Ross Lewis and Charles Dean pose July 3 beside a military truck judged the Most Patriotic in the Tri-Town 4th of July Parade in Livermore Falls. Submitted photo

REGION — The Tri–Town 4th of July Parade made a spectacular return this year, uniting residents of Jay and Livermore Falls in a vibrant celebration of Independence Day. Organized by Kristie Cooper, chairman of the Tri–Town 4th of July parade, Ashley Brewer and their dedicated team, the parade featured a variety of creative and patriotic floats, with participants competing for monetary awards.

The parade commenced at 5 p.m. from Memco on Main Street in Jay and proceeded to Water Street in Livermore Falls. The parade began with many fire trucks from the Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls fire departments.

A highlight of the event was a float carrying 24 veterans organized by Jeff Cooper, offering a heartfelt tribute to those who have served the nation. The float was well-received by the crowd with lots of cheers.

The parade showcased a diverse array of participants and floats, including: Lafluers, Otis Federal Credit Union, Franklin County GOP, Androscoggin Bank, Jay–Niles Memorial Library, Paris Farmers Union, Kora Motor Corps, Red Hat Society, USPS Truck, Spruce Mountain Democrats and various ATVs, wagons and classic cars.

The Three Little Pigs Float has a Big Bad Wolf following behind the little houses July 3 in Jay. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

The Cooper family’s “Three Little Pigs” float was a crowd favorite, featuring representations of houses made of brick, sticks and hay, and even included a big bad wolf walking alongside.

People handed out American flags, candy and little pink squeaky pigs, delighting the children in the crowd. Special appearances by Trevor Burns as Uncle Sam and Audrey Jacques as the Statue of Liberty added a touch of historical flair to the celebrations.

Awards were presented to the standout floats in the following categories: Most Patriotic: Military Truck, Most Creative: Mario Karts and Judges’ Choice: Red Hats. The prizes were $100 Visa gift cards for each winner.

In a heartfelt message on Facebook, Cooper expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the parade. “I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone that helped bring back the Tri–town 4th of July parade,” Cooper wrote. “Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the parade, there wouldn’t have been a parade without you. To the police departments, the fire departments and the town offices, thank you for all your help and shared knowledge. And a huge thank you to my husband Jeff Cooper and Ron Morin, chairman of the Memorial Day parade. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

The Tri–Town Fireworks were held July 3 after the parade. They were coordinated by the Jay–Livermore–Livermore Falls Chamber of Commerce. The display was set off from the Spruce Mountain Ski Slope at dusk, approximately 9 p.m., and attracted a large crowd lining the streets to watch the night sky light up.

Organizers are already looking forward to expanding the event next year, with hopes of increasing participation and community involvement. Meetings for the 2025 parade planning will resume in March. “See you all next year,” Cooper said.