COEUR d’ALENE — While standing on a patch of grass and enjoying a freshly procured parade lollipop, Soren Swingrover described one of his favorite parts of the Kiddie Parade.

"I liked the dog that had the helmet. He was funny," the Coeur d'Alene 6-year-old said with a grin. "He kept stopping and he looked like he would run."

Soren's friend, Cooper Hermes, 7, also shared one of his observations.

"I liked when the kid was in the police car and the kid was waving to people," Cooper said. "The policeman was driving and looking at people."

Soren, Cooper and more than 1,000 other youngsters and their families got into the Fourth of July spirit Friday morning as the annual Kiddie Parade rolled, strolled, marched and trotted along Sherman Avenue.

Bubbles floated on the breeze, children's laughter could be heard throughout the masses of people, and parade-goers sprawled on blankets and in camping chairs along the route to view the red, white and blue extravaganza.

This year's theme was "Wide World of Sports," which explains just why Fleischmann the black Lab paraded in a bike helmet.

"Ironman is such a part of Coeur d’Alene, it was a good theme for the parade," said Brady King of Coeur d'Alene, whose parade group, including the dog, wore swimming, biking and running gear.

She laughed as she discussed how she was persuaded to be in the parade.

"I originally only agreed to do this because my mother-in-law wanted her grandson in the parade, but it actually ended up being really fun," she said.

About 1,000 children participated in the 2016 Kiddie Parade, which is sponsored by the Coeur d'Alene Recreation Department.

The parade included every imaginable form of patriotic flair, from tinsel and banners to sunglasses and headbands. It also featured an abundance of happy kids and canines, glittery Shetland ponies and entries from Lake City Figure Skating and St. Thomas Catholic Church. One group even brought along its love of Star Wars and carried a life-sized cardboard cutout of Chewbacca.

Recreation superintendent Paula Austin said the parade usually takes place on the third of July, except when the Fourth falls on a weekend or Monday, like this year. She said the parade, which is free to participate in, has been a tradition in Coeur d'Alene for more than 40 years. She said she remembers being in the Kiddie Parade when she was about 4 or 5 years old.

"It brings tears to my eyes because I’ve lived here forever and there’s some traditions that we’ve managed to keep, and this is one of those traditions," she said. "I’m very fortunate. I get to work with kids all the time, but usually it’s in a sports environment, so that’s different than being with the kids when they’re out here with their parents, happy, it’s the third of July, everyone’s happy. The parents are happy, there’s no expectation of anything but bring the kiddo to the parade."

Judges gave awards for five categories: best-decorated for theme, most original, most patriotic, floats and costumes. Here are the winners:

Best decorated for Wide World of Sports theme:

• First place — Liam Fields — Tractor and wagon decorated in Fourth of July and sports theme.

• Second place — Parker, Carli and Cassie Chaffin — Wagons decorated in swim attire and patriotic attire.

Most original:

• First place — Tucker Inman-Melius, Griffin and Alex Patterson — Fourth of July Rocking R.

• Second Place — Rilee, Max and Jack Joslin — Fourth of July Bike Brigade.

Most patriotic:

• First place — Scarlett and Damon Myssey — Brother and sister driving in a toy car with baby carriage decked out in Fourth of July decorations.

• Second place — Conan and Daisy Tapia and Reggie Moretz — Team USA; gymnast and soccer player on scooters and a baby swimmer in a wagon.

Floats:

• First place — Anna Graupman, David and Laurel Maiani, Ehren and Layne Brewer, Ayla and Branson McAlister — All-American rodeo theme.

• Second place — Tanner Stern and Berkley Watson — All-American football theme.

Costumes:

• First place — Bentley and Carter Knoll — Ironman and lead motorcyclist.

• Second place — David Bartlett — Captain America.