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FAIRBANKS — Floats and fire engines, a menagerie of animals, tractors, classic cars, bagpipers, Cub Scouts and motorcyclists galore paraded through local communities Friday in front of enthusiastic crowds celebrating Independence Day.

There were patriotic speeches, picnics, a greased pole climbing contest, music and games with plenty of time left over to celebrate the red, white and blue, the prevailing color theme of the day.

Pioneer Park

Passing out small American flags to people entering Pioneer Park, 10-year-old Cub Scout John Walls said his Pack 1551 was eager to help out on Independence Day.

“We’re handing out flags to show we love America,” he said. “We’re not just here to have fun.”

Fun was at the top of the list for many who drifted down Pioneer Park’s wide sidewalks, past patriotic bunting draped from handrails. Children decked out in red, white and blue grasped similarly-hued balloons and rode a merry-go-round manned by Uncle Sam himself. Even the menu resonated the patriotic theme, with the Mini Golf Fairbanks booth offering an All-American Meal at the all-American price of $5 — a hot dog, cold drink and apple pie with ice cream. Working the booth, Amy Ross said she expected an onslaught of patrons after the opening ceremonies, and was well-prepared with 48 apple pies.

Donna Dinsmore and June Siegrist tapped their feet in front-row seats and sang along to the patriotic tunes of the 9th Army Arctic Warrior Band. One of the Cub Scouts’ flags secured in her hat, Siegrist gave a standing ovation after one rousing piece.

“They’re wonderful!” Dinsmore exclaimed. “They are sitting in this sun, playing for us — and I know the words to all the songs.”

The pair of longtime residents has celebrated the Fourth at Pioneer Park for many years. In cool white pants and patriotic beaded earrings, they agreed the event feels like a family gathering.

“You can see by the turnout that this is a favorite event in this town,” Dinsmore said. “We love it.”

A Fort Wainwright honor guard baked in the sun atop the S.S. Nenana as flags of the 50 states were paraded to the upper deck. Following the reading of a special proclamation from Gov. Sarah Palin, borough Mayor Jim Whitaker addressed the crowd.

“Two-hundred thirty-two years,” he said. “Happy birthday, America, and also happy birthday to Alaska. We’re celebrating our 50th year of statehood today.”

He said Alaska is the richest state in the richest nation in the history of the world, yet its greatest wealth comes from tough and innovative people prepared to meet head-on challenges like the cost of energy, climate change and global terrorism.

The theme of people making America strong carried through the rest of the speakers’ remarks.

Rep. Scott Kawasaki, a member of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, thanked the members of the military for their service at such a dangerous time, noting that it is also the time when the country needs them most.

Brigadier General Mark Graper of Eielson Air Force Base echoed that theme.

“We are the land of the free, because of the brave,” he said.

Ester

The lack of conventional decorum is part of the lure that draws crowds to Ester’s annual Fourth of July parade, maybe more accurately defined as an “Independents’ Parade.”

“It’s fun and funky,” with “individual flakiness” is how Jeanne Laurencelle described the annual event, which brings out not only Ester residents up and down the creek and dredge beds but former residents and anyone else looking for a good time and a lot of laughs.

“It’s not so serious. It’s more relaxing and has more of a community flavor to it,” added Michelle Miller, enjoying the picnic potluck afterward.

The “non parade” was what Thom Foote called Ester’s annual outing. “It’s non-militaristic and that’s great,” he said.

Twenty years ago, there was only a trickle of people from outside the community participating or observing the event, Laurencelle said. On Friday, cars lined the streets and byways of the tiny community, spilling over onto the Parks Highway.

As usual, there was a fair amount of judge bribing by parade participants, comic costumes, a Women of Ester calendar model or two and a Calypso Farm float flinging out healthy vegetables — instead of candy — to the crowd.

And bystanders appreciated the light hosing along the way from the Ester Fire Department’s tanker truck.

The parade route ended at Ester Community Park with a huge potluck picnic and pig roast.

Corlis Taylor and friends were grouped together on blankets loaded with picnic fixings on the perimeter of the thickly-grassed soccer field. This is just one of the annual get-togethers the five families of friends gather for.

“We bring the same things to eat every year: potato salad, fried chicken. ... It’s become a tradition over the years,” Taylor said.

The group originally met in Bethel more than 30 years ago when all were single. They eventually migrated, family by family, to Fairbanks.

“We’ve been at everybody’s wedding,” Taylor said, adding “There have been no divorces.”

In the 15 years the friends have been participating in the parade and picnic, the only noticeable difference to date is that the number of their children (eight) at the event is diminishing as they grow up and move on.

“There are no grandkids yet,” Tayor said. “We’re waiting.”

North Pole

North Pole kicked off Fourth of July with a heavy schedule of activities and a community parade led by a phalanx of motorcyclists revving up the crowds lining the parade route.

Families were out in force. Blue skies and 80-degree-plus temperatures had cheerful parade-goers patiently working on their tans curbside while waiting for the parade to start.

And if spectators didn’t know the proper conduct during the passing of the American flag, they were enlightened by members of Cub Scout Pack 49 handing out flag protocol information on business-card size pieces of paper along the parade route.

Stacie Wallach, whose Air Force husband was recently deployed to the United Arab Emirates, was on hand with daughters, Callie, 4, and Taryn, 22 months.

“This is important for my kids to see in order to appreciate our freedom and celebrate and support our country,” said Wallach, who hails from Louisiana.

“This reminds me of home a little bit,” she added, as multiple floats streamed by and Callie made a killing picking up candy thrown at their feet.

The Nikki and Joe Moore family and friend Martina Collins, newly assigned to Fort Wainwright from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, decided North Pole was the place to be to celebrate America’s birthday.

“We ain’t getting any fireworks,” Collins joked as another reason to join in the daylong festivities.

“We loved the parade,” said Nikki, surrounded by Kayden, 4, Carleigh, 3, and Trilby, 7 months.

Much to the delight of all children within earshot, the parade wound down not with a whimper but with a cacophony of sirens emanating from a long queue of emergency vehicles and fire engines.

A sign posted at the rear of the last North Pole float said it all, “Celebrate Life.”