The families gathering from as far as Issquah, Monroe, and Seattle were pretty good proof that the Carnation Fourth of July celebration is all about family fun, but the three-on-three basketball tournament was the clincher.

Partway through the Pit Bulls vs. Fat and Bald game in the adult division, the teams called time-out, and 7 year-old Conner Montoya subbed in for his Dad, Harley Willett. He was about a third the size of most of his opponents — Fat and Bald subbed in one of their sons, too — but with his 16 year-old brothers Skyler and Collen, he was fearless, handling the ball, dribbling, passing, shooting, and yes, going up for the rebound.

“It’s a family Fourth,” Willett, a Carnation resident, explained, “so he gets to play too, right?”

Everybody got to play at Carnation’s annual extravaganza, from the kids on their bouncy toys to the Moms high-stepping with the West Coast Country Heat dancers during a brief lesson after the parade, to the Dads (and kids, moms, grandpas and grandmas) taking in the sights and sounds of the Hot Rods and Harleys show.

For full results of the parade winners and other events of the day, visit www.carnation4th.org.