For over 10 years, John and Diane Hughes have been hosting an annual 4th of July picnic in the meadow in front of their home in the Hidden Valley neighborhood, located in the southern end of the Upper Red River Valley. This tradition has attracted upwards of 300 people in some years. Children, dogs, seniors and everyone in between come together to celebrate our independence, exchange stories, and welcome new residents to Red River. Previous attendees have described this ongoing event as a scene right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
I spoke to Diane about how the event got started and the motivation behind it. While consuming a Lemon Jello Shot, Diane explained to me that it was important to her that the residents of the Upper Red River Valley and those that lived in town should all spend time together getting to know each other, and what better way to do this than by getting together for a big 4th of July Picnic.
The party is a pot luck and the assortment and quality of the food is phenomenal, from traditional 4th of July fare, to exotic wild game dishes, and of course Diane' s famous home made ice cream. John, Diane, and many volunteers spend countless hours preparing the grounds, setting up tents and making sure everything is ready prior to the guests arrival.
Diane and John fell in love with Red River and began coming here in the 1970's. They owned a few properties in the valley prior to settling into their current beautiful home in the Hidden Valley neighborhood.
If you ever attend, you will be granted a wonderful memory.
Thank you John and Diane for what you have created and the countless memories you have made.
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