in Douglas County celebrated their freedom during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in a variety of ways – boat parades, fireworks, concerts, town celebrations and more.
Despite the wind on Sunday, July 4, the water was calm on Lake Carlos near the Carlos/Darling bridge where a multitude of boats paraded to passersby. Some boats were decked out in Fourth of July decorations including red, white and blue balloons, while others simply displayed the American flag.
Several other boat parades also took place on Sunday and fireworks were displayed around the area Sunday evening.
A large crowd gathered in Evansville for its town celebration last weekend, which included the grand parade on Sunday.
And on Sunday evening, the courthouse lawn was filled with guests who attended the Red Willow Arts Coalition’s special patriotic concert.
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But the weekend wasn’t all fun and games as local law enforcement officers, emergency personnel and local fire departments were busy.
On Saturday, July 3, the Alexandria Fire Department had a post on its Facebook page urging people to use due diligence with fireworks. Shortly after 10 p.m., Alexandria firefighters were called out to four separate grass fires in four different locations. With conditions being so dry, grass fires were a common occurrence all weekend long.
Besides grass fires, there were several accidents – with only minor injuries or no injuries at all – and there were many medical calls over the weekend, according to scanner traffic.
While sitting in his boat on Lake Darling Sunday, July 4, Levi Fultz took this picture of the American flag with the fireworks in the background. (Contributed photo)
A pontoon in the annual boat parade on Lake Carlos advertises the 100th anniversary celebration of the Resorters Golf Tourament, which takes place the first week in August. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Beliveau)
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A Fourth of July banner hangs from a pontoon on Lake Carlos during Sunday's boat parade. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Beliveau)
A decorated pontoon floats along on Big Chip near Brandon during the lake's annual parade on Sunday, July 4. (Jody Hanson / Echo Press)
A boat and pontoon engage in a water war during the annual Fourth of July boat parade on Lake Carlos Sunday, July 4. (Photo courtesy of Brandon Beliveau)
The June Lynne Lacey Foundation and the Navy League of the United States were on hand at the Fourth of July parade in Evansville. Both organizations offer support to veterans. (Contributed photo)
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A group of pontooners decked out in red, white and blue make their way around Lake Carlos during the annual boat parade, Sunday, July 4. (Celeste Edenloff / Echo Press)
People riding in boats and pontoons show their Fourth of July pride as they make their way around Lake Carlos Sunday. (Celeste Edenloff / Echo Press)
A group of pontoon goers wave and smile to those on shore as they make their way to Lake Carlos from Lake Darling during the boat parade Sunday, July 4. (Celeste Edenloff / Echo Press)
Fireworks explode over Lake Darling Sunday, July 4, during the annual Star Storm fireworks show presented by Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center. (Celeste Edenloff / Echo Press)
Celeste Edenloff is the special projects editor and a reporter for the Alexandria Echo Press. She has lived in the Alexandria Lakes Area since 1997. She first worked for the Echo Press as a reporter from 1999 to 2011, and returned in 2016 to once again report on the community she calls home.
