The unincorporated community of Cambria boasts the longest consecutive Fourth of July celebration in Minnesota. This year marked the 153rd year in a row. This year’s festival began with kids’ games in the park followed by a parade down the main street at 1 p.m.

“You never know what you are going to get with this parade,” Cambria resident Colett Thorson said as she and others waited for it to start. “There is no theme. If a kid wants to ride his bike through the parade, that’s just fine.”

Brenda Seidl of New Ulm said she thinks the Cambria parade is still one of the best around.

Neither Seidl nor Thorson were worried about the rain. Thorson said she was just glad it was not 95 degrees.

Alpensterne band members Jim Strenlke (left) and Eric Ray (right) give an acoustic performance in the Founders Room of Turner Hall. The heavy afternoon rains brought some Fourth of July festivities indoors.

Since the parade is relatively short, it is a tradition for the parade to take two laps around Cambria.

The parade included an antique tractor driven by Gene Walters of Hanska, MN. He rode a 1948 Farmall tractor. Walter said he is a regular of the Cambria parade. Most of his family is from Cambria or the Lake Crystal area and likes to bring a tractor for a ride through town. He belongs to a group of friends who like to drive old tractors on excursions around the community. Walters was happy the rain held off until after the parade but said he had brought a rain jacket along in case.

The most unusual vehicle in the parade was a WC-52 three-quarter-ton Dodge. The WWII-era jeep was driven by Timothy Thorson with Collin Johnson as a passenger. Both Thorson and Johnson rode in the jeep wearing authentic WWII uniforms. Thorson said the WC-52 is not fully restored yet, but he was able to drive it in the parade. He is also working on restoring a 1942 Harley motorcycle. He intends to feature that bike in next year’s Cambria parade.

The annual Turner Fourth of July celebration began at 11 a.m. in Turner Park with The Concord Singers performing. Though clouds hung over the park, The Concord Singers completed their set before any rain fell.

Turner Hall executive director Andrea Boettger said their goal was to keep the celebration outside in the park, but there was a backup stage inside in case the festivities needed to move indoors.

Turner volunteer Kevin Kretch grills hamburgers on a new flattop grill. Kretch estimates he made 120 burgers within the first hour of the Turner Hall Fourth of July celebration.

There were also activities for children inside, including face painting.

Turner Park also featured a food stand and beer garden. Kevin Kretsch and Dave Christiansen were working the burger grill. Kretsch estimated he made around 120 burgers within the first hour of the celebration.

Inside Turner Hall, the Turner Ladies provided rows of pies for sale. The Turner Ladies’ pie sale is an annual tradition. Turner Lady volunteer Marie Ristau said, “We have every kind of pie imaginable.”

The most popular pie was the sour cream raisin pie. Ristau said it is usually the first to sell out.

Turner Park had a full crowd despite the threat of rain. Many of the guests came prepared with umbrellas. A light drizzle began to fall around noon, but most attendees chose to remain outdoors.

The Concord Singers are the first to perform in Turner Hall Park for the Fourth of July celebration.

Adam and the Jolly Jammers set up to play indoors. The Wendinger Band continue to play outside following The Concord Singers.

Cleo and Duane Bohne were celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary. The Bohnes were married on July 4, 1959, in Moorhead, MN. The most unusual part of their wedding was not that they married on Independence Day, but had the ceremony at 6 a.m.

Duane Bohne explained an earlier morning wedding was the pastor’s idea because he was attending a family reunion later in the day and was only available to perform the ceremony in the morning.

Cleo said it was a small wedding. They only had a few people attend as witnesses.

The Bohnes are used to sharing their anniversary with the Fourth of July holiday. The couple moved to New Ulm in 2001 and regularly attended the Turner Hall Fourth celebration. The couple had volunteered to help with the last five Turner Fourth of July celebrations. This year they were helping sponsor the root beer float stand.

A group of kids chant “USA” as they are pulled through Cambria’s July 4th parade.

They enjoyed watching The Concord Singers perform. Neither was worried about the rainy weather.

Duane said, “We’re waterproof, we won’t melt.”

Former Sister Cities exchange intern Felix Willmann was among those attending the Turner Hall festivities. Willmann is from Ulm, Germany, and took part in the exchange program in 2022. Willmann has since begun working for General Motors in Germany and returned to the United States as part of the job. For the next few months, he will be working in Detroit, MI. For the holiday weekend, he decided to visit friends in New Ulm. This was the first in the United States for the Fourth of July.

Willmann said even on The Fourth of July, New Ulm still felt German to him.

Around 2 p.m. the rain picked up and the music moved indoors. Alpensterne was prepared to play outside, but instead gave an acoustic performance in Turner Hall’s founders room, with some of The Concord Singers providing backup singing.

Maddie Schreyer (right) paints the Venom symbiot on Jaden Kraft’s face at the kids craft table inside Turner Hall.

Boettger was excited with the turnout.

“[The Fourth of July] is a deep part of Turner’s history,” Boettger said. “We’ve been doing this for over 160 years.”

The first Turner Hall Fourth of July celebration was held in 1858 in Turner Park. Back then, the park was called the gymnastic field and the festivities were a little different. Boettger said there are more gymnastic drills and target shooting. However, music was always a part of the event.

“The Turners were very patriotic,” Boettger said. “It is so great to see people coming out despite the rain.”

Cleo and Duane Bohne celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary in Turner Hall Park. For the last five years the couple has donated the funds for the musical entertainment and the 1919 root beer at the Turner Hall Fourth of July Celebration.

Alpensterne gives an acoustic performance with members of The Concord Singers providing backup.

Jim and Konnie Bartels polka to the music of Adam & the Jolly Jammers inside Turner Hall.