BUCKFIELD – Hundreds of people lined Routes 117 and 140 on Monday for the 24th annual Buckfield Community Days Parade.

The theme, “Let Freedom Ring,” rang out for the entire parade, and the Buckfield Middle School contingent led the crowd in pledging allegiance to the flag as it passed along the route.

The winning float was the Recreational Department’s entry, a mock Army tank with “Support our Troops” as the slogan.

The Blue Ribbon for antique cars went to a 1938 Hudson.

Whether sitting in cars or lawn chairs or gathered on the grassy knoll in front of the library, people of all ages anticipated the arrival of the parade. A chorus of “Happy Birthday” rang out for Kate Buck as she sat among relatives waiting for the parade.

Fifteen floats, a marching band from Leavitt High School, antique cars, ATVs, firetrucks from neighboring towns as well as Buckfield’s new engine, bikers, bicycles, horseback riders and others paraded along the route.

All together there were about 300 parade participants, according to Jillian Chabe of the Recreational Committee, which organizes the event each year. Last year a Labor Day Committee was formed to aid in the organizational efforts with Everett Tilton, Rossie Kyllonen, Shirley Bennett and Debbie Wetherell.

The parade, which lasted 30 minutes, culminated in the lower field behind the Town Hall. There, vendors in numerous booths showed off their wares. As the smell of hamburgers and hot dogs wafted over the crowds, long lines formed in front of the American Legion post. Lines were almost as long for homemade pies from the Sumner Congregational booth.

Mable Dunn sat in her booth surrounded by crocheted and knitted items from her own hands. Other booths displayed original hand-crafted jewelry.

There were many types of games for kids, and a stage was set for entertainment from A and M, a local DJ group presenting music and offering karaoke.

Ticket sales ran high for the annual rubber ducky race. Kelly Wilkinson was in charge of the ducks that were dumped in the river. Prizes were awarded to the first three ducks to cross the finish line. There were 135 ducks sold for the race and the proceeds go toward next year’s expenses for Community Days.