Independence Day (aka the Fourth of July) is celebrated across the country in many ways. In my town of Allendale, MI (pop. 20,000+), there is a traditional parade. To summarize the experience: families lined the sidewalks with lawn chairs and picnic blankets. They wore red-white-blue clothing and even fancy hats, glasses, and buttons. 

On the parade route, there were musicians, service vehicles, politicians, military veterans, and lots of tractors. This may be because tractors are good at pulling floats. In the case of Allendale, it's because of agriculture. Ottawa County is Michigan's second biggest agricultural producer, so the folks around these parts have tractors: new ones, old ones, and antique ones.

Here are the morning's photos in a slideshow, along with some brief commentary.  I hope this gives a glimpse of small-town American culture for my international readers.