An assortment of lawn chairs and camping chairs lined the prized curbside of Mandan's main thoroughfare.

It provided an unobstructed view of Mandan's Independence Day parade. It also was prime placement for the rainfall of candy to come.

Many of the folks who staked claim to those seats were in place an hour to two hours before the parade started at 9:30 a.m.

Mandan resident Christy Ames and her family were at their curbside seats by 8:30 a.m., and they ended up a little farther east along Main Street than their usual spot by Art in the Park.

She lives just up the street, so her family just walked down to the parade route. For those less fortunate to live within walking distance, it meant weaving through the neighborhoods north of Main Street and finding a place to park. People parked on Sunset Avenue and its adjoining side streets, as far north as the high school.

For many, it's worth the walk. It just wouldn't be the Fourth of July otherwise.

"I've lived here my whole life," Ames said. "It (the parade) is what you do for the Fourth."

So is a stroll through Art in the Park and taking in the city's fireworks display.

The parade is a holiday tradition for many families, even newer residents to town.

"We moved here a couple years ago," Rikki Gillette of Mandan said. "It's a new tradition."

It's also a new tradition for Mandan resident Ken Lund, who moved there a year ago. This is the second year he's attended the parade.

"It's just a great day," Lund said.

He took in the festivities Saturday with family, including his son, LaVern Lund, who was visiting from Ackerman, Miss.

There are many things people liked about the parade. One girl shouted "horseys, horseys, horseys," as the horses passed by. A few children put their hands in the air and made a pulling motion, a universal sign to semi truck drivers everywhere to honk the horn. The drivers complied.

"I like watching the police and fire trucks," said Makenzee Piatz, 7, from Underwood.

She likes the flashing of the emergency lights.

A crowd favorite, however, took many forms, and Kaitlyn Weigel, 11, of Napoleon summed it up well.

"Candy," she said.

Kaitlyn and her sister Sarah were at the parade with their parents. It's the third parade they've been to this summer. They also went to the Napoleon 125th anniversary parade and a parade in Braddock. Her sister's favorite part about the Fourth of July is the fireworks.

The Fourth of July is a three-day affair in Mandan. It starts with the rodeo and ends with the fireworks display.

The grand marshals of the parade this year were former North Dakota Gov. Art Link and his wife, Grace. The parade entries included many businesses, civic organizations and school activities. Parade entries were eligible to win one of five prizes, including best in show.

The weather cooperated for the parade, with only a brief sprinkle of rain. Mostly the skies remained overcast and the temperature stayed in the upper 60s for the parade.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)