FAIRMONT– A new type of parade is coming to town. On the Fourth of July, the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce is planning to host its first boat parade and it’s inviting the community to participate.

Chamber President, Kandi Menne, said that when she took on the role she had hopes of bringing some more events like this to the community through the Chamber.

“Last year we brought the Sip and Shop and this year we’re adding the boat parade,” Menne said.

When speaking as to why the Chamber decided on a boat parade for the Fourth of July, Menne said, “We are a community with five lakes and four in a chain.”

She also said it was brought to her attention that there has been a boat parade in Fairmont in the past, though it’s unclear who organized it or when the last one was held.

“We decided to give it a try and organize one,” Menne said.

However, this was before Fairmont and the region was hit with an unusual amount of heavy rain that significantly increased the local water levels. As it currently stands, many boat owners have taken their boats off of lifts and some of the public boat ramps are closed.

With unknown weather conditions Menne suggests that people watch the Chamber’s social media pages for announcements on the status of the event.

Assuming it’s a go, anyone with a motorized watercraft, including a boat, pontoon or jetski, can take part in it.

“There’s no cost to enter, we just ask that people register so that we can assign them a number so they can be judged,” Menne said.

There will be at least two judges along the route who will judge based on the most patriotic. The winners will get gift cards from the sponsors, which include the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Fairmont, Marina Lodge, Ambiance on Albion, the Chain of Lakes Yacht Club and Greg and Michelle Zierke.

The parade will start at 11 a.m. and the route will begin by the Chain of Lakes Yacht Club on the east end of the south of Hall Lake. All of the boats will follow the east shore and go through the channel onto Budd Lake.

“They’ll go past Gomsrud Park and then Steve Pierce Park and around that shore for spectators,” Menne said.

They will then pass through the channel onto Lake Sisseton, continuing to follow the eastern shore and will end by the Marina Lodge, where one of the judges will be posted.

In the future, Menne hopes to continue with the boat parade during the day and then have an extra event that will lead into the fireworks display in the evening, allowing for all day activities on the Fourth of July in Fairmont.

“We have a small committee working on it,” Menne said.

Those involved hope for a good turnout and Menne stressed that even if someone does not participate or have a boat, they are still encouraged to line up and watch, from their own docks or from the shoreline.

“We just want to create excitement and get more people. They come for the fireworks anyway, so come, spend the day, shop, dine, enjoy our parks and beaches,” Menne said.

Registration information can be found on the Chamber’s website at fairmontchamber.org or by calling the office at 507-235-5547.