Grand Forks celebrates Independence Day with kiddie parade

As the dark rain clouds rolled into downtown Grand Forks, so did the wheels of numerous Power Wheels trucks, Razor scooters and bicycles.

In the midst of all the red, white and blue attire at the annual Sertoma Club’s Patriotic Kids Parade, was a little girl dressed in all green.

Instead of carrying candy, she had a silver piece of cardboard shaped like a book and a silver torch in her hand.

Dressed as the statue of liberty, 6-year-old Joy Erickson held on tight to her trophy and her little brother, 3-year-old Alex, who was dressed as a baseball player.

“Our goal was to have a fun time and be a part of remembering the birthday of America, and they ended up winning first place (which included a trophy) for their costumes,” said Carla Erickson, the children’s mother with excitement.

The parade was a kid of kick off to Sertoma Club’s Fourth of July celebration, which included a tae kwan do demonstration, watermelon feed, pedal pull contest, a clown, a magician and musicians all culminating in the club’s fireworks show over the Red River.

“It’s fun coming out here to see all the families and friends come together to celebrate,” said Sertoma Club member Paul Waind as he passed out free watermelon slices to people walking by. “Not everybody has a lake home to go to, so we do this.”

Mom-inspired

For Carla Erickson, it was all the more exciting because her children’s costumes were prize winners.

They took her about a month to create and put the final touches on. “I got Alex’s costume at a garage sale for $5 but had to stitch up the pants by hand,” she said. “For Joy’s, I made it all on my own by hand,” she said. “My mother was a seamstress before she passed away. I’m not as good, but I try!”

“I like all the candy,” Joy said with a smile.

“I want to do it again,” said Alex as he peered out from beneath his blue baseball cap, “I liked walking with my sister.”

Erickson said Joy had been in the parade for three years and Alex had been in it for two before winning the grand prize. Her other son, who usually dresses as Abraham Lincoln, wasn’t present because he decided to hang out with a friend instead.

“I’m just overjoyed being here and having them receive the award,” said Erickson.

Call Haugesag at (701) 780-1262;  (800) 477-6572, ext. 1262 ; or send email to  ahaugesag@gfherald.com . 

1/5: Sisters Hattie, 8, and Kayleighann Hefferman, 10, roll down Third Street on their scooters as part of the annual July Fourth parade in downtown Grand Forks. (Luke Franke/Grand Forks Herald)

2/5: Hattie Hefferman, 8, surrounded by patriotic balloons, rolls her scooter down Third Street as part of the annual July Fourth parade in Grand Forks. (Luke Franke/Grand Forks Herald)

3/5: Crookston, MN resident Vishruth Bhanu Kiran poses for a portrait just after participating in the annual July Fourth parade in Grand Forks. (Luke Franke/Grand Forks Herald)

4/5: Alex Erickson, 3, shows off his "Best Dressed" trophy for having the most original and creative costume during the annual July Fourth parade in downtown Grand Forks. (Luke Franke/Grand Forks Herald)

5/5: Joy Erickson, 6, with help from her mother Carla, dressed as the Statue of Liberty for the annual July Fourth parade in downtown Grand Forks. Joy and her brother Alex, 3, won the best dressed competition for having the most creative costumes of the parade. (Luke Franke/Grand Forks Herald)