Photo By Madeline Scarborough Cousins Troy Bruker and Audrey Armstrong drove a festive vehicle in the North Hills Fourth of July parade on Thursday.

PARKERSBURG — Area children celebrated Independence Day with neighborhood parades Thursday.

More than 30 youngsters traveled up and down Parkview Drive in North Hills Thursday morning.

“My kids enjoy the parade and look forward to it every year,” said Regina Smith, a resident who had two children participate.

The Boy Scouts of America Troop 74 of Vienna, which is sponsored by City Soul Ministries, helped out for the fourth year in a row, presenting the colors, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and leading the parade.

The Waverly Volunteer Fire Department came out to join the kids in the festivities as well.

Photo Provided The community of North Hills kicked off the Fourth of July holiday with an early morning kids parade on Thursday.

“I think it is a great tradition,” said North Hills Mayor Dale Baumgartner.

According to Baumgartner, the parade has been going on for close to 30 years now.

“A lot of people here were a part of the parade as kids, and now they have kids of their own participating,” he said.

“It’s not fancy, but there is a lot of community spirit,” said Baumgartner.

Lilly Jackson, who could be seen driving a battery-powered vehicle in the parade, said that her favorite part was decorating the car with her mommy and driving it in the parade.

Photo By Madeline Scarborough Lilly Jackson enjoys a popsicle after the parade in her decorated battery-powered vehicle in North Hills on Thursday.

This year’s winners for best decorations were:

* First place: William Bashaw.

* Second place: Mckenna Mace.

* Third place: Cousins Troy Bruker and Audrey Armstrong.

In the afternoon, the Parkersburg neighborhood of Willowbrook held its 59th annual Fourth of July parade, which had around 100 participants, including the Parkersburg Fire Department.

Photo By Madeline Scarborough Kids take off in the Willowbrook Fourth of July parade on bikes, in vehicles and some walking Thursday afternoon.

“This all started when the area was first developed,” said Jane Sutton, a resident who was part of the parade’s beginnings.

Sutton said that her dad had the first riding lawnmower in the area, and he would pull her and other kids around the neighborhood in wagons.

“The community got together and had the idea to do it for the Fourth, and so now we do it each year,” Sutton said.

Willowbrook resident Brenda Amos said the event is very community oriented.

“Everyone is in charge of something, and it turns out so nice,” she said. “The kids really look forward to it; they really enjoy it.”

This year’s parade award winners were:

* Best Boy Vehicle: Griffin and Judah Stanley.

* Best Girl Vehicle: Kayten Kimes.

* Best Adult Vehicle: Ronnie McCoy, Amy McCoy, Caroline McCoy and Lily McCoy.

* Best Boy Costume: Finn Cottrill.

* Best Girl Costume: Madison Amos.

* Best Adult Costume: Matt Kimes.

Madeline Scarborough can be contacted at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com