Photo feature: Parade, candy, festivities ring in Fourth of July

The Fourth of July Parade again proceeded through Kenai on Tuesday, featuring dozens of businesses and other entities waving hands, waving flags and throwing candy.

The parade started at 11 a.m., but the last car didn’t arrive at the route’s end, the softball greenstrip, until after 12:30 p.m.

Along the way, a variety of local organizations were on display, including dance companies, sports teams, businesses, charity groups, politicians and religious groups.

Thousands gathered along the sidewalk, in lawn chairs or in their cars to see the procession, which followed its annual route from the Kenai Courthouse around the Post Office, up South Willow Street and down the Kenai Spur Highway.

The greenstrip festivities this year stretched over a wider space than usual, extending beyond the bathrooms with even more food trucks and vendors.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Children wave flags as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Scoop waves as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mitch Miller, of Kenai Fire Department, smiles and waves as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A boy waves a flag from the passenger seat of a Nikiski Fire Department truck as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Forever Dance students perform a routine as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Children race to grab candy thrown by an adult walking with the Kenai Central High School football team as the Fourth of July Parade moves down South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Representatives of Aspen Creek Senior Living turn onto the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Denali Family Dentistry staff throw giveaways to children on the sidewalk as they turn onto the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A woman waves a flag from atop a large animal as part of the Fourth of July Parade down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Central High School football team smiles as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Tuffy the Kardinal waves as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Diamond Dance Project students perform a routine as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A young girl dances along to a routine by Diamond Dance Project as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Kenai Peninsula Tugi II Unit smiles and waves as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Veterans visiting Alaska as part of HAVE Alaska wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Little League players call out to attendees as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kids ride carts and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Hundreds line sidewalks as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Children reach out for candy thrown as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Representatives of the Nikiski Senior Center smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Members of the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula smile and wave as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Representatives of Kenai Aviation smile as the Fourth of July Parade moves down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Countless attendees fill the softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, during Fourth of July festivities on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A member of the Kenai Senior Center administers a healthy dollop of cool whip onto a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie during Fourth of July festivities at the softball greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)