In the front of this group walked a 9-foot Statue of Liberty puppet
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 5:40 am
Laura Lucas and Sue Ann Randall constructed the puppet in a month using papier-mâché, a backpack, and shower curtains.
“It’s just what she represents,” Lucas said about her inspiration for the puppet. “Freedom.”
Walkers and dancers followed the puppet. Some wore the green crown of the Statue of Liberty, while others dressed in brightly colored, whimsical outfits. More than 20 people in this group performed a continuous synchronized dance to John Baptiste’s song “Freedom” as they marched.
Affordable Auto Sales also undertook a creative challenge. Their country email list float was a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside. It took a year and a half to build.
“We wanted to do something very special that would appeal to kids and adults equally,” said Lonnie Khmelev, the founder of Affordable Auto Sales. “I just decided to build a box that has never been built before.”
The Affordable Auto Sales float, a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside impresses crowds as it travels down Egan Drive during the 2025 downtown Juneau Fourth of July parade. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The Affordable Auto Sales float, a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside impresses crowds as it travels down Egan Drive during the 2025 downtown Juneau Fourth of July parade. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The float is celebrating Affordable Auto Sales’ 25th year in Juneau and won first place for Best Commercial float.
“If this becomes a success, every year we are going to put a different car in there,” Khmelev said.
The Alaska Airlines float also featured transportation grandeur. The large Alaska Airlines plane was made for this parade, but the Alaska Airlines parade group predicts they will save it for another year.
The Maisto car box and Alaska Airlines airplane are joining treasured, familiar parade floats.
“It’s just what she represents,” Lucas said about her inspiration for the puppet. “Freedom.”
Walkers and dancers followed the puppet. Some wore the green crown of the Statue of Liberty, while others dressed in brightly colored, whimsical outfits. More than 20 people in this group performed a continuous synchronized dance to John Baptiste’s song “Freedom” as they marched.
Affordable Auto Sales also undertook a creative challenge. Their country email list float was a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside. It took a year and a half to build.
“We wanted to do something very special that would appeal to kids and adults equally,” said Lonnie Khmelev, the founder of Affordable Auto Sales. “I just decided to build a box that has never been built before.”
The Affordable Auto Sales float, a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside impresses crowds as it travels down Egan Drive during the 2025 downtown Juneau Fourth of July parade. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The Affordable Auto Sales float, a one-to-one replica of a Maisto remote-control car box with a real car inside impresses crowds as it travels down Egan Drive during the 2025 downtown Juneau Fourth of July parade. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
The float is celebrating Affordable Auto Sales’ 25th year in Juneau and won first place for Best Commercial float.
“If this becomes a success, every year we are going to put a different car in there,” Khmelev said.
The Alaska Airlines float also featured transportation grandeur. The large Alaska Airlines plane was made for this parade, but the Alaska Airlines parade group predicts they will save it for another year.
The Maisto car box and Alaska Airlines airplane are joining treasured, familiar parade floats.