Afton's parade comes forth
Back in 1975 when Afton’s annual Fourth of July parade was in its first year, Ken and Linda Johnson had a front row seat.By: Amber Kispert-Smith, Woodbury Bulletin
- Ken and Linda Johnson
- Fun on the Fourth
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Back in 1975 when Afton’s annual Fourth of July parade was in its first year, Ken and Linda Johnson had a front row seat.
The Johnsons have two entrances to their driveway so the parade utilized that as the spot to turn around to go up the opposite side of the street.
“They actually turned around through our yard,” Linda said. “We sat in our yard and watched the parade go through just for us.”
Since that fist year the Johnsons have never missed a parade.
But this year they will be front and center like never before.
Ken and Linda Johnson are this year’s grand marshalls.
“We’ve never missed a parade, but we’ve never been participants, we’ve always been spectators,” Ken said. “We were very honored and excited about the opportunity to be the grand marshalls.”
This year’s parade will be July 4 starting at noon down St. Croix Trail in downtown Afton.
Food, live music and a beer tent will be in Town Square Park before and after the parade.
“We wanted to spice up the parade this year,” said Afton Historical Society president, and Fourth of July Committee chairman, Stan Ross.
Some new items to this year’s parade include the Crackerjack Drumline from South Dakota and a traveling pub on wheels called the PedalPub.
“We’re looking forward to a very exciting parade,” said Ken, who serves on the Fourth of July committee.
Parade visitors can pay $20 for a ride on the PedalPub, which includes a free beer or wine in the beer tent in the park.
This year’s parade also has a few new rules to go along with the fun.
First off, all politicians must pre-register and pay a $50 fee. Political supporters are also limited to 10 and one car – a departure from prior policy that allowed politicians and supporters to march free of charge.
Another new rule this year is that the city is asking that parade participants refrain from throwing candy, but rather pass out candy.
Ken said last year there were issues of children running out into the street and standing in the middle of the parade route.
There will be a shuttle running to the parade from both Lakeland Plaza and Valley Baptist Church.
Every year thousands of spectators line the street for the Fourth of July Parade.
“It is a community run parade with a lot of local flavor,” Ken said. “It’s a chance for Aftonites to celebrate together.”
“It has a small town flair without having to drive for several hours to see what a small town parade looks like,” Linda said.
Lifelong Aftonites
Ken and Linda Johnson were named this year’s grand marshalls because of their longtime commitment to Afton, Ross said.
The grand marshalls are selected by the Afton Historical Society Board of Directors.
“We think about people who contribute to the community,” Ross said. “Ken’s primary goal is for the good of the community and it always has been — he’s always quick to volunteer.”
The couple’s roots in Afton date back to 1975 when they moved to the city from Minneapolis. However, Ken’s family history dates all the way back to the turn of the century when his grandfather purchased the house that he and Linda currently live in.
Ken and his family lived in St. Croix Beach until 1960 when they purchased his grandfather’s home.
Ken, who graduated from Stillwater High School in 1968, attended St. Cloud State University.
He worked at Dean Foods for 34 years before retiring and going to work for the city of Afton in 2004 part-time as the Public Works director.
“It gave me the opportunity to get to know my neighbors in Afton,” he said. “It allows me to put back into the community.”
Linda graduated from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. She had a 27-year career at Regional Hospital and a four-year career as a substitute teacher with District 916.
They met in Hudson, in 1972 and were married one year later.
Linda said it was Afton’s small town atmosphere that attracted her to the city.
“I enjoyed Minneapolis very much, but I thought this might be a wonderful place to raise children,” she said. “They’ll have the woods and they’ll have a beach.
“You have the option to go to the city but you still have the small town here.”
Ken and Linda Johnson raised two sons, Jeff and Jason, in Afton.
“I liked the fact that most of the Old Village knew my sons,” she said. “I felt they were being watched out for by the town.”
During the summers Ken and Linda Johnson can be found enjoying the beauty of the St. Croix River on one of their boats.
The couple said they are very excited about being able to represent Afton in the parade.
“We love our community and this is an opportunity to represent our community,” Ken said. “We want to do whatever furthers the enjoyment.”
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