Provo holds annual Fourth of July parade

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Provo to watch this year's Grand Parade organized by America's Freedom Festival at Provo.

Joe Costello, a U.S. Navy veteran, rode along on one of the parade's most unique floats, a model of a nuclear submarine named the USS Utah.

It's a great honor to be in the Freedom Festival parade here in Provo," Costello said. "It's really great to see one, all these floats, how amazing they are and then see the people lining the route. It's really great.

The parade is the largest of its kind in the Western United States and features floats, military vehicles and even horseback riders.

This years event was made extra patriotic by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It celebrated God, freedom, family and country. Parade participants included classic cars, giant ice cream cones and a Chick-Fil-A float.

Parade attendee Sofia Mortensen visited the parade for the first time this year.

I just wanted to be a part of the energy," Mortensen said. "I heard that Provo has a great parade and I wanted to see it for myself."

The parade kicked off the final day of the Freedom Festival at Provos celebrations, concluding months of preparation by thousands of volunteers and workers.