A line of kids – several wearing red, white, and blue – joined in the children’s march during the Marshall City Band concert Friday evening in Independence Park. At the front of the line was Francis Myhre, who dressed up in a stars-and-stripes patterned suit.

There were many ways that area residents celebrated the Fourth of July on Friday. In Marshall, people were setting up lawn chairs in the shade at Independence Park, and having picnic meals while they waited for the Marshall City Band to perform.

In addition to playing a variety of patriotic songs, the band also led kids in the audience in a children’s march.

“I liked being in the parade,” said Gabriella Korier, who joined the line of marchers.

The city of Marshall’s Independence Day celebrations Friday evening included food vendors, a performance by dueling pianos group Duel Purpose, and plans for a fireworks display. Marshall community education coordinator Jasmine DeSmet said the interactive piano show would bring something “a little bit different” to the celebrations.

DeSmet said organizers were happy that the weather on Friday afternoon was good. Last year, rain had postponed the July 4 events a day.

In spite of Friday’s heat, a crowd came out to Independence Park. A few people walking around the park’s trails said hello to Charles Myhre, as he passed by wearing a George Washington costume.

“I had the costume because we’re going to Boston at the end of the summer, and I wanted to wear it,” Myhre said. He thought the costume would work to celebrate Independence Day, too. He said he had gotten some compliments from people. “One guy said, ‘Hey George, the British are coming,'” Myhre said.

Lots of people at the park Friday afternoon said they were looking forward to the fireworks. Ian Adelmann said he enjoyed the size of the fireworks displays at the park.

“The cool thing about Marshall’s grand finales is, you can hear car (alarms) going off,” from the sound of the fireworks, Adelmann said.

Communities around the area were also getting into the Independence Day spirit with community celebrations. On Friday morning, events like a parade drew people to Ruthton. Sheri Porter and Lisa Hedlund said they had come up from Pipestone. “We came for the car show and the parade,” Porter said.

Kids in the crowd, like Alexa Goodmund, said there was “a lot of good stuff” at the Independence Day parade. Brock Bakker said one of the fun things about the Ruthton parade was that it brought together people from lots of different towns.

Briggs Bakker said he liked seeing a lineup of tractors rolling down the street in the parade, while Austin Goodmund said he liked the people who sprayed the crowd with water guns.

“I got sprayed in the face,” Austin said. But it helped him cool off.

“That felt nice,” Briggs agreed.