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Shirts Available Starting May 1st
The Star Spangled Spectacular is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever themed shirts, celebrating this year’s theme: “Celebrate Freedom, Feel the Vibe in 2025.” These shirts will be available for purchase starting May 1st, bringing patriotic spirit and community pride to life in wearable form.
These patriotic themed shirts will be available for purchase online at https://starspangledspectacular25.itemorder.com starting May 1st in multiple colors and sizes. They can either be delivered directly to your door or picked up locally—whichever is most convenient. Online sales will end on June 5th. In addition, The Sugar Bowl will carry a selection of sizes and colors in-store, giving our community another easy way to grab their limited edition shirts before they're gone. All proceeds will go towards the Star Spangled Spectacular celebration.
Artist Alley
Vendors with both original and commercial exhibits are invited to display in Artist Alley Friday, July 4. Pottery, drawings, glass, jewelry, paintings, photos, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and mixed media are welcome. Read more here:
2025 Food vendors
Storm Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration is
opening food vendor registration for non-profits, for-profits, food trucks, and more.
2025 Grand Marshal
Storm Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration is now accepting Grand Marshal nominations for its 2025 Big Parade. The completion of a three-question nomination form will allow the committee to choose the Parade leader based on volunteering experience, leadership, and goals which further enhance the Storm Lake area. Read more here:
2025 Headliner
PetRock Band will take the stage as the headlining band from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 at the Sunset Park Band Shell. Read more here:
2025 Theme
Matt and Linda Ricklefs, 2025 Star Spangled Spectacular commodores, have chosen “Celebrate Freedom, Feel the Vibe in 2025!” as the theme for this year’s Independence Day events. Read more here:
2025 Co-commodores
Tyler and Deidre Aube have been named co-commodores for the July 3-4, 2025 events. They will lead planning as commodores in 2026. Read more here:
News & Updates
The 2024 Star Spangled Spectacular is pleased to announce they have met their fundraising goal. Thank you to all who supported. Read more here:
Artist's Alley
The 2024 Artist’s Alley will host 14 diverse art vendors beginning at 10 a.m. in Sunset Park on July 4, 2024. Read more here:
Patriotic Speaker
Sergeant Liliana Solis, recruiter for the Iowa Army National Guard, will serve as speaker for the 2024 Patriotic Ceremony. Read more here:
Fundraising Wk. 2
After a full two weeks of collecting donations, the campaign has reached $25,000 toward a goal of $40,000. Read more here:
Food vendors 2024
Presenting a variety of food offerings, food stands, food trucks, and other entertainment in the Storm Lake parks July 3-4, 2024. Read more here:
2024 Grand Marshal
The 2024 commodores have named the Fireworks Crew its 2024 Big Parade Grand Marshals in honor of this year’s theme: Light up the Sky on the Fourth of July. Read more here:
Fundraising Wk. 1
Fundraising for 2024 is off to great start, according to fundraising co-chairs. Read more here:
Classic Car Cruise
Storm Lake’s annual Star Spangled Spectacular and its Classic Car Cruise is set to kick off Independence Day celebrations at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Read more here:
Fundraising 2024
Fundraising for the 2024 Star Spangled Spectacular kicks off on Monday, June 3, and the committee has its sights set on breaking its record of $44,000 set in 2023. Read more here:
2024 Co-commodores
Matt and Linda Ricklefs have been named co-commodores for the July 3-4, 2024 events. They will lead planning as commodores in 2025. Read more here:
ARtist alley
Vendors with both original and commercial exhibits are invited to display in Artist Alley on Thursday, July 4. Pottery, drawings, glass, jewelry, paintings, photos, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and mixed media are welcome. Read more here:
2024 Headliner
The Pork Tornadoes will take the stage as the headlining band from 8-10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 at the Sunset Park Band Shell. Read more here:
Food Vendors 2024
Food vendor registration for 2024 non-profits, for-profits, food trucks, and more is now open. Access the forms on our Get Involved page, and read more here:
2024 Theme
Holly Schipper and Liz Smith, 2024 Star Spangled Spectacular commodores, have chosen “Light Up the Sky on the Fourth of July!” as the theme for this year’s Independence Day events. Read more here:
Funding Goal met
A goal of $40,000 was surpassed more than a week in advance of Storm Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration. Read more here:
Food and Art Vendors
Diverse nonprofit food offerings, food trucks, and art vendors along with other entertainment will take place in the Storm Lake parks July 3-4, 2023. Read more here:
Fundraising Week 3
Donations are still being accepted as the fundraising committee enters its final week of their annual campaign for the city's Independence Day celebrations. Read more here:
Fundraising Week 2
After two full weeks of collecting donations, 2023 celebrations have reached $23,000 toward a goal of $40,000 by Independence Day. Read more here:
2023 Grand Marshals
Storm Lake Fire Department named 2023 Grand Marshals in honor of the town’s anniversary and theme “Three Cheers for 150 Years.” Read more here:
Fundraising Week 1
Fundraising for the 2023 is off to great start, according to Matt Brostad and Josh Newhouse, fundraising co-chairs. Read more here:
Classic Car Cruise
The Classic Car Cruise and Poker Run are set to kick off the Independence Day celebrations at 4:45 on Monday, July 3, 2023. Read more here:
Art Contests
The annual children’s art contest has selected Rooney Lah and Leo Rodriguez Hernandez as its “Three Cheers for 150 Years” 2023 winners. Read more here:
Round up for fireworks
The “Round up for Fireworks” fundraiser will take place Mon., June 5 through Sat., June 24, granting customers the opportunity to round up to the nearest dollar. Proceeds go toward funding the annual fireworks show. Read more here:
2023 Fundraising
Fundraising kicks off on June 1, and the committee is looking to the community for help in funding new and returning traditions in honor of the 2023 Sesquicentennial. Read more here:
2023 Food Vendors
Storm Lake’s annual Independence Day celebration is opening registration to for-profit vendors in an effort to provide more diverse food offerings July 3-4. Read more here:
Headline Band
The Pork Tornadoes are headlining 2023 celebrations from 7-9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 3 at the Sunset Park Band Shell. The Municipal Band and Fisheads will play Tuesday. Read more here:
GRAND MARSHAL NOminations
Storm Lake’s 2023 Independence Day celebration is now accepting Grand Marshal nominations for its Big Parade.
