Northlanders ready their 4th of July celebrations

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Spending time outside is a big part of celebrating the 4th of July in the Northland; whether you’re heading out on the water, plan to see some fireworks, or keeping your own family tradition alive.

“We’re going to be attending the Cloquet 4th of July Parade. I have grandkids that are going to be in the parade,” said SuperOne shopper Jim Kneeland. “So this will be the first year that they’re not on the sidelines catching candy. They’re going to be out the grid actually marching. So that’s the plan. And then after that, we’re going to go back to their house for afternoon of picnicking. I’m not sure exactly what the menu is, but I’m sure things on the grill and potato salad and watermelon and typical kinds of things for a 4th of July feast.”

While doing your holiday shopping you may have been surprised by higher prices at checkout this year.

Since last year, the price of most meat has gone up. Ground beef is up 2.2%, and the price of steak spiked 12% from last year.

“Duluth is not immune. No more so than the rest of the country of course,” said Daniel Fanning, Vice President of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. “Especially around barbecue season and the 4th of July holiday, more and more people are afraid going to the grocery store, realizing that some goods and services cost a bit more.”

But Fanning said Duluth’s business community is doing what they can to help.

“We’re continuously proud of our business community as a whole, because what you see more and more of our businesses kind of coming together and supporting each other and our our community,” said Fanning. “In my opinion, certainly Duluth has stepped up in a lot of ways.”

For some, it wouldn’t be the 4th without spending the day in–or on–the water.

For the 4th of July weekend we rented a spot on the lake,” said Luke Bjerketvedt, as he was leaving SuperOne ice for his cooler. “We’re just going to spend the week camping, fishing, campfires, cooking on the fire. We’ve got some we did some shrimp and fried rice, but anything on the cast iron over the fire.”

If you’re without any plans for the holiday, check out Duluth’s fourth fest. The city’s independence day celebration takes place at the Bayfront Festival Grounds; features live music, admission is free and it is a great spot to watch the fireworks.