SEBASTIAN — Children lined Indian River Drive early Friday morning after having scouted out the perfect spot to watch the Fourth of July Parade and catch the little candies tossed from passing floats.
As trucks and cars inched down the road, the kids cheered for the loud honks and horns and, just as quickly as the drivers responded, the children clasped their hands over their ears.
“Too loud!” cried one young boy, who, despite having his fingers in his ears, grinned widely.
The parade, put on by the Sebastian Lions Club, was capped off with skydivers – one landing with a large U.S. Flag in tow and two others with red, white and blue “smoke” streaming behind as they came in over the Indian River Lagoon and landed at the event park at Riverside Park.
Tammy Fullington, a Sebastian native, brought her children to the parade – a tradition the family has forged over numerous years.
“It’s great,” she said of sharing the parade with her kids, noting she’s been coming to the parade just about every year. “We love coming.”
This year was special for family because – for once – they were able to sit on the side of the road and just watch. Typically, Fullington said, the family participates, walking in various floats.
Eight-year-old Emma said her favorite part of the parade was getting all the candy. She apparently collected quite a bit. But though she said she loved the candy, her face lit up as a horse-drawn carriage trotted by.
Her 9-year-old brother, Dominic, however, said the trucks were the best part of the parade. It didn’t matter to him the type of truck – all the trucks were cool, according to him.
The Fullington family and many others walked over to Riverview Park following the parade to take part in more festivities, including live entertainment and fun and games.
The Sebastian Lions Club is hosting a day-long Freedom Festival at Riverview Park, which will conclude tonight with a fireworks display over the Indian River Lagoon. The show is expected to begin shortly after sunset.
