Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Using a patriotic umbrella to protect herself from the sun, Kathy Ile, of Gresham, center, enjoys the Bonduel Fourth of July parade with her sister, Lucy Moon, left, and her husband Craig Ile, right.
Leader Photo by Scott Williams Joshua Bartlett of Village Tractor & Repair rides a custom-painted tractor created by his father, Kevin, in the Bonduel Fourth of July parade Tuesday.
At this star-spangled Fourth of July celebration, there was plenty of red and white, and the sky provided all the blue.
The Bonduel Fourth of July celebration drew hundreds of cheering revelers Tuesday to downtown Bonduel for a parade and holiday event under picture-perfect weather conditions.
After weeks of rainy summer weather, spectators welcomed the chance to sit under sunny skies and bask in the festive occasion.
“It’s just beautiful,” said Gary Boerst, of Lessor, who grabbed a spot on some church steps with his wife, Susan, to watch the parade.
The parade through the center of town along Green Bay Street kicked off a daylong celebration that was scheduled to include live music, games and fireworks. It was the 106th presentation of a holiday celebration that has made Bonduel a crowd favorite on the Fourth of July.
Jenny Gouin and her husband brought their young children from Howard because, she said, Bonduel is known for putting on a special holiday parade.
“It’s a good parade,” Gouin said. “I love parades.”
The parade included marching bands, costumed characters, fire trucks and dozens of other sights and sounds. Participating fire departments came from as far away as Pulaski, Underhill, Green Valley and Navarino.
The Shawano County 4-H Drill Team brought 14 riding horses, while the Bonduel Middle School marching band pumped up the crowd with a rendition of the Queen rock classic, “We Will Rock You.”
The Bonduel Area Action Committee joined the fun with a float promoting the Bonduel School District’s Aug. 1 referendum, squirting water toward an appreciative sun-drenched crowd.
Carl Boettcher, of Bonduel, settled into a lawn chair and watched the parade from a shady spot. Boettcher said he looks forward to checking out the wide assortment of tractors and other farm equipment.
“They get bigger and bigger every year,” he said. “I like that stuff.”