News Photo by Lori Werth The color guard makes its way up Chisholm Street Friday, leading the annual Alpena Fourth of July Parade. Thousands of people lined the streets of Alpena to watch the parade. For more photos of the events in Alpena on Friday, click the CU link and go to We CU.

It looks like Alpena had yet another successful Fourth of July celebration on Friday. Thousands of people turned out to watch the annual Alpena Fourth of July parade, some arriving as early as 8 a.m. to reserve their prime viewing spots along Chisholm Street and Second Avenue. Alpena native Jessica Kaiser said after a three-year hiatus from town she’s glad to be back watching the parade. “It’s fun to come home and relive some nostalgia and share it with family and friends,” she said. First-year parade participant Clairise Grzenkowicz, owner of the Maple Wood Tavern for 67 years, was excited to part of the action instead of standing on the sidelines. “It’s just wonderful. I think it’s the greatest year yet for the parade,” she said. “It’s (Maple Wood Tavern’s) first year in the parade. We’ve had a great time.