Citing logistics as a core reason, promoters of Minocqua's July 4th parade announced the cancelation of the event for this year, but fireworks will remain and an enhanced fly-over program will also be featured.
Executive Director Krystal Westfahl says recently there have been some difficult conversations about events during a time of the coronavirus outbreak. She outlined the reasons for the cancelation, including several marching bands from the region and Canada not being able to get here..
"We have camps that participate like Agawak who unfortunately won't be having a camp this year. We have a security detail that helps us shut down Highway 51 that wasn't able to participate in helping us this year do to their company policies. There were multiple(reasons) sort of dominoes falling that wouldn't allow us put this parade on and do the same type of excellent job we do every year..."
She says many of the marching bands have not practiced during the COVID outbreak. She says Minocqua businesses are having a tough year and can't help much financially. Westfahl says they will be featuring what the downtown businesses have to offer to visitors. She says they will have the annual fly-over...
"We're going to have a more robust fly-over than we've ever had. We have three vintage military aircraft that typically accompany the parade. We're going to continue that this year. We're going to be making additional circles throughout the chain of lakes..."
The fireworks display will take place. Westfahl says there's enough space to safely hold the fireworks in Minocqua.
More information is at minocqua dot org
