Suffolk News-Herald

Riding bicycles, tricycles, scooters, and even go-karts spangled with stars and miniature American flags, dozens of Crittenden children (and adults) helped welcome July 4th to this waterfront village in northern Suffolk on Friday.

The parade kicked off Crittenden’s 28th annual Independence Day festivities, which are co-sponsored by the Crittenden, Eclipse & Hobson Ruritan Club and Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Highlights of the amazingly Norman Rockwell-like day included the annual Chuckatuck Creek raft race and the region’s only privately funded fireworks display.

The contingency of young cyclists was just the beginning of the tiny parade. Sirens screeching and lights flashing, the Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department also joined the entourage.

Others participating included a handful of floats packed with children, antique cars, hoses, and miniatures vehicles.

Six-year-old Hayden Plemmon, a veteran with three July 4th parades under his small belt, said this was his best parade ever.

&uot;It’s always fun…and it’s hot out here,&uot; said Hayden after the parade, carefully propping up his bicycle carefully trimmed with red, white and blue crepe paper.

It was equally enjoyable to the hundreds of folks – children and adults alike – on the sidelines.

&uot;It’s great because they get the kids so involved in the event,&uot; said Gretchen Simpson-Nelson of Chuckatuck. &uot;That’s what really made it fun.&uot;

Kids in the crowd have their own favorite parts of the parade.

Andrew Stephenson, 5, loved the bike parade.

&uot;That was my favorite because even little kids with training wheels got to play,&uot; he said.

Logan Jeter, 7, was a little more direct.

&uot;I like the part where they were throwing out candy.&uot;