The theme for this year’s Third of July Parade will be “Teaming up for America,” the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce announced this week.

“We thought with all of the collaborative efforts that are going on throughout the community that it made really good sense to celebrate that,” said Chamber Executive Director Randy Kehr. “I really think that our collaboration is really the thing that makes us different from anywhere else.”

He said the theme allows for a lot of flexibility. It can work for everyone from athletic teams to teams at workplaces to walking moais.

Parade applications are available online at www.albertlea.org under the Events page and at the chamber office.

Applications must be received in the chamber office by 5 p.m. June 5.

Kehr said in past years there have been an average of 100 units in the parade.

Parade themes in previous years were “Only in America” in 2014, “Red, White and Blue Old Time Traditions,” in 2013, “Celebrating Our Armed Forces” in 2012, “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.

In previous years, the theme was voted on by the public in a contest, but Kehr said this year the theme was decided by the parade committee and chamber staff.