Residents can help pick parade theme

Published 7:38 am Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce is again asking for the public’s help in choosing a theme for this year’s Third of July Parade.

The chamber is asking people to go to the chamber’s website at www.albertlea.org and choose from one of the 10 possible parade themes.

People can also vote for their favorite theme in person at the chamber office.

Email newsletter signup

Possible themes are the following:

• Aleluijah Albert Lea

• The Land Between the Lakes

• Holiday Parade Showcasing the Fourth of July

• Hometown Pride

• American Inventions

• Red, White and Blue Old Time Traditions

• Celebrate our Armed Forces

• American Film History

• Fantastic Adventures in American History

• Patriotic Memories

Voting goes through April 6.

Chamber Director Randy Kehr encouraged people to participate.

“The parade impacts a tremendous number of people,” Kehr said. “To cast a vote for the theme only takes a computer and a minute. It’s a relatively small effort to actively participate in selecting the theme of what’s become a tradition in Albert Lea.”

Parade participants will decorate their floats to whatever theme is selected.

Parade themes in the last six years were “Freeborn County, Past, Present and Future” in 2011, “Hometown Heroes” in 2010, “Heart of America” in 2009, “Echoes of the Past” in 2008, “American Moments” in 2007 and “Remembering the Past, Embracing the Future” in 2006.

Kehr noted that several of this year’s choices were submitted by residents in the community.