Jamestown residents held their traditional Fourth of July parade under clear blue skies, celebrating the day with festivities and music at the town park that lasted into the night.

While fireworks and the anvil toss (putting a stick of dynamite under an anvil and seeing how high it would go) are events of the past, there was no shortage of fun and entertainment for the town residents and visitors.

The Jamestown Fourth of July parade has a long history going back at least to the 1960s. At that time, horses and kids were the big participants in the parade. The Fourth brings back a lot of former residents to reconnect with the town and catch up with old neighbors

This year’s celebration included fire trucks from the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department and Lefthand Fire Protection District. The two departments work closely with each other to protect the canyon. Antique cars and kids’ go-karts were also part of the parade.

Music for the parade came in the form of the Jamestown Kazoo band, led by Laura Williams, with a newly formed marching band of ten instruments. Joe Howlett, who died in the 2013 Jamestown flood, used to lead the kazoo band in the parade. It is a Jamestown tradition that continues with lots of sliding notes and enthusiasm.

The parade started at noon and ended at the town park. There was live music at the park bandstand, with a variety of local bands taking turns playing until 10 p.m. The games, food, and celebrations fit the occasion perfectly.