BRISTOL Camille Sene had never seen anything like it before.

The pageantry of hometown floats, military vehicles, the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department color guard and the rhythmic drumming of school marching bands filled the air outside the village hall where she was standing and helping children catch candy tossed their way.

This is so cool, said Sene, a foreign exchange student from Ren, France, who was attending her first Bristol Progress Days Parade Sunday afternoon. Its cute. Im impressed. In France, we dont do anything like this.

Sene said where shes from, they do fireworks, but not a parade, on Frances independence day.

The annual Bristol Progress Days parade, is among the most popular activities of the three-day annual festival touted as the biggest small town celebration in the state. Despite road construction on Highway 45, large crowds attended its events, culminating with fireworks at dusk Sunday night.

Mike Saad, of Bristol, who has been playing host to Sene as she is preparing to attend Kenosha Unified high school classes this fall, said the parade is something he and his family have enjoyed each year.

Weve been coming out here for 15 years now. Its family tradition, he said. This has always been a time for the community to get together and celebrate so we get to see some of the older community members. Its a big kinda family, community get together.

Saad said Sene just arrived a few days ago and thought the gathering would give her an idea of a true hometown celebration.

For Lori Stanford, the Bristol Progress Day parade tops them all.

Its the best parade of the year, said Stanford, of Kenosha. This one is my favorite because its very family-oriented and my kids like the candy.

The candy, of course, is among the highlights for children of all ages.

Ah, this is hilarious, said Elizabeth Johnson, of Pleasant Prairie, who was enjoying the Elvis impersonator in the procession.

She said she was attending her first Bristol Progress Days parade awaiting the Kenosha Unifieds Rambler middle school marching band, where her daughter, Amy Maurina, 14, was performing.

She plays the trumpet and loves it, she said.

Mike Block, of Yorkville, Ill., couldnt wait to see his grandaughter Riley Achteroff, of Kenosha, who was in the parade with her Girl Scout troop.

Its fantastic. Were really having a good time, he said. It moves along and its entertaining and its really nice.

Katie Molinaro of Kenosha said that while the parade is longer than most that she and her kids Hailie, 4, and Haiden, have attended the family was having a good time.

I enjoy it. They enjoy it, she said.

Lisa Hufnagle, who played the trumpet in grade school and was in Central High Schools marching band, was also in the parade last year handing out candy and promoting her church. She said shes loving being a spectator for once.

I think its great. Im really enjoying this, she said.

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Progress Day impresses with pageantry, sweets and more | Local ... - Kenosha News