Oak Harbor certainly knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July.

From carnival fun to patriotic parades to fireworks over the water, there was no shortage of activities to mark the anniversary of our nation’s independence.

Hundreds of people lined the street Monday morning for the grand parade, which followed a slightly different route this year due to construction downtown. Participants wound their way from Pioneer Way onto Bayshore Drive and then back onto Pioneer, making the route slightly longer, but not drawing any complaints from those marching or observing.

There were no shortage of entries in this year’s parade either, which featured a Marine Corps color guard in the lead, and a color guard from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island just a few paces behind. Grand marshal of this year’s parade was Karl Krieg, of Krieg’s Concrete Products, Inc.

From pirate ships to patriotic pets, political candidates to cheerleaders, bagpipers to businesses, there were familiar faces to be seen. Spectators saw the automobile acrobatics of Old School Traditions and the Whidbey Island Rollergirls were dressed to impress in red and blue tulle skirts and other patriotic garb.

“These girls are awesome,” said Mallory “Mal-addiction” Marr, who has been skating with the Rollergirls for about six months. Marr was one of more than a dozen ladies making their way down the parade route on roller skates.

Other entries featured the Oak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League, led by the Oak Harbor High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps color guard and members of its armed drill team, and Shore Sailor of the Year, Aviation Ordnanceman First Class, Dennis Holloman, his wife Marie and their daughter, Storie.

Whether folks were marching or watching, spirits were high.

“We love it,” said Amanda Kelly. She and her husband, Matt, and 6-month-old

daughter Lydia, were taking it all in for the first time, having just been stationed at NAS Whidbey Island two months ago.

“I just love it,” said Gunner’s Mate First Class, Matt Kelly. “It’s a lot like my hometown (of Cambria, Calif.), but a little bigger. It has the same hometown feel, though.”

It’s that hometown feel that brings Rosemary and Merv Magus down from Burnaby, B.C., just about every year.

“I bet we’ve been coming here for 30 years, at least,” said Merv, who first discovered Oak Harbor when he was attending college and came to Whidbey Island to study the climate. He and Rosemary fell in love with the community and have tried to make it down once or twice a year, for the Fourth of July celebration in particular.

“We just love the local flavor. If you’re not in the parade, you’re watching it,” said Rosemary.

“They do a really good job with the fireworks, too,” added Merv.

Mother Nature didn’t disappoint this year either, allowing hundreds to move from the parade route to Windjammer Park, where people staked out their territory early for the big event of the evening — fireworks.

Despite a dip in the mercury once the sun went down, hundreds bundled up in blankets and jackets and waited patiently for the pyrotechnic display to get started, while children and adults alike entertained themselves at the carnival.

After about 25 minutes of booms, flashes and sizzles, and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” from spectators, the celebration came to an end. Crowds thinned quickly as people headed home, tired from a long day of festivities; another Independence Day done.