Click the image to see our float pass by on WBEV’s livestream

The streets of Columbus, Wisconsin were filled with patriotic spirit on the Fourth of July as thousands gathered for one of the community's favorite Independence Day traditions. This year, Schumann Printers was honored to be part of the celebration, proudly taking home Second Place for our parade float, Printing Through the Ages.

Created in celebration of America's 250th birthday, our float highlighted the remarkable journey of print and the role it has played in shaping our nation's history. From Benjamin Franklin's hand operated printing press to today's high speed printing technology, the display celebrated how communication has evolved while reminding us that print continues to connect, inform, and inspire.

At the heart of the float was a modern printing press surrounded by scenes from different eras of printing history. Benjamin Franklin and a colonial printer represented the early days of American printing, while newspaper carriers, or "newsies," brought to life a time when printed news was delivered by hand throughout communities. Volunteers dressed in patriotic attire helped tell the story of how print has evolved over the centuries. Adding to the energy of the celebration, DJ Q kept the crowd smiling by spinning patriotic favorites and crowd pleasing hits from the float throughout the parade.

To make the experience even more interactive, volunteers handed out commemorative print themed trivia cards and coloring sheets designed to spark curiosity about the history of printing and America's rich publishing heritage.

For Schumann Printers, the float represented much more than a parade entry. It was an opportunity to celebrate an industry that has helped preserve history, share ideas, strengthen communities, and tell the American story for generations.

As a third generation family owned company celebrating more than 60 years in business, we are proud to continue that tradition every day through the magazines, catalogs, directories, publications, and marketing materials we produce for customers across the country.

This project was truly a team effort. Dozens of employees, family members, and volunteers dedicated countless hours to designing, building, decorating, and preparing every detail of the float. Our team even hand dyed every volunteer T shirt to match the patriotic theme, built replica printing presses, and carefully crafted the details that helped bring the story of print to life. We'd also like to extend a special thank you to DJ Q for generously donating his time and talent. His music brought incredible energy to the celebration and helped make our float an unforgettable experience for everyone along the parade route.

Winning Second Place was an exciting honor, but the greatest reward was seeing families smile, children wave to Benjamin Franklin, eagerly collect candy, and discover something new about the history of print. Those moments reminded us that preserving print isn't just about producing printed pieces. It's about creating experiences that help people fall in love with print all over again.

Thank you to everyone who cheered us on during the parade and to the Columbus community for hosting another wonderful Fourth of July celebration. We are grateful to have been part of such a meaningful event.

Happy 250th birthday, America. Here's to honoring our past, celebrating the present, and keeping the story of print alive for generations to come.