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Tower Days in Spring Lake Park: Getting a kick out of the parade

June 10, 2014 at 6:28PM

Delighting the crowd was a dancing lion from Hui’s Lucky Lion Dance Team. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Spring Lake Park held its annual community celebration, Tower Days, over the weekend, beginning with the traditional parade on Thursday evening. According to the Tower Days web page, the first festival took place in 1972, and after a two-year hiatus in 1974-75, it returned in time for the nation's Bicentennial in 1976. That year, the city's water tower was painted in red, white and blue and adorned with stars and stripes. The tower — that's it at right — has been the celebration's namesake ever since.

The high-kicking Arabesque Dance Troupe made its way along the parade route in Spring Lake Park. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The tower from which Tower Days takes its name. Red and white stripes flow from the under side of the tower, which is topped with white stars against a blue backing. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)