Pan-O-Prog Day 6: Grand Parade to Cap Off Lakeville's Summer Festival

It stands to reason that one of the state's premier summer festivals would be capped off with one of the state's premier parades.

Lakeville's  Grand Parade—set to start at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 7 along Holyoke Avenue—caps off the city's week-long summer festival, and attracts more than 20,000 parade-watchers to downtown.

"The parade is one of the largest and most renowned in the state—roughly two hours, with 120+ units," Pan-O-Prog President Sheri Stolp gushed. "We've been planning our parade entrants/line-up order for months and attempt to offer a real variety of units for everyone's enjoyment."

The parade is a huge hit because it's not just a parade of businesses and Miss Lakeville contestants waving and tossing candy to kids. It has one of the highest ratios of entertainment units of any parade in Minnesota, making it a huge attraction, not only for parade-fans, but for parade acts as well.

“We like our marching bands,” Dan Pellenin, one of the parade organizers, told Patch. “Everybody likes the marching bands. We also have probably more Shriner units than any other parade in the state."

Pellenin estimates it costs approximately $20,000 to produce the event, some of which is recouped by entrance fees charged to area business that participate, and that budget allows for an entertainment unit to be placed every six spots in the procession.

“We couldn’t afford to pull this event off without the support and contributions from many local and area businesses,” said Pellenin. “It’s not just Lakeville, either. Many businesses from around the area come to participate and support our festival.”

Stolp said last year was the first year Pan-O-Prog had a float that traveled to other summer and winter parades around the state.

"When I've attended those parades and festivals, it is uncanny how many people wave and point to our float with big smiles saying, 'look there's Pan-O-Prog,'" Stolp said. "Now it might be due to the uniqueness of our name, although I believe it's because they've attended our festival before and remember how much fun it was."

The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Lakeville and stretches along Holyoke Avenue for approximately one mile to Heritage Drive. Lawn chairs, blankets and coolers will no doubt begin showing up along the sidewalks long before that as spectators vie for front row seats and prime viewing locations.

What else is happening on Saturday, July 7?

Car Show: Main Street - Holyoke Ave. - Noon-3 p.m. - If you didn’t get enough during the cruise, many of the Car Cruise favorites will be on display in downtown Lakeville for an up close look.

Grand Parade: 5:30 p.m.: Another mega-attraction is the famous Pan-O-Prog Grand Parade. Claim your spot early and enjoy the myriad of units.

Gear Daddies - Babe’s Sport’s Bar Big Tent - 8 p.m.: Martin Zellar and the original Gear Daddies perform their rootsy Americana-blend of sing-along favorites. 

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