BUCKFIELD — Under clear blue skies and picture-perfect weather, hundreds of people lined Route 117 to watch the annual Labor Day Parade on Monday.

There was a party spirit among the watchers as marching bands from Leavitt and Buckfield high schools provided music while children scurried to pick up candy and Mardi Gras beads being passed out from the floats and fire engines.

Winning first place for floats was the Pine Tree No. 33 Campground “Remember When” depiction of suds flying from a bath taker in an old wash tub and an old-fashioned scrub board being used by women in period costumes.

Fire Engines from Buckfield, Turner, Sumner, Norway, Hebron, Paris and West Paris along with a Department of Conservation Forest Protection truck added their colorful and noisy contribution to the holiday atmosphere.

People clapped as the American Legion marched past with Old Glory held high, and laughed as the Krazy Cops from the Shriners did tricks all over the street.

There were floats from Buckfield featuring a live impersonation of Elvis saying, “Thank you very much” to the crowd. Kids fished from the East Sumner Congregational Church float, which read, “Follow Me and I Will Make you Fishers of Men.”

There was an Operation Santa Claus float, Sumner Softball, old cars, tractors, young yoked oxen, horse riders, motorcycle riders, small horses and many others in the parade.

Five-year-old Matthew Veinott said as he fingered his beads from a float, “I liked the race car because my friend Freddy was driving.”

Maryland residents Larry and Judy Stup were delighted with the parade. “This was our first time to come and it was great fun.”

Judy Caldwell, a visitor from New Mexico, said, “I was impressed that Buckfield High School had such a nice band for such a small town. I also got a nice necklace.”

David and Bette MacDonald from the Pine Tree No. 33 Campground sat under the canopy at the field eating corn on the cob. Other food vendors offered polish sausage and onions, lobster rolls, hot dogs, pulled pork and lots of pie selections from the East Sumner Congregational Church.

The high school garden had a stand full of fresh produce from the school garden.

Live music was provided from a high school stage band.

Sara Gibbs, and her son Caleb, 2, of Buckfield, left, watch Monday’s annual Labor Day Parade as others react to firetrucks sounding their horns.

Corrine Turner of Buckfield carries her 11-month-old border collie, Ellie, as she walks in the annual Labor Day Parade in Buckfield on Monday morning. She was walking with others from Operation Santa Claus.