Celebrate the Fourth of July, Edina-style

The annual parade and fireworks highlight the local festivities.

This is all you need on your schedule for Monday: Parade. Check. Fireworks. Check. Do you really need anything else for a festive Fourth of July? Nope, but Edina’s annual summer holiday highlight always finds a way to top itself.

This year should be no different, with the America the Beautiful parade, which will feature marching bands, floats, fire trucks, police cars, horses, elected officials and candidates (and of course, heads up for flying candy). The Edina-Morningside High School Class of 1951—the first class to graduate from EHS—will serve as grand marshals, and dozens of veterans will be honored as well.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. behind Edina City Hall, 4801 W. 50th St., at the intersection of Willson Rd. and Eden Ave., and will proceed one mile east on West 50th St. to the US Bank parking lot at Halifax Ave. My suggestion: get your lawn chair and towels set up early! You’ll want to get in prime position to see this wonderful community event, which is put on by the Edina Community Foundation and organized by its volunteer Parade Committee.

In the evening, head out to Rosland Park (4300 W. 66th St.) to see the fireworks, presented by Fairview Southdale Hospital. The bombs start bursting in air after an 8:45 p.m. concert by the First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band.

For more info on the parade, visit the event’s official website.