The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Residents of the Elkins Mountain School travel the Elkins Fourth of July parade route on Saturday while a band on their float plays patriotic songs.

ELKINS – On Saturday, the City of Elkins celebrated America’s 250th Independence Day with a variety of activities including the Fourth of July Parade. Despite pop-up thunderstorms in the area, the parade began around 5 p.m. in downtown Elkins, starting on South Davis Avenue and concluding near Randolph Avenue.

This year’s parade featured decorating contests in multiple categories, including ATV/UTVs, bikes, performance groups and floats. Participants took part in the parade to display their hard work and creativity and compete to win in each category. All first-, second- and third-place winners received a cash prize.

The top three finishers in the ATV/UTV category were Jessica Mallow, who received first place; Stacy Bennett, second place; and Danielle Daugherty, third place.

Winners in the children’s bike decorating contest included Rylee Smith, first place; Izeah Turner, second place; and Lincoln Rinehart, third place.

In the group division, the Country Beauty Twirlers received first place and the West Virginia Highland Dancers placed second. There was no third-place finisher this year as there were just two performance groups.

The float winners for this year’s parade included the Elkins Mountain School, which received first place; Rosie the Riveter’s, second place; and Randolph and Tucker County Special Olympics, third place.

The podium finishers in each category were announced at Elkins City Hall following the parade.

This is the second year Elkins has hosted a Fourth of July Parade, with a goal to involve the community either through spectating the creative displays and decorations or by participating in them.

The bike and scooter decorating contest was for children ages 12 and under.

In addition to the performing groups, floats and decorated bikes and ATVs, the parade included re-enactors of figures such as Betsy Ross and Uncle Sam, local businesses and fire departments.

Concluding the day’s celebrations after the parade, a free concert took place in the Rotary Amphitheatre, and after dark, Elkins was lit up again by a display of fireworks.