DELANO, Minn. — We're about to have a very different kind of 4th of July in this country, but a few businessmen in Delano found a creative way to still hold the city's iconic holiday parade.
"It's a sacred event to us and to have us lose that streak, since 1857, I just couldn't bare it," business owner Chris Keller says.
The Delano parade is a tradition that is older than the city itself.
Despite world wars, heat waves and historic floods, locals say the parade has been held every year, uninterrupted for 163 years.
But last month the parade committee had to make the difficult decision to cancel the parade this year due to COVID-19.
"I thought well, instead of ending that wonderful streak we have, why not adapt," Keller says.
So, Keller and a few other local business owners got to work.
Within a few short days they planned out a small parade that would keep the tradition going.
“It’s going to be a drastic difference,” Keller says. “Instead of maybe 150 or more units, with marching bands and floats, it’s going to be more like five or six.”
The parade will be held on Saturday morning and will mostly feature local business owners in their own company cars.
Keller says the local color guard will also be involved, along with a few squad cars from the local police department and sheriff’s office.
The first phase of the parade will be a quick one or two minute drive through downtown Delano.
Phase 2 of the parade will include a short drive through various neighborhoods so residents can watch the parade from the safety of their own front yard.
"It will be sort of a rolling style parade," Keller explains.
In order to keep the parade safe, there won’t be any stops, they won’t throw candy, and there won’t be anyone on foot.
And unlike most years, Keller says they're not encouraging people out of town come and see it.
He says it’s a parade for the locals, to raise their spirits when they need it the most.
"You know, it would be quite the letdown if you were to drive an hour here to see our parade in Delano this year, but come next year, hopefully we'll have over a hundred units as usual."
The Delano Parade is commonly known as Minnesota's oldest and largest parade.
The committee says it was a difficult decision to cancel it, but they're committed to bringing it back next year.