The July 4 celebration in Turner Hall Park is a long-standing tradition in New Ulm. Turner Hall executive director Andrea Boettger said Turner Park has hosted the celebration for over 150 years. Despite the temperatures around 90 degrees, the celebration started strong. Boettger said a lot of people came to the park with the first hour of the music playing. However, this year the musical entertainment stretched until 8 p.m. with many choosing to attend the celebration later in the evening. Live music including performances from Adam & the Jammers, The Wendinger Band, Concord Singers and 3 Hour Download.

To beat the heat, many guests hung out in the shade of the trees, but many of the young kids took advantage of a slip n’ slide and sprinkler set up in the park.

A special bubble machine kept the younger kids entertained. Three-year-old Jaxon Davis was uncertain if it was more fun to make the bubbles or to pop them.

Inside Turner Hall, the Turner Ladies hosted the annual pie sale. Carol Behrens said they had around 57 pies cut into seven slices each. None of the volunteers were certain how many pie varieties were available, but this year French Silk was the top seller.

Cleo Bohne (left) celebrates July 4 in Turner Hall Park with her friend Judy Babler (right). This is the first July 4 Bohne has celebrated since her husband Duane Bohne died in June. The Bohne’s wedding anniversary was July 4, 1959. Though this was the first anniversary without Duane, Cleo was glad to see so many celebrating the holiday.

In the past years, the Turner Hall celebration was sponsored in part by Cleo and Duane Bohne, whose wedding anniversary happens to be July 4, 1959.

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 six Turner Fourth of July celebrations. This year Cleo Bohne once again sponsored the music, root beer, and pies for the celebration, but unfortunately, her husband Duane died in June. This was the first 4th of July Cleo had celebrated without her husband.

Cleo Bohne admitted she missed her husband, but was relieved he was no longer in pain. She said it was fun having an anniversary that fell on the 4th of July because it felt like the entire nation was celebrating with them.

Though Duane was gone, Cleo was excited to see the celebration continue.

“I am glad everyone could come out here,” she said “and I like to see all the little tykes running around and having fun. It gives me hope this event will continue long after I am gone too!”

Turner Lady Carol Behrens serves up dessert at the Turner Ladies Pie & Ice Cream Social. The annual pie sale is a long-standing tradition of Turner’s July 4 celebration. None of the Turner Ladies was certain how many different types of pie were available. This year French Silk pie was a favorite.

Through Bohne’s sponsorship, Turner Hall was able to raise additional funds. Proceeds from the celebration go to Turner Hall. Boettger said some of the money will go to Turner’s water tank replacement.

Turner Hall volunteer Jerome “Ace” Bleick works the grill during the Independence Day celebration in Turner Park. Bleick it was difficult working the grill in 90-degree heat, but he was promised a beer and lunch for working a shift.

Dr. Ann Vogel serves food at Turner Hall’s 4th of July celebration, but also serves up tips for keeping cool on warm days. The red bandanna around her neck came out a freezer. She said a cold damp cloth around your next helps on hot days.

The Wendinger Band performs in Turner Hall Park during the annual July 4th celebration. The show also featured performances from Adam & the Jammers, Concord Singers and 3 Hour Download.

Two-year-old Marshall Bornhoft plays in the bubbles in Turner Hall Park.

Sawyer Reding plays in the bubble machine setup in Turner Park. Shortly after he would wash off the bubbles on a nearby slip ‘n slide.

Milton Gremmels beats the heat with the slip ‘n slide setup in Turner Hall Park, Friday.

Jaxon Davis & Emilia Paa make bubbles from a special solution in Turner Hall Park.

Jaxon Davis demonstrates how to make a large bubble during Turner Hall’s July 4 celebration in the park.