Photo: Al Stephenson / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Belmond’s Independence Day celebration got an early start in 2024. Organizers set the opening for Sunday, June 30, giving the town most of a week of events before the holiday itself.
The theme chosen for the year was “Let’s Pool Together and Make a Splash,” a nod to the swimming pool that sits at the center of many summer afternoons in the Wright County town.
Belmond’s Fourth has long been one of the larger small-town celebrations in north-central Iowa, drawing families back from out of state and filling the downtown and park with visitors. A themed celebration gives parade entries, float builders and businesses a common idea to work from, and a water theme in the hottest stretch of the summer was an easy sell.
Schedules for the parade, fireworks and park events were posted by local organizers in the weeks before the start date.
Jill Ostrander writes for Clarion News Online.