If you’ve never been to watch the fireworks over Teal Lake, it’s a beautiful sight to behold, with the colorful explosions reflecting off the water as hundreds upon hundreds of people look to the skies at dusk.

Pioneer Days in Negaunee wraps up today with a parade, community picnic, a fireworks display and more.

The nighttime barrage of explosive colors tonight is the culmination of a weeklong event, chock-full of fun for all ages. Things like alumni softball games, princess pageants, car shows, kids’ parades, live music and other festivities stretch throughout the week preceding the fireworks.

Pioneer Days is like a community homecoming. It’s the time of year when just about everyone who grew up in Negaunee returns to their hometown to see old friends, and when the people who live there now share in new experiences and create new relationships.

Today at 11:30 a.m. is the start of the 40th annual Pioneer Days Parade where you’ll get the opportunity to see all the marching bands, hot rods, and beautifully adorned and creative floats, many of which will certainly be tossing out plenty of candy for the young ones.

Due to some safety concerns, the parade route through Irontown has changed slightly. The parade will begin at the west end of Iron Street, then move one block north to Jackson Street and continue on Main Street. You can find a map of the new route online here: http://www.negauneeirontown.org/pioneer-days.html.

Following the parade, stop by the Negaunee Fire Hall where a firefighters tournament will be underway, then make your way over to Teal Lake for some live music, food and other activities before the fireworks show, which is scheduled to begin at dusk.

As always, we encourage you to be safe this weekend. During Pioneer Days, much like the Fourth of July, many people enjoying drinking a few alcoholic beverages, and we always want to remember safety comes first. Plan ahead and find a designated driver, make arrangements to stay somewhere within walking distance or call a cab if all else fails.

Negaunee’s Pioneer Days is always a fun time, but it can be tarnished by tragedy if just one person makes a reckless and irresponsible decision. Don’t let that person be you.