Four little friends whose parents are friends watched from the Hooper Street sidewalk in Sunday afternoon’s mist, as Wiscasset’s Fourth of July parade passed by on wheels, feet and hooves.

“They loved it. I think Julian liked it the most,” the 2-year-old’s mother Angela Bonnell said after the last of the siren-blaring fire trucks at the back of the parade turned the corner onto Federal Street. She and husband Scott attended with Julian and sister Caroline, 4, with a pink umbrella, and Angela’s fellow 2007 Wiscasset High School graduate Kara Griffin, her husband, WHS 05’s Conrad Griffin and their children, Easton, 2, and Evelyn, 4.

Matt and Julie Petrie’s twins Addyson and Kamryn, 5, were on a Parks and Recreation camp float, so the couple brought “the other kids,” great Dane Maverick and golden retriever Lincoln, Julie Petrie said. Megan and Joey Rogers’ older daughters Abby, 9, and Erin, 3, were on the same float as the Petries’ twins. That left the Wiscasset couple watching with their 6-month-old, Hannah.

Parade-goers interviewed praised the town for running it despite a rainy morning and spotty afternoon forecast. Alna’s Misty Hewes said she was “very, very, very pleased” the parade went on. Said Newcastle’s Promis Bryant, opening the car door for son Jasper, 8, in the Wiscasset Elementary School parking lot, “Even on a rainy day, or if it’s dry, it’s still fun to come celebrate.” 

Phippsburg’s Courtney Mixon usually goes to Bath’s parade. But that was off this year, and she still wanted “some parade action,” she said, smiling. Parks and Recreation’s recreation programmer Chelsea Taylor said she was stressing earlier, and was happy the decision to go on with the parade was right. She said it would have been nice if the sun came out, but it did not pour, and at least it was not 100F, she added. Games were not set up, as it did not look like weather people would want to stick around in, she said.

Parade winners, on a list Taylor provided, were First Congregational Church, patriotic; Tao Karate, creative and youth; Lincoln County Historical Association, original; Trinity Hyson, animal; Dan Delano’s Army truck entry, auto; Delano’s dump truck entry, business; and Alna Snowmobile Club, nonprofit.

Wiscasset Yacht Club’s annual strawberry shortcake sale went on. Was that a hard call? No, because people come every year to it, member Stephanie Hergenroeder explained while manning the entrance with Cynthia Davis. It was Herb and Loretta Leighton and daughter Arianna’s first time. It should not have been, Loretta said, laughing. “I live in Wiscasset!”

American Legion Post 54 received applause in the parade and later raised the American flag on the waterfront with bugle-playing and a three-gun salute. Post members said they were pleased people came to watch the ceremony.