Annual 4th of July parade marches through Ridgewood, N.J.
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. -- It's a tradition that's over a century old -- the 4th of July parade in Ridgewood.
Festivities were taking place throughout the day.
At 113 years strong, it is truly the event of the year in Ridgewood. Nature timed it out perfectly, waiting for the festivities to end before potentially raining. But given the strength of the tradition, it probably wouldn't have stopped anyone from coming out.
"I would not miss it. So, it's like missing Christmas or something on the 4th. It's the place to be. It's the place to be," Ridgewood resident Christian Clark said. "Every community here in the States has a celebration and this is where we feel at home, so I hope everyone has this feeling."
"It's amazing. You start to lose some of that history in the world we live in. It brings you back to the history that doesn't leave, so it's nice that the town does it," resident Andrew McElduff added.
Your place to sit and watch mattered, too.
"We had some friends visiting from Philadelphia this weekend and they were asking us what is with the chairs," one person said.
Chairs lined the parade route as far as a week in advance to reserve the right spot.
"Shade. We're under the tree. We've learned over the last few years," McElduff said.
"I live around the corner. I'm a lucky one. I lived here for a reason -- so I could walk to the parade," Tracy Parrinell said.
The flag was raised an hour before kickoff, with town officials describing the meaning of this year's them, "Made in America," as a nod to American engineering and craftsmanship.
Ridgewood Mayor Paul Vagianos emphasizing the destination the town has become each year on Independence Day.
"It is my favorite place to be on the 4th of July. And as was just said, I drove up from the beach, where I was with my family this morning just to be here because I just can't miss this," Vagianos said.
Patriotic families came decked out in their red, white and blue, even in the cloudy weather. But would the rain really have spoiled the parade?
"No way. No way," one person said.
It's a colorful slice of Americana, right in Bergen County -- a tradition that'll continue for years to come.
"It's wonderful. To be part of a small town parade is just wonderful. It's just fantastic," Parrinell said.
The festivities didn't end with the parade. Fireworks were slated to take place at 6 p.m. at Veterans Field.
