The top three award winners were: First place, Northern Discovery Preschool & Childcare: second place, Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center; and third place, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson.

Entries were judged on entertainment, creativity and public appeal.

This year, LAPP introduced for the first time The Chairperson Excellence Award that recognized the entry that best demonstrates dedication to the parade’s success through positive interactions and overall contribution to the event’s energy and excitement.

The first recipients of the award was the Upper Peninsula Nurse Honor Guard and Walmart.

Submitted photos The Lake Antoine Park Partners recently presented awards to the winners chosen in the annual Iron Mountain-Kingsford Fourth of July parade. Representatives accepting the awards, from left, are first place, Emmie Rotter of Northern Discovery Preschool & Childcare; second place, Raegan Pratt, Brenda Henes and Danielle Valeski of Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center; and third place, Joe Rizzo of Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson.

“It was incredibly hard to choose — thank you to all entries for making it such a tough decision,” Parade Chair Ashley Ellis said. “So glad to see the effort, keep it up.”

She also thanked the large number of participants that adds to the success of the event.

LAPP expressed their appreciation to this year’s parade judges — Thomas Slagle, Christopher Ninomiya, Mary Barglind and Kristen Kass.

They also gave a special thank you to those who helped to make the parade a success. They include local law enforcement and public works departments for traffic controls; the 2025 grand marshals and previous parade organizers, the Menominee Range Historical museum Promotional Committee; and the Borderhounds for assisting with traffic control during staging.

“For all you early planners and competitors, the 2026 Iron Mountain-Kingsford Independence Day Parade theme will be ‘Wild West,'” Ellis said.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.