Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
PAUL BELMAS of Copper Peak Adventure Ride soars through the sky on skis on Copper Peak's float in the Bessemer fourth of July parade Saturday evening.
Robert Davenport plays the trombone with the Gogebic Range Band as it rides through and entertains the crowd at the Bessemer Fourth of July parade Saturday.
BESSEMER - The Bessemer Blast 2015 ended with a bang on Saturday night with a breath-taking "Thunder on the Mountain" fireworks show.
Sitting on lawn chairs and blankets, hundreds, if not thousands, came to Massie Field to watch. Before the show, Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps performed a variety of patriotic songs to entertain the crowd.
At dusk, it was time for the main event. To set the mood, Bessemer native Miles Mykkanen sang the national anthem. Then, the audience oohed and awed as bombs bursted air for approximately 40 minutes.
Earlier, downtown Bessemer was painted red, white and blue as thousands lined the streets for the parade. Rows of chairs were set up along the route several hours before the parade.
Prior to the parade, the Bessemer High School marched the parade route and NAH Studios performed. Alyssa Schwab, of Ironwood, sang the national anthem at the reviewing stand on Sophie Street to start the parade.
More than 40 floats and entertainers traveled up and down Galena, Moore Sophie and Silver streets.
Organizers were happy with the mix of entrants, including some new things this year.
"We had such a variety this year," Bessemer Fourth of July Parade Chair Randy Broemer said. "Just a bunch of stuff we haven't done before. We hope to get everyone back again next year."
Some of the new entrees included the Stilt Walkers and the Uni-Bros unicyclists.
Floats were judged in four categories. The most patriotic float was Klassic Kruisers Car Club float. For Most Unique Float, the winner was the Jansson-Niemi Family Fantastic Fourth of July float. The Best Decorated float was Gogebic 4-H Club's float, and the winner of the Best Promotion for a Child's Fundraiser was the U.P. Olympics Area 39.
The winning 50/50 ticket number is 33820, worth a prize of $30,494. Last year's prize was $28,338.
Over eight days leading up to Saturday, Bessemer hosted a variety of activities for all ages. There were kids games, a mud run, polka dance, helicopter rides, fundraising meals.
Looking back at the eight-day celebration, Broemer said people had a great time.
"People look forward to getting here," he said. "Bessemer always has the hometown feeling. People are homesick to get back here. The people love."
