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Published July 06, 2012, 12:00 AM

Cloquet July 4th Celebration at Veterans Park a success

There was all kinds of family fun at Veterans Park this year! Photos by Jana Peterson/Pine Journal


Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. Ages 5 and younger went first.

  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. Ages 5 and younger went first.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. Ages 5 and younger went first.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. The next age group was ages 6-8 years old.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. Volunteers like John Badger and Miss Cloquet kept things organized.
  • Miss Cloquet used an air horn to let kids know when it was their turn.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. When it was the older kids turn, for ages 9-12, it was just a mass of bodies, digging in the sawdust.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. When it was the older kids turn, for ages 9-12, it was just a mass of bodies, digging in the sawdust.
  • Dash for cash, when kids dig in the saw dust for $500 worth of quarters. When it was the older kids turn, for ages 9-12, it was just a mass of bodies, digging in the sawdust.
  • Even when the Dash was over, people still sifted through the sawdust for quarters ... and found some!
  • The dunk tank was another popular attraction, especially when Cloquet Mayor Bruce Ahlgren was in the hot seat.
  • Cloquet Mayor Bruce Ahlgren waits for the big splash.
  • The first dunkee of the day, a happy volunteer.
  • Everybody's Uncle played all kinds of music all day long, from Patsy Cline to the Eagles.
  • Everybody's Uncle played all kinds of music all day long.
  • Music fans enjoy the vibe sitting at beautiful Veterans Park in Cloquet.
  • The free pony rides sponsored by the Cloquet Kiwanis Club were extremely popular, with long lines going all afternoon. The Kiwanis also sponsored the bouncy castles (which were also free) and the movie in the park.
  • The free pony rides sponsored by the Cloquet Kiwanis Club were extremely popular, with long lines going all afternoon. The Kiwanis also sponsored the bouncy castles (which were also free) and the movie in the park.
  • Skateboarders gave a demonstration and simply did their thing most of the afternoon in the parking lot, where they set up a few rails and a small ramp. They are fundraising to build a new skate park in town and sold hot dogs, chips and pop on Wednesday.
  • Skateboarders gave a demonstration and simply did their thing most of the afternoon in the parking lot, where they set up a few rails and a small ramp. They are fundraising to build a new skate park in town and sold hot dogs, chips and pop on Wednesday.
  • Skateboarders gave a demonstration and simply did their thing most of the afternoon in the parking lot, where they set up a few rails and a small ramp. They are fundraising to build a new skate park in town and sold hot dogs, chips and pop on Wednesday.
  • Skateboard fans were there all day too.
  • A variety of vendors provided everything from mini donuts to homemade corn dogs, egg rolls, kettle corn, ice cream, cheese curds and, of course, the fabulous B&B bratwurst.
  • A variety of vendors provided everything from mini donuts to homemade corn dogs, egg rolls, kettle corn, ice cream, cheese curds and, of course, the fabulous B&B bratwurst. There was a food tent at one end of the park, provided by Cloquet Ford Chrysler.
  • Wiffleball started off with a featured game between <br /><br />Cloquet and Carlton boys.
  • After the first game, there was a series of pick-up wiffleball games, starting with a younger (than high school aged) boys game, then a boys versus girls game, then a family game.
  • After the first game, there was a series of pick-up wiffleball games, starting with a younger (than high school aged) boys game, then a boys versus girls game, then a family game.
  • The girls won the game, with a little help from umpire Tyler Korby, who fined the boys one run for whining.
  • The final organized game of the day was a Cloquet alumni game, which turned into a series of best-of-seven games. Eric Peterson organized the wiffleball, with assistance from Tyler Korby, who also umpired the day's games.
  • The final organized game of the day was a Cloquet alumni game, which turned into a series of best-of-seven games. Eric Peterson organized the wiffleball, with assistance from Tyler Korby, who also umpired the day's games (and later pitched in the alumni series).
  • Fans especially enjoyed the alumni game.