The committee will choose the Parade leader based on volunteering, leadership, and other goals. Read more here:
2023 Theme
Commodores have selected “Three Cheers for 150 Years” as the theme for this year’s Fourth of July events. Read more here:
2023 Co-Commodores
Jared and Ty Eggers have selected Holly Schipper and Liz Smith as co-commodores for 2023. Read more about them here:
2022 Fundraising recap
Fundraising co-chairs Josh Newhouse and Matt Brostad set a goal of $38,000, and they received just more than $39,000 from 325 benefactors in cash and in-kind donations. See a complete list and read more here:
Fundraising
Fundraising surpassed its previous record from 2021. Co-chairs topped $38,000 in cash and in-kind donations as of June 30. Read more here:
2022 Parade lineup
Spectators can expect a variety of entries for the Big Parade along E. Lakeshore Dr. at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 4, 2022. Read more here:
Patriotic Ceremony
Louis DeRoos, Executive Director of Veteran Affairs, will serve as speaker for the Patriotic Ceremony. Read more here:
Food and Artist Vendors - 2022
The 2022 Star Spangled Spectacular will celebrate “Red, White, and Blue in 2022” by hosting food favorites and new art vendors in the Storm Lake parks. Read more here:
Fundraising WEek 3
With a goal of $38,000, co-chairs Josh Newhouse and Matt Brostad are looking for more than $11,000 in order to meet their budget. Read more here:
Fundraising Update
After a full two weeks of collecting donations, the 2022 Star Spangled Spectacular has reached $21,000 toward a goal of $38,000. Read more here:
Classic Car Cruise
Storm Lake’s annual Star Spangled Spectacular and its Classic Car Cruise and Poker Run are set to kick off the Independence Day celebrations at 4:45 on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Read more here:
Grand Marshal 2022
Upper Des Moines outreach specialist and interpreter, Maggie Reyes, has been named Grand Marshal for the 2022 Big Parade. Read more here:
Fundraising Week 1
Fundraisers seek an increase in donations in order to keep up with previous years. Read more here:
Round Up At Fareway
The Star Spangled Spectacular will partner with Storm Lake Fareway Meat and Grocery for the fourth year to raise funds for its annual fireworks show. Read more here:
Fundraising Kickstarts
Fundraising for the 2022 Star Spangled Spectacular kicked off, and the committee is looking to the community for help in funding its favorite Fourth of July traditions. Read more here:
2022 theme
Commodores, have chosen “Red, White, and Blue in 2022” as the theme for this year’s Fourth of July events. Read more here:
Grand Marshal Nominations
Storm Lake’s annual Fourth of July celebration is accepting Grand Marshal nominations through May 13 for its Big Parade. Read more here:
Nadas Headlining
Popular five-man band The Nadas are set to perform at the Star Spangled Spectacular at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, at the Sunset Park Band Shell. Read more here:
2022 Commodores named
Brandon Frank and Jeff Bowles, Star Spangled Spectacular 2022 commodores, have selected Jared and Tyonia Eggers as co-commodores for the July 3-4 events. Read more here:
2021 Fundraising Surpasses goal
As fundraising for the 2021 Star Spangled Spectacular nears completion, Fundraising Co-chairs Josh Newhouse and Matt Brostad shared that more than $34,200 in cash and in-kind donations was raised—surpassing their $30,000 goal and breaking the previous record. Read more here:
A Spectacular lineup
The 2021 Star Spangled Spectacular is expecting nearly 100 entries for the Big Parade along E. Lakeshore Dr. at 11:30 a.m. on July 4, 2021. Read more here:
Spectacular Brings Food and Art Vendors to Storm Lake
The 2021 Star Spangled Spectacular will be hosting several favorite vendors at Artist’s Alley and a variety food vendors July 3-4. Read more here:
Fundraising Update 3
Spectacular nears fundraising goal with one week remaining. Read more here:
Fundraising Update 2
Spectacular reaches nearly two-thirds of fundraising goal in week two. Read more here:
Fundraising Update
Community rallies behind Spectacular fundraising in week one. Read more here:
“Round Up for Fireworks"
Storm Lake Fareway to “Round Up” for Spectacular Fireworks. Read more here:
2021 Fundraising Kickoff
Star Spangled Spectacular announces 2021 fundraising kickoff. Read more here:
2021 Grand Marshal
Pom Kavan named Spectacular Parade Grand Marshal for 2021. Read more here:
Brad Morgan
Brad Morgan to headline Star Spangled Spectacular. Read more here:
2021 Update
Storm Lake’s Star Spangled Spectacular to resume for 2021. Read more here:
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