The winners from Albert Lea’s Third of July Parade have been announced.

Tom Jones, co-director of the parade, said there are three categories in which floats were judged — youth, commercial and non-profit — and there is a first- and second-place winner chosen for each category. The parade is sponsored by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

St. John’s Lutheran Community was named the overall champion of floats in the parade.

Albert Lea girls’ basketball took first place in the youth division, with Head Start receiving second-place honors. The commercial category was won by Vern Eide Chevrolet, with Christianson Plumbing and Heating coming in second.

Along with winning recognition as the overall winner, St. John’s Lutheran Community took first place in the nonprofit category. Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea received second-place honors in the category.

Judging was based on a number of factors, including originality, creativity and how the unit related to the theme of the parade, which was “Let Freedom Ring.”

The overall winner was awarded $300, first-place winners received $150 and second-prize winners took home $100.

Jones was not surprised St. John’s Lutheran Community won the competition. He said they had a beautiful float that was well thought out.

“They seem to out do themselves every year,” Jones said.

According to Jones, perfect weather and a sunny evening led to great attendance at the event.

“It was one of the largest turnouts I’ve ever seen,” he said.

In some spots, chairs lined the route five rows deep. Jones said he saw a flotilla of boats watching the parade from Fountain Lake near Bridge Avenue.

He said he was very pleased with the event, and was most touched by the military floats and the moment of silence that took place for 8-year-old Sophie Stultz who lost her life in a bicycle accident on Saturday.