South Fork celebrates independence on 3rd

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Photos courtesy of Linette Nye-Schmidt Rain or shine the Third if July Parade in South Fork brought out the spectators. The Third of July celebration in South Fork ended with a spectacular fireworks display thanks to the efforts of the Town of South Fork and South Fork Fire Rescue.

SOUTH FORK — South Fork’s Third of July celebration kicked off on Sunday and though rain was in the forecast, the people that attended enjoyed the day.

The morning started with the annual South Fork Fire Rescue Catfish Fry at the fire station. Crews spent the previous two days preparing for the largest fundraising event for the department and the results were nothing short of spectacular.

Vehicles began to fill the parking lot outside of the station as early as 10:30 a.m. with people eager to not only show their support for the department but to get a delicious meal to sweeten the deal.

Inside, firefighters, South Fork Fire Rescue Ladies Auxiliary, and volunteers filled the back half of the building where they worked breading and frying hundreds of pounds of fresh catfish. 

There were several items up for silent auction for guests to bid on with all proceeds from the entire day going toward new equipment and training for SFFR. 

According to SFFR, “The 2022 South Fork Fire Rescue Annual Catfish Fry was record-breaking! Yesterday at the 2022 annual fundraiser we served 1,202 attendees! We were frequently asked how much fish and other food we prepared, so let’s break down. We cooked 495 pounds of catfish, 150 pounds of hushpuppies, prepared 100 pounds of coleslaw, cooked 100 pounds of dry beans, and had 360 pounds of potato salad. It’s all possible because of the countless hours volunteers put in, the day of the event, and the days leading up to July 3rd every year. We can’t thank the community enough for the support we received at this year’s event.”

This year’s parade theme was "30 Years in Small Town USA" and people came to celebrate. The frontage road was lined with people who came out to enjoy an afternoon of fun despite the rain.

Parade participants decorated ATVs, side-by-sides, trucks, bicycles, and much more.

As the afternoon came to a close, visitors had a few hours to prepare for the rodeo at Rickle Arena later that evening. As the sun began to sink lower the excitement rose, and visitors headed to find the perfect spot to watch a spectacular firework show thanks to the pyrotechnic assistance of South Fork Fire Rescue.