ANDOVER – Fog in the valleys and mountains surrounding Andover on Saturday morning gave way to a beautiful blue-sky day that was just perfect for the town’s traditional socializer: Olde Home Days.

Prior to 10 a.m., hundreds of people of all ages lined both sides of Main Street from one end of the village to the other, waiting to enjoy one of the most unusual parades for a rural Western Maine community.

Preceding a procession of Andover, Newry and River-Valley area firetrucks and Med-Care Ambulance and Andover Rescue, came children and adults riding all-terrain vehicles of all shapes and sizes, horseback riders, a fully licensed 1974 Volkswagen and children pushing old-fashioned doll carriages. They were also joined by floats matching this year’s festival theme, “A River Runs Through It,” in honor of Ellis River, and eight World War II armored vehicles from the collection of Andover resident Larry Costa.

The Army-green convoy, which drew lots of applause, included a Ford amphibious G.P.A. jeep, two amphibious six-wheel-drive trucks called DUKWs, a scout car, an M-20 armored scout car, a Half Track, an M-5 “Mighty Mouse” light tank and an M-36 tank destroyer tank.

Six people from Le Paresseux heralded parade participants bearing flags and performing on two drums and cymbals.

Making just as much, if not louder, noise than the emergency responder vehicles, were several members of The Ancient Ones of Maine, a group of pre-1814 re-enactors, many of whom repeatedly blasted the air with black-powder rifles and pistols.

“I loved it,” Chris Jamison of Mexico said of the parade, which lasted about an hour. “It’s a lot of fun to come here.”

“It was pretty cool. I liked the firetrucks best,” Jamison’s 4-year-old son, Jack, said, shortly before waving wildly to Smokey Bear seated in the bed of a pickup truck, bringing up the rear of the parade.

Although the Jamison family has been coming to Olde Home Days for the last few years, it was Jack’s 12-month-old brother Brody’s first time.

“He just likes loud noises,” Jack Jamison said of Brody.

But loud sirens caused 6-year-old Alex Shaw and her sister, Abby, 3, both of New Gloucester, to clasp their hands over their ears. Abby was also frightened by the black-powder gun shots which could be heard booming like backfires long before the parade ever reached the town center.

Like many in the crowd, Claude Belyea of Roxbury, Jack and Brody Jamison’s grandfather, said he visits Andover during Olde Home Days every year to see all of his relatives and to enjoy the festivities.

After the parade, most people filtered back into the town common, visiting many food and merchandise vendors packed into the large area, and also visited vendors booths lining Main Street.

Other events on Saturday included foot races, children’s games, a pie-eating contest, a fly-casting contest, a firemen’s muster, arm wrestling, wagon rides and a dance. The festival ends today with an all-day horse show.