Superior’s Fourth of July parade will happen this year, but future is unclear

Kim Schneider

Forum News Service

Superior residents can expect the traditional festivities for their annual Fourth of July parade Monday, but it may not continue in following years due to lack of funds and volunteers.

Dave Stannard, co-chairman of the Citizens 4th of July Committee, said there is enough money for the parade this year but said funding for upcoming years is uncertain.

The committee has struggled to find a long-term sponsor for the parade, Stannard said. In previous years, the committee received $6,000 from the Superior Tourism Development Fund to support the parade, he said.

Money from that fund is supporting this year’s parade, said Dave Minor, chair of the board that oversees the fund and president and CEO of the Chamber of Superior-Douglas County. But Minor said changes in state law require the fund - which draws revenue from a local hotel/motel tax - be used to support events that have proven to bring customers to local lodging establishments.

The parade committee may no longer qualify, Minor said.

"Think of it as an investment in room tax," Minor said. "Are those events bringing people to your community or is the event for the community? … Certainly a vast majority (of those who attend the parade) are from the community."

Although the parade may no longer qualify for those dollars, Linda Cadotte, director of parks, recreation and forestry for the city of Superior, said the city will continue to support the parade financially through the revenue it receives from the local hotel/motel tax. The city and the Tourism Development Fund each receive a portion of the motel tax revenue.

She said Superior pays for the fireworks vendor, the band - which this year will be The Bugs - and the stage setup. Fireworks cost $20,000 each year, Cadotte said.

"We have no intention of changing that," she said of the city’s financial commitment to the parade. "It’s a fantastic festival and very well-attended."

The city also provides police during the parade and cleanup after as a way to sponsor the event, Cadotte said.

Stannard said this year’s parade cost the committee $10,000 to $12,000. The money pays for trophies, plaques and T-shirts for the car show as well as canopies, food and other parade equipment. While some sponsors do step up each year to help with expenses, Stannard said finding long-term sponsors - who could provide financial stability - has become increasingly difficult.

The committee raised concerns about the parade’s financial future last winter; it ran ads calling for a long-term sponsor and more volunteers. Stannard said they did not hear from anyone.

This year’s parade will be about 40 units shorter than previous years, he said, because some regular groups could not attend.

Stannard said the committee will re-evaluate its financial situation at a wrap-up meeting later in July. He said he wants the committee to continue organizing the parade but they need more community members involved. He said it is an important holiday event for the community.

"There’s a lot of people that can’t afford to go anywhere on the holiday," Stannard said. "So they take in the parade."

Find more information about the Citizens 4th of July Committee and Superior’s Fourth of July events at superior4thjuly.com.