July 3rd special for Emington

EMINGTON – What started in 1968 as kids parading around the block a couple of times has grown into a big event for a small town.

During the initial Emington Third of July celebration, youngsters decorated bicycles and wagons and even played their band instruments.

“They had all got together and decided they were going to have a parade because every year, everybody leaves town for the fourth to go to another town to have a celebration,” recalls current event co-chair Kathy Cramer.

Activities during the yearly celebration are mainly centered around children but also include a tractor drive and antique car show.

“This year’s theme for the parade and the whole event is Christmas in July,” said Cramer. “Santa says he’s going to show up.”

Cramer considers the Third of July event a “good old-fashioned celebration” in a town which also has a Halloween party, cookies with Santa and an Easter egg hunt.

Dan Parker of Dwight participated in Monday’s antique tractor drive which made a stop at the Bunting farm north of Emington for lunch. He was driving the last tractor his great-grandfather owned, a 1954 WD-45.

“We pulled it out of the shed a couple of years ago, got it running and had it in the Emington parade for a couple of years and the Dwight Harvest Days tractor show,” Parker explained.

Wally Moritz of Cullom was driving his 1957 Farmall, which he has owned for 30 years.

“I’m 77 years old but I can still get on it,” Moritz said. “It’s a little warm out, but the umbrella helps.”

Other highlights of Monday’s celebration included kids games, a bean bag tournament and fireworks.