Old Fashioned Fourth of July

Tucked away in the farm fields of eastern Wisconsin is a place that reminds you of another time. Past towering red barns, countless hay barrels, and lazy cows slowing grinding grain, there is a gravel road leads you to Lake Wapogassett.

Glassy lake topped Wapogassett is home to snapping turtles and soaring eagles nesting in giant pines, yellow-orange day lilies and smoldering campfires. But beyond the Lake’s simplistic pleasures is a good old fashioned Fourth of July.

I recently had the opportunity to spend a long Fourth of July weekend on Wapogassett, in Amery, WI. The Lake lacked the humidity custom in Nebraska the first week of July. You wake early, don your tennis shoes and head to the local YWCA campground. There a makeshift band, of trombones, tubas and flutes plays America-centered songs on the back of two pickup trucks backed together and wrapped in red, white and blue.

Runners and walkers, spirited in Fourth fashions gather in small groups and prepare for the 27th annual Wapo Fourth of July Run. Participants eagerly await a two mile or 10K, 100-yard dash for the youngsters and even the turtle race—because trophies are involved.

Afterward you head over to Wanderoos, a small town celebrating our nation’s independence on big tractors, horseback and with dozens of beauty queen decorated floats. The mayor smiles in his John Deer cap, faded flannel shirt on the back of an antique convertible.

Firetrucks from 1930 and from 2003 honk at bystanders and children collect tootsie rolls in their sticky fingers.

At the end-you follow the parade to the Wanderoos baseball park. The local men’s chapter of Kiwanis is serving up tasty chicken dinners with potato salad, baked beans and milk.

After lunch, it’s time to prepare for the Lake Wapogassett boat parade. Dozens of decorated pontoon boats snail by in line as speed boats check out the competition.

In the evening, enjoy the camp fire and fireworks with some good old fashioned barbeque. This year, a full moon kissed the flat lake with speckles of light.