STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Gary Kuchcinski looked out the open door of the Mountain Humane van and couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Half of Idaho’s out there watching the parade,” he said. “I can’t believe all the people lining the parade route.”

While some cities parade adorable dogs dressed in costume during their Fourth parades, Kuchcinski and the pup he was with elected to ride in the van wrapped in dog and cat pictures.

Sun Valley Music Festival Cellist Ellen Sanders and others wave from a float built by the City of Sun Valley celebrating its role as America’s first destination ski resort and home to the largest free admission symphony in the United States.

Even then, the dog was taken aback by the crowd, retreating to the far side of the van away from the open door.

Old-timers watching the parade said the crowd lining the street seemed to be the biggest ever. And the parade itself was one of the longest ever, said Chamber Director Mike McKenna.

Diesel Ward dressed as Uncle Sam was among those dazzling them. A mainstay of the Fourth of July Parade, Ward adds more flags and red, white and blue bunting to his adult tricycle every year.

“I’m honored to be celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” said Ward.

The City of Bellevue trotted out miners recalling how miners local miners produced more than $60 million in silver, lead and gold between 1881 and 1893.

Grace Gould went all out, decking herself out with stars on her head, a 250-Year tank top and red and blue stripped socks.

Gould and her husband Jeremy had come from Florida to celebrate the Fourth in Sun Valley for the first time ever with her in-laws Roger and Margaret Gould. And she was not sad to leave the sweltering clime of Florida behind.

“I love the Fourth here. It’s like a slice of Americana,” she said. “We don’t have a Fourth of July parade back home in Florica. Everybody spends the day at the beach, drinking all day. But I loved all of this parade—the horses, the small-town vibe.”

Children wave from the Grand Marshal float honoring the Blaine County Recreation District, which is celebrating its Golden Anniversary.