That's how Adreana Toth described the Chugiak Area Business Association Fourth of July parade Sunday.

"I am so glad we still have this small town feel," said Toth as she watched her children scamper after candy being tossed from passing floats.

Floats came in all sorts: a depiction of the planting of the American flag on the moon, war veterans, local beauty queens and fire trucks, including one spraying water to cool down the gathered crowds. They all lined up at the Latimer Fire Station for the several mile slow ride down the Old Glenn Highway to the Chugiak Senior Center.

Many participants shouted out, "Happy Fourth" and waved flags celebrating this year's theme, "Fly the Flag with Honor."

For Miss Birchwood Michelle Sauvageau, it was the chance to ride in the back of a friend's red four-wheel drive truck.

"Very cool," she said.

Sauvageau found herself being a bit too generous at the start of the parade with the three bags of candy bought by dad, Mike.

"I thought oh, no," she said after arriving at the parade's end. "I better slow down so I have some left for kids at the end, too."

This year's parade featured 11 categories for judging. The winners:

Best Boy: Gabriel and Levi Perry as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone.

Best Girl: Laura Perry as Betsy Ross.

Best Commercial: Old Chugiak Post Office by the Trig Bjorkland family.

Best Children's Group: the Daring Mustangs and Longriders Legend 4-H horse groups.

Best Vehicle: 1969 white Plymouth owned by Ralph Moody.

Best Animal: Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue with a cart full of adoptable dogs.

Best Decorated: Horse Drawn Carriage Company driven by Jon Nauman with friends in the wagon and horses Moose and Pete pulling the hitch.

Best Nonprofit: Alaska Veterans Memorial Museum.

Most Patriotic: American Legion Post 33 Statue of Liberty float.

Judges' Choice: Alaska Morgan Horse Association's Paula's Secret Destiny light horse express wagon with state and national flags.

Special Fire Department Award: the Moon Landing float with astronauts depicting the Apollo 11 Mission planting the American flag on the moon

The parade was judged by Debbie Ossiander, Burl Rogers and Jennifer Steiner.