NASHWAUK and KEEWATIN — Two neighboring Iron Range communities had very different parade experiences while celebrating the nation's 250th birthday on the Fourth of July, thanks to a sudden downpour.
The Nashwauk community lined the streets for a noontime start of the annual Independence Day parade, which included a flyover of two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Minnesota National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing.
Lorie Shaull
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KAXE
Morning events, which included a 10K run and veteran’s flag raising in Memorial Park, were mostly sunny. But as the parade progressed, storm clouds began to threaten.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
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— Spectators dance in water sprayed from Itasca's Soil and Water Conservation District’s Thermal Decontamination Unit float during Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Paradegoers dance in water sprayed from Itasca County's Soil and Water Conservation District’s Thermal Decontamination Unit float during Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A woman hands out candy during Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A woman hands out candy during Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A young participant in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A young participant in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Kids watch Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Kids in holiday headwear watch Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— 01 Participants in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Participants in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Kids dance in water sprayed from Itasca's Soil and Water Conservation District’s Thermal Decontamination Unit float during Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Kids dance in water sprayed from Itasca's Soil and Water Conservation District’s Thermal Decontamination Unit float during Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A parade spectator waves to people in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A parade spectator waves to people in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A man places his cap over his heart as he watches Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A man places his cap over his heart as he watches Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Participants march in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Participants march in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A person in a cow costume hands out water during Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A person in a cow costume hands out water during Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Members of Nashwauk Alliance Church Vacation Bible School participate in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Members of Nashwauk Alliance Church Vacation Bible School participate in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A member of Greenway Fire and Rescue waves to the crowd at Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A member of Greenway Fire and Rescue waves to the crowd at Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A participant rides in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A participant rides in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A young parade-goer covers his ears durning Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
A young parade-goer covers his ears during Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— An America 250 banner on a float in Nashwauk's Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
An America 250 banner on a float in Nashwauk's Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
Many Nashwauk parade participants did double-duty and headed over to participate in Keewatin’s parade scheduled to began at 1:30 p.m.
Keewatin’s Kiddy Parade took place before the main event and was spared of rain, while much of the main parade went on, despite a heavy downpour. In one hour, two-thirds of an inch of rain fell.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
The rain seemed to coordinate with the Keewatin parade. While slightly over an inch of rain fell during the storm, most fell in the hour following the start of the parade.
Many parade participants continued to march and throw candy while paradegoers showed up with umbrellas or found a bit of shelter under building overhangs. Ever-resilient kids managed to collect the candy, embracing the moment and eventually playing in the summer rain.
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
Lorie Shaull
/
KAXE
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— Kids toss candy from the American Legion Post 452 car during the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade.jpg
Kids toss candy from the American Legion Post 452 car during the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Despite the rain spectators line N 1st St in the rain for the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade.jpg
Despite the downpour spectators line N 1st St for the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Participants march during the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade.jpg
Participants march during the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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A woman greets approaching paraders during a rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade.jpg
Parade-goers with umbrellas watch the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— CK Mowing participates in the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade in the rain.jpg
CK Mowing participates in the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A woman and her dog participates in a rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.jpg
A woman and her dog participates in a rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— DFL members march in the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.jpg
DFL members march in the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— The Itasca County Republicans display in the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade.jpg
The Itasca County Republicans float in the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Spectators leave N 1st St after watching the at the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July parade in the rain.jpg
Parade-goers leave North First Street after watching the rainy 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Boys play soccer on N 1st St in the rain after the Keewatin Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Boys play soccer on N 1st St in the rain after the Keewatin Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— Girls play in the rain on N 1st St after the Keewatin Fourth of July parade in 2026.jpg
Girls play in the rain on N 1st St after the Keewatin Fourth of July Parade in 2026.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
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— A person splashes in the water along the road during a rainstorm at the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.jpg
A paradegoer splashes in the water along the road during a rainstorm at the 2026 Keewatin Fourth of July Parade.
Lorie Shaull / KAXE
