Doc “Moonlight” Graham Days will be July 30th – August 3rd 2025!  What you can expect so far is the PARADE on August 2nd at noon down Lake Street.  Following the parade we have our annual Doc “Moonlight” Graham Car Show (Lake Street),  Forge Social Haus Axe Throwing, Bouncin’ Around Town kids event & Ice Cream Social at Kiwanis Park, good food, & more.  Check back on this post or via our DMG Facebook page for added events:

So far we have:

Wednesday, July 30th – Acoustic Music on the Deck with Food Truck – Tom & Jerry’s  5:00pm-8:00pm

Thursday, July 31st –  Live Music at Jim’s Sports Club on the Patio

Friday, August 1st – 6:00pm-9:00pm – Doc “Moonlight” Graham Car Cruise – Lake Street

Saturday, August 2nd

12:00pm   DMG Parade                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1:00pm-3:30pm – Bouncin’ Around Downtown Kids Event – (2nd Ave by Rupp’s Furniture)                                                                                                                   1:00pm – 3:30pm  Forge Social Haus Axe Throwing – Free for adults to try                                                                                                                                                   1:00pm-3:00pm Classic Car Show (Lake Street Casey’s/Jim’s Block)                                                                                                                                                             1:00pm-3:30pm Good Ole Fashion Pie Social – Pie, Ice Cream, & Coffee $5:00 at Faith Lutheran Church -proceeds to benefit United Way                                  of NE MN Buddy Backpack Program

Any organization or class reunion interested in being in the parade, please reach out to Shelly Lappi at shelly@chisholmchamer.com or call 218-996-1710.

Parade Fun Facts

  1. Oldest Parade:
    The Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, first held in 1920, is the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the U.S.—beating Macy’s by four years.

  2. Biggest Parade in the World:
    The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the largest parade in the world, drawing over 2 million people per day during the week-long celebration.

  3. Longest Parade Route:
    The Hanover Schützenfest Parade in Germany has one of the longest parade routes—stretching over 12 kilometers (7.5 miles)!

  4. Most Balloons:
    Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is famous for its giant character balloons, some over 50 feet tall and requiring dozens of handlers.

  5. Parade Floats Origin:
    The tradition of floats comes from flower festivals in Europe, and the name comes from the idea of “floating” down the street on wheeled platforms.


Global Parade Highlights

  1. Japan’s Danjiri Matsuri Parade features massive, hand-carved wooden floats pulled at high speeds—often dangerously fast!

  2. India’s Republic Day Parade (January 26th) is a military spectacle with tanks, missiles, and cultural displays, showcasing India’s defense might and heritage.

  3. Pride Parades around the world celebrate LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, with the first official U.S. Pride March taking place in 1970 in NYC.

  4. West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn is one of the largest Caribbean festivals in the U.S., attracting over 3 million people annually.


Quirky and Unique Parades

  1. Do-Dah Parade (Pasadena, California) is a spoof of traditional parades, featuring whimsical and absurd participants—like the “Invisible Marching Band.”

  2. Krewe of Barkus in New Orleans is a Mardi Gras parade where dogs are the stars, decked out in costumes.

  3. World’s Shortest Parade:
    Aptly named, the Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Hot Springs, Arkansas is only 98 feet long, but features big-name celebrities.

  4. Upside-Down Parade:
    In one Dutch town, they hold a “reverse parade” where spectators walk past stationary floats.