Hundreds of people lined the streets in downtown Oak Harbor Wednesday to watch the annual Fourth of July Parade, which was sponsored by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Oak Harbor.

It was a spectacle of Americana. Various clubs, groups, politicians, businesses, police officers, firefighters and members of the military marched or drove down the route. There were floats galore. Children scrambled for candy. A couple of EA-18G Growlers and a search-and-rescue helicopter flew over the parade, to the delight of many youngsters.

Island County Sheriff Mark Brown was this year’s grand marshal. He and his wife waved at the crowds from the back of a fancy car.

Photo by Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times RE/MAX Acorn Properties handed out 10,000 flags in the parade

Photo by Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times

Photo by Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times A search-and-rescue helicopter from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station flies overhead.

Photos by Jessie Stensland / Whidbey News-Times Hundreds of people lined the streets in downtown Oak Harbor to watch the annual Fourth of July Parade.