Thousands crowded University Avenue for the America’s Freedom Festival Grand Parade, filling the air with the sounds of music and cheering as they celebrated their independence.
PROVO — Thousands crowded University Avenue for the America’s Freedom Festival Grand Parade, filling the air with the sounds of music and cheering as they celebrated their independence.
The annual Independence Day parade rolled out Tuesday morning, with high school and college cheerleaders, and local business owners marching through the street, tossing out candy and beach balls ahead of the procession of floats and military vehicles.
Many in attendance set up canopies along the parade route, hoping to stake out a front row seat to the festivities. People were permitted to claim their spots as early as 3 p.m. Monday, with some setting up tents and sleeping in them overnight.
Under one such canopy, Melinda Palmer and her family watched the parade, continuing a tradition over a decade in the making.
Palmer said her favorite part of the event was seeing the pre-parade, “where they throw candy, ” to her family.
Walking down the crowded streets, Michael Mace carried his baby, Hyrum, on his shoulders after running the morning Freedom Run 5k and 10k race, which had cleared up just minutes before the start of the parade.
“I love it. This has been a fun family tradition for the last 26 years that I remember; the race, balloons, parade, everything, I love it, ” Mace said.
His wife, Erica, and their son cheered him through the 5k, and Mace hoped to continue the family tradition moving forward.
Hyrum, who is less than a year old, was celebrating his Independence Day at the parade.
“He loves it so far, ” Mace said. “He loves loud noises and large groups of people, so this is heaven for him.”
The parade featured dozens of floats as well as vintage cars and military vehicles, while balloons floated above the city streets.
Provo and Orem-area missionaries also walked the parade route to the cheers of the crowd.
