CarmelFest and 4th of July parade draw thousands

The CarmelFest Fourth of July parade, shown heading north on South Rangeline Road at Carmel City Center, drew thousands of spectators on Saturday, July 4, 2015. A group of World War II veterans, including U.S. Coast Guard vet Frank Bertalon (seated in car), served as grand marshals for the parade.

The Carmel Rotary Club pedals its way north on South Rangeline Road during the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The parade was one of the highlights of the annual two-day event at the Carmel Civic Square.

Samantha and Maddie Brown, 5 and 11, and their mother, Patti Brown (left), Carmel, wait for the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade to reach their viewing spot at Carmel City Center, at the intersection of South Rangeline Road and City Center Drive, as the parade kicks off on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Chinese dancers entertain spectators watching the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade along South Rangeline Road on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The parade was one of the highlights of the annual two-day event at the Carmel Civic Square.

A giant Elmo waves to spectators at the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade along South Rangeline Road on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The parade was one of the highlights of the annual two-day event at the Carmel Civic Square.

The CarmelFest Fourth of July parade, shown heading north on South Rangeline Road at Carmel City Center, drew thousands of spectators on Saturday, July 4, 2015. A group of World War II veterans, including veteran Floyd Spaugh (seated in truck), served as grand marshals for the parade.

Thousands of spectators watch the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade, which kicked off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2015, at the intersection of South Rangeline Road and City Center Drive.

Danny Russel, Indianapolis, dressed as President Abraham Lincoln and carrying a Bible and copy of the Gettysburg Address, participates in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Later, he read the Gettysburg Address during the annual two-day event at Civic Square.

Aurora Schreiber, 5, Merrillville, dances to the music from a passing marching band in the The CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on South Rangeline Road on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Westfield firefighters watch the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade from the back of their aerial ladder fire truck parked on East 126th Street, which, along with a Carmel Fire Department ladder truck, suspended a giant American flag over South Rangeline Road for the annual parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Sunny skies blessed the annual CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Members of the Carmel Fire department marched at the front of the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

A group of young girls gather up candy tossed to them along the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade route on South Rangeline Road in Carmel on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Bridget Kahlow, 11, waves to parade participants as she watches the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on South Rangeline Road in Carmel with her sister Jenna, 13, and mother Beth Kahlow, Carmel, on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Children run out onto South Rangeline Road in Carmel to slap hands of passengers riding in the Indy Corvette club caravan that took part in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

A girl riding in the Indy Corvette caravan taking part in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade waves to spectators on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

A giant Elmo and youngsters on the Chateau Kitchens float wave to spectators at the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade along South Rangeline Road on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The parade was one of the highlights of the annual two-day event at the Carmel Civic Square.

Carmel High School students marched in the annual CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Thousands of spectators watch the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade, which kicked off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2015, on South Rangeline Road.

A girl waves to spectators as she rides on the Allstate entry in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Veterans ride on the Hamilton County Navy Club entry in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Sunny skies blessed the annual CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Thousands of spectators lined the parade route. Carmel City Center is shown in the background.

There were some unusual sights in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Thousands of spectators lined the parade route.

A Chinese dragon in the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade heads north on South Rangeline Road past the Carmel City Center on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Sunny skies blessed the annual CarmelFest Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Thousands of spectators lined the parade route.

The end of the CarmelFest Fourth of July parade was a tribute to veterans. The parade, which started at 10:30 a.m. and concluded about 12:30 p.m., drew thousands of spectators on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Midwest Rhythm Exchange performs for the crowds on the lawn at Civic Square during CarmelFest on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Clara Williams, 10, rides the Gyro with her father Derek Williams, Kokomo, in the KidZone at CarmelFest during the Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Triplet Jaxon Wasik, 6, Carmel, enjoys the fun of the Xtreme Jump along with brothers (not shown) Zakary and Bryce in the KidZone at CarmelFest during the Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Ana Everett, Carmel, cools down her 4-year-old twins Reagan (left) and Ethan with Italian Ice in the KidZone at CarmelFest during the Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Children have their faces painted at a booth at CarmelFest on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

This year's expanded KidZone at CarmelFest on Saturday, July 4, 2015 featured an inflatable 150-foot-long 40-feet wide and 26-feet high monster called "The Beast."

Mia Slane, 11, Carmel, twirls two hula hoops on the lawn at Civic Square during CarmelFest on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Children on the Xtreme Jump enjoy this year's expanded KidZone at CarmelFest during the Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

CarmelFest saw great crowds and nice weather on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Food vendors did a booming business throughout the two-day event, which wrapped up with Saturday night's fireworks show.

Scott Kaiser holds the hand of his 4-year-old niece Ellie King-Kaiser from Cincinnati as they enter "The Beast," an inflatable 150-foot-long 40-feet wide and 26-feet high monster at this year's expanded KidZone at CarmelFest on Saturday, July 4, 2015.

Tatiana Patterson, 8, Carmel, takes agony ride in the KidZone at CarmelFest during the Fourth of July celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2015.