Photos: Alameda Fourth of July parade

ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Members of the U.S. Coast Guard participate in the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Members of the U.S. Coast Guard special unit wave at spectators during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, left, and her daughter Lt. Junior Grade Aileen Fagan wave American flags atop a convertible during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Kaimira of Legacies Drag Show, of Alameda, participates in the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Alameda Boys and Girls Scouts Troop 1015 participate during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Lion dancers interact with spectators during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Denise Lemon, of Oakland, takes photos with her cellphone of participants during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Rhythmix Cultural Works float moves on Park Street during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Benjamin Vasquez, of Hayward, atop an African bull or Ankole-Watusi along with a couple dozen Mexican American charros participate during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Taisan dancing of Oakland participate during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: A participant with an American flag jogs past spectators during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: U.S. Marine Corps chaplain Ross Young acknowledges the crowd during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Spectators watch particpants in the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: A participant with American flags jogs past spectators during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Jose cruz of Hayward, horseback rides along with a couple dozen Mexican American charros during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Luisa Perez, of Castro Valley, horseback rides along with a couple dozen Mexican American charros during the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 4: Sikh Riders of America participate in the Alameda's annual Mayor's Fourth of July parade on Park Street in Alameda, Calif., on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

By Ray Chavez | rchavez@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: July 4, 2019 at 4:27 p.m. | UPDATED: July 5, 2019 at 4:18 a.m.

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More than 160 floats and 2,500 participants traveled a three-mile route during the Alameda annual Mayor’s Fourth of July Parade, one of the largest and longest Independence Day parades in the nation.

The parade started with the 3.1 Mayor R.A.C.E., which stands for former mayor Ralph Appezzato Charity Event, a non-profit organization that supports the Midway Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Alameda.

Thousands of spectators arrived early to save their best spot along the route to watch city officials, emergency personal, members of the armed forces – active and retired – colorful floats, antique cars, multi-ethnic dance groups and live bands, horses and African bulls, just to name a few, entertained the crowd.

The parade attracts families year after year to celebrate the Fourth of July.