Elga Gunstone, 95, comes to the Carnation Fourth of the July for the people.

“I stay until they’re all gone,” said this longtime Fourth fan, who hasn’t missed a parade in at least a decade.

Gunstone took in the show from right next to the parade stage, watching as floats, cars, youth groups and businesses strutted and rolled past for more than an hour Friday.

“She loves it here,” says her daughter, Bev Braun.

The mini-bikes have changed, but the act remains the same. Carnation resident Tim Brier, all dressed up in Uncle Sam garb, with friend Paul Henderson as Thomas Jefferson, and a new addition, Chris Sharon as Ben Franklin, zip down Tolt Avenue on their tiny motorcycles, performing for the crowd.

Brier has done this for 17 years. He has missed one parade in all that time—if even that, he thinks.

He loves popping wheelies on his small cycle, and is constantly interacting with the crowd.

“Thats the best part of the whole parade, giving the little kids high-fives and saying ‘Happy Fourth of July!’”

Tim Brier renews his tradition as a minibike-riding Uncle Sam.

Sno-Valley North Little Leaguers, and a retriever, ride in style.

Raging River Riders proudly bear their colors on the ride.

Kathy Lambert, King County Councilwoman, rides with her grandchildren.

A vintage Datsun stays in the family in this parade entry.

Carnation’s City Council members take in the parade.

The Cedarcrest cheer team gets loud at the parade stage.

A Two Rivers Yoga practitioner shows her skills.

Banner girls Marina Or and Ellice Huang lead the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team.

Hopelink’s youths and adults on the march.

Members of the Washington Fallen Soldiers Banners project carry 40 banners of fallen servicemen and women in the parade. Learn more at http://www.timeofremembrance.org/soldiers/fallensoldierbannerproject.aspx

West Coast Country Heat dancers show off their trick moves

West Coast Country Heat Western dancers high-step it on main street.

Vintage iron rolls down Tolt Avenue.

Oxbow Farm’s colorful characters aboard their float.

The Ixtapa traditional Mexican dancers pass Tolt Congregational Church.

How deliveries were made in yesteryear.

Brooke Padron and Sarah Day volunteer on the shortcake-serving line at the senior center.

Charles Day of Kent catches a catnap, as son Joe, 10, ‘naps’ with one eye open on the lawn of the Sno-Valley Senior Center. Kent ran the day’s footrace, and was resting while his daughter Sarah served up shortcake inside.

Nicole Fenton tries to keep Emmett Turner from taking a shot during the Just Moo It! competition. Below, she jockeys for a shot.

Team Brady, Cameron Brady, Jordan Paradis, Dawson Cairns and Brennan Mallot, take part in the Just Moo It! tournament with red, white and blue do’s.

More Just Moo It! action.

Lyle Hughs rides on the tail of Camp Gilead’s covered wagon following the parade.

Kyle Koch of Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall has burned holes into this stick through friction alone, at his vendor booth.

A young girl named Crosby gets a henna tattoo, complete with glitter, from Sean Taylor of Sundog Henna.

The American Legion begin the grand parade procession.

Girl Scouts carry their banners.

Superintendent Anthony Smith, grand marshal, waves.

Sisters Mikaela and Nicole Ballard sing the national anthem.

Boy Scout Garnett Droppo salutes the flag that fellow Scouts raise before the grand parade.

Tim Mallory of Granite Falls keeps the pork butts cooking at his barbecue stand, Whitey’s, a popular Fourth food vendor.

Above, children squeal with delight as they try to yank a plunger off Bubbleman Garry Golightly’s pate Saturday afternoon.

Above and below, children frolic as Bubbleman Garry Golightly keeps them entertained with “cheap toys”.