City of Wasilla Fourth of July Parade and Mayor’s Picnic

WASILLA— The City of Wasilla’s annual Fourth of July Parade and following holiday activities drew in hundreds of people from across the community to downtown Wasilla for a full day of fun in the sun.

“I think everybody was ready to be out,” Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford said.

Fourth of July is one of Wasilla’s largest community celebrations, leaving many extra excited to come back after a year hiatus due to COVID-19.

“I’m glad there was one again,” Mat-Su Steelers football commissioner Clint Spencer said. “This was needed, so needed.”

Spencer said that he thanked every first responder he came across throughout the Fourth of July festivities.

“It’s them who keep us safe,” Spencer said.

Spencer said that Independence Day is about spending time with friends and family while reflecting on the sacrifices and overarching history that made their freedoms possible. He said that Alaska is a particularly special place to enjoy the freedoms granted by living in the United States of America.

“Alaska is the best place to live. I’ll never leave here,” Spencer said. “We got problems like everybody else but it means a lot. It’s everything.”

Spencer the Mat-Su Steelers have a float in the Fourth of July parade every year. He said there were a lot of good floats and witnessing Church on the Rock members singing live music was a special treat.

Church on the Rock lead pastor Jonathan Walker was one of several congregation members participating in this year’s parade. He said the church has participated in the parade for at least 14 years.

“It was great so good to see a large crowd out. People were enjoying themselves.The city’s done a great job with it,” Walker said. “For us, it’s an opportunity to connect with our community.”

After the parade, waves of spectators made their way from the blocked off streets in the downtown district to Iditapark for the Mayor’s Picnic.

This was Ledford’s first time being part of the picnic. She said it was fun watching all the kids run around in the sun.

“Family’s where it starts,” Ledford said.

A staple event of the Mayor’s picnic is the youth and adult hot dog eating contests. This year was also 12-year-old Troy Sheldon and his mother Nellie’s first Mayor’s Picnic and the first time being a part of a Fourth of July citywide celebration of this scale after moving to the Valley from the small community of Kiana.

“It was very interesting,” Nellie said.

Sheldon tied for first place in the youth hot dog eating contest. He said that he wanted to make some extra money to have some extra fun this summer.

“It was a lot of fun,” Sheldon said.

Ledford said that Independence Day is an important holiday and proves to be an effective way of bringing the widespread community together.

“I think it’s more sig now than it’s ever been,” Ledford said.

The theme of the 2021 parade was “unity in the community,” with accompanying signage featured on floats.

“I think we all need to reflect on ‘unity in the community.’ I believe that’s where it needs to start,” Ledford said. “There’s a lot of meaning behind that. Most of us come from somewhere else but we all are Alaskans... and every one of us matters.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com