The Kiddie Parade, a long-standing tradition in Coeur d'Alene's Independence Day festivities, attracted roughly 1,300 children to the city's downtown area on Friday.

The event is sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department with no entry fee to participants and all are welcome.

This year's parade theme was "Celebrating Rock 'n' Roll."

Participants were judged in five categories. Here are the this year's winners:

BEST DECORATED FOR THEME (CELEBRATING ROCK 'N' ROLL)

First place - Bently and Carter Knoll, Jailhouse Rock

Second place - Gabe Meyer, Elvis's Rock Show

MOST ORIGINAL

First place - Anna Claire Graupman, Tristan Riplinger and Shannon Riplinger, Rock & Roll USA

Second place - Danielle Sablan and Kyndell Sablan, Rock N Roller Coaster

MOST PATRIOTIC

First place - Asia, Maya, Micah and Emme (last names not provided), Patriotic Bike Wagon

Second place - Damien Davis, Ireland and Terri Heinrich and Maddox Hammond, Patriotic Bear

FLOATS

First place - Coana Tapia, Reggie Moretz

Second place - Sam Johns

COSTUMES

First place - Sofia, Scarlett, Sam and Sullivan Green; Greasers

Second place - McKinley Thomson

Today's events

The annual American Heroes Parade will kick off the Fourth of July festivities today in Coeur d'Alene.

The parade, expected to be an hour-long event, begins at 11 a.m. and will proceed along Sherman Avenue to Northwest Boulevard. An all-day festival follows at City Park with food and non-food vendors, entertainment and karaoke for the kids.

The fireworks show will begin downtown over Lake Coeur d'Alene at dusk, about 9:45-10 p.m.