Residents and vacationers of Sister Lakes will have not one, but two ways to celebrate the anniversary the nation’s birth this Sunday

At 5 p.m., the annual Bigfoot Fourth of July Parade steps off at Lions Park, following  the traditional route through 95th Avenue up to Sister Lakes Elementary on M-152. Registration for entry in the procession will be available until the units line up around 4 p.m., said organizer Barb Fisher.

“It’s open to anyone,” Fisher said. “They can sign up when they get there, get in line and away they go.”

Organizing this year’s parade are members of the Greater Sister Lakes Area Business Association and the Sister Lakes Fire Department. The event has been a staple of the area’s Fourth of July festivities for over a decade, Fisher said.

Expected to participate in this year’s parade are fire crews from a number of local departments, including Keeler Township and Indian Lake. A few local businesses and residents are also expected to join the cavalcade, by vehicle and by foot.

The parade is named after the infamous mythical creature, whose supposed sighting in the area back the summer of 1964 drew the attention of monster hunters from around the country.

“We’ve had bigfoot in costume as part of the parade before,” Fisher said.

The parade route is typically filled with eager onlookers, especially children, who enjoy collecting the pieces of candy that are tossed some of the participants.

“It’s a nice community event,” Fisher said.

Later that evening, the Sister Lake’s Lions Club will host their annual Fourth of July fireworks display, held at dusk inside Lions Park.

Like the parade, the fireworks show is a longstanding tradition within Sister Lakes, having taken place for the last 25 years, said organizer Jack Cooper. Handling the pyrotechnics for the show will again be Wolverine Fireworks Display, based out of Kawkawlin, Michigan.

The event has traditionally been held on the Sunday before the holiday, Cooper said.

“The weekend is the most important time for us to do it, since that’s when we have the most people at the lakes,” he said.

Around 40 to 45 area businesses donated to the club to help pay for this year’s show. A committee of Lions Club members were responsible for organizing the display this year, headed by Chair Tom Latz, Cooper said.

The show typically brings between 1,500 and 2,000 people out every year from around the region, Cooper said.

“We have developed quite a following over the years,” he said. “We have a pretty good reputation.”

Club members will also be cooking and selling hotdogs, bratwurst and caramel corn during the evening.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs to the park for the show. Parking will be available inside the park. In the case of rain, the display will be moved to Monday.