[Mpls] Aquatennial Torchlight Parade around Powderhorn Park?

[Ron Lischeid]

As a small child growing up in Minneapolis in the 1950's, I remember attending a summertime/nighttime parade around the area of a small lake in Minneapolis.  I remember that it occurred after dark and contained floats and marching bands and people on horseback and ladies in white gowns wearing jeweled tiaras waving to the crowd from the back of convertibles.  I also remember the mosquitos.   The questions that I have are:   Was this part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, a torchlight parade, even back in the 1950's? Could that lake have been Powderhorn Lake and the Powderhorn Park area or was it Loring Park and Loring Lake?   I remember attending with my little brother, my mother and my aunt.  I remember steep embankments.  And I remember that the parade procession was proceeding down a paved street with curbs.  I remember that the crowd was so large that my brother and I had to sit on my mother and aunt's shoulders to be able to see what was going on.  I also kinda remember the smell of sparklers or maybe fireworks.  Was there a major 4th of July event in the 1950's that I might be confusing this with?  I remember that when the event was over, we had to walk several blocks to get back to where our car was parked.  I remember that we were up well past our normal bedtime.   Any help from anyone out there?   Ron Lischeid Windom