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Mt. Pleasant celebrates in Red, White & Blue
Mt. Pleasant unites for a joyful, hero-filled Fourth of July at McMillan Park
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — With flags waving, children laughing, and neighbors gathering, Mt. Pleasant came together Friday to celebrate the Fourth of July with a full day of family fun and heartfelt community spirit at McMillan Park.
The festivities began early in the evening, when MedForce Aeromedical Transport landed its helicopter at 4 p.m., drawing crowds eager to see the aircraft up close. By 4:30, parade participants were lining up near the carousel building, and at 5 p.m., the parade rolled through the park, delighting attendees with floats, tractors, wagons, and plenty of red, white, and blue.
The parade set the tone for an evening focused on unity and gratitude. Immediately afterward, Mt. Pleasant residents and visitors had the chance to “Meet the Heroes” — local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and firefighters — who greeted families and gave kids a look inside emergency vehicles.
After local heroes packed up and headed out, families continued to enjoy McMillan Park. Children bounced in inflatable houses, rode the carousel, and hopped aboard trolleys and tractors. Free activities brought families together in every corner of the park, while local vendors provided food under the Wright Pavilion and the grandstand. The Henry County Cattlemen served meals, the SE Dance Competition Team offered snacks, and Pineapple Whip kept everyone cool in the summer heat.
The highlight of the night — fireworks at dark — capped the event with a bang. The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, which organized and performed the display, lit up the sky to cheers and applause.
None of it would be possible without the people behind the scenes.
“Another BIG thank you again to this year's sponsors!” wrote the Mt. Pleasant Fourth of July Committee. “This event is run on donations alone, and we are so grateful for those who continue to make it possible.”
The committee also looked ahead to next year, America’s 250th birthday, asking the community to help keep the celebration alive amid rising fireworks costs and new tariffs.
“Please consider donating to next year's event by watching for donation buckets walking the grounds” the committee encouraged attendees.
Those still wishing to make donations can do so via Venmo @MP4thOfJuly or mailing a check to P.O. Box 751, Mt. Pleasant.
As fireworks lit the night sky above McMillan Park, the message was clear: in Mt. Pleasant, Independence Day is more than a holiday — it's a shared tradition that thrives on local pride, volunteer energy, and a deep sense of community.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
