233rd Annual Bristol Fourth of July Parade

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@ChloeLeshner

BRISTOL, R.I. (WLNE) — Today was the 233rd parade in America’s most patriotic city.

"It’s the excitement, it’s the people, just to see everything, it’s so fun," says Julie Garcia who grew up in Bristol.

There’s no place like Bristol, Rhode Island on the Fourth of July. Red, white and blue in every direction.

"Rhode Island is easily one of the most patriotic states in the nation," says Tina Louth of East Providence.

Streets were packed with people taking in all of the sights and sounds. The most important day of the year in Bristol and an experience like no other for those who get to march the route.

"I’ve been marching for the past 3 or 4 years. It means a lot to me and my family," says Ethan from Warwick.

It’s a celebration of America that pulls people from all over the country.

"We’ve been to a lot of parades and we just figured we wanted to come to one of the best in the nation," says Don Baker from Lexington, Kentucky.

"We do have a local parade but nothing like this," says his wife Velva.

For so many this is a family tradition.

"We haven’t missed one in 20 years we’ve been going straight," says Jerrod Grifka of Bristol.

This years parade extra special for his family, his brother Jeff, a member of the Air Force for 22 years, walking in the parade for the first time, taking a  quick detour for some hugs from his kids and nieces and nephews.

"He loves the military, he loves the Untied States, he loves Bristol so it all works out," says his wife Katie.

(C) WLNE/ABC 6 2018