OTHELLO - Othello's Fourth of July celebration drew hundreds of residents from their homes and to Lions Park Friday.

Activities like the parade, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, car show, demolition derby and fireworks display kept community members busy from sun up to sun down that day.

And for many families, like the Cerrillo family of Othello, participating in the town's Independence Day festivities is a long-standing tradition.

Joe Cerrillo - along with his wife, Nikki, and children Jake, Natalie and Josh - kicked off their Fourth of July with the town's parade down Main Street.

"We come to the parade every year, although we were running late today and almost missed it," he said. The parade is something his kids look forward to each year, said Cerrillo.

"We like it because it's something fun for the kids to do," he said.

The family even rode in the parade one year, said Nikki Cerrillo. They won the chance to ride in the parade during an auction at a past fundraiser, she said.

The Cerrillo's daughter Natalie, 7, said she considers the parade her favorite part of the day. However, her brothers disagree.

Jake, 10, and Josh, 6, both said the town's fireworks show was their favorite part of the festivities. After the parade, the Cerrillos joined other families at Lions Park to participate in the rest of the day's events.

"We always like to go to the park and see what's going on," Joe Cerrillo said. "It's always fun out there."