Rain doesn't dampen spirits at Blue Mound's July 5th parade

Trying to stay dry before the Blue Mound Independence Day parade begins, Levi, from left, Lily and Aliyah huddle beneath an umbrella.

Photo essay by Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com

The rain showers moved in a few minutes before Saturday morning's Independence Day weekend parade was set to begin in Blue Mound. Fire trucks from across Linn County were lined up - including companies from La Cygne, Prescott, Pleasanton and Parker. They were there as a group grand marshal of the parade with a theme of "Feel the Heat."

Blue Mound resident Ursula Gillespie sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the parade.

Many onlookers brought umbrellas, others sought shelter in the entryways of the Blue Moon theater or other nooks along Main Street. Still others crowded into shelters in the city park, and even more just embraced the early July rain. One farmer remarked that he was happy to be soaked in the steady shower that meant moisture for his crops.

There was no hesitation when it was time for the parade to begin. Members of the local chapter of the American Legion Post 248 formed a color guard, marching the Stars and Stripes down Main Street as if the rain was nothing. They halted in front of the announcers stand as the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and Blue Mound's Ursula Gillespie sang the National Anthem.

Then it was on, a line-up of pumpers, tenders and grass trucks wheeled up the street from east to west, drivers and passengers inside the cabs tossing candy to the groups of children who were well past getting wet. The announcer at times asked the children grabbing candy to back off.

When you can't get any wetter . . . Once they were soaked, kids along the parade route splashed into the street to grab candy.

At the end of the parade, onlookers weren't sure what to do. To stay until the rain passed or to head home and dry off until later in the day. In the afternoon, the skies cleared, the sun came out and the daylong celebration was back on track.

The day ended with a fireworks display as dusk fell.

Linn County Fair queen candidate Rebecca Miller passes out flyers with contact information to bystanders.

Not to be outdone, fair queen candidate Maddisyn Ernest employed two helpers to throw candy as she waved at the crowd.

Robert Morse and Theresa Greer cruise down Main Street on a 2003 Harley Davidson Softtail seemingly oblivious to the rain.

Gabby and Daniel Brake cruise down Main in a 1952 Ford F-3 Custom that they are in the process of restoring.

Employees of the Blue Mound branch of the Farmers State Bank shoot water at the crowd as they rolled along.

Matt and Mindy Schuler and their family had this entry promoting the Mark Schuler Memorial Antique Tractor Show at the Linn Counry Fairgrounds on Aug. 9, the final day of the 2025 Linn County Fair.

As July days go, it was a good day to be a penguin. The Fountain, a Mound City company that sells purified water and ice, rolled their truck down Main Street promoting their product.

With the windshield wipers slapping time, the rain falling in and candy being tossed out, the passengers in this 1959 Cadillac convertible enjoyed the parade despite the weather.