Summer visitors are flocking to the White Mountains, kicking off their shoes and dipping their toes in the cool waters of the region's rivers and streams.

It's been excellent weather for water activities of all kind — bright and sunny — but the lure of the bubbling brooks didn't keep folks in the Lincoln-Woodstock area from celebrating the Fourth of July in style.

The Patriotic Parade participants marched from Alpine Village Resort in North Woodstock to Lincoln, bringing out the red, white and blue in everybody. Woodstock Police Chief Douglas Morehead had one of the more important tasks during the parade. He manned the corner of Route 3 (Main Street, North Woodstock) and Route 112, keeping a fatherly eye on the young children in the road behind him who were eagerly diving after the candy and gum thrown from parade floats.

He also had to redirect the traffic coming from the south and west, ultimately stopping the vehicles as the fire and emergency vehicles' sirens coming from the north announced the beginning of the 2 o'clock parade.

It's been a good summer season so far in the Lincoln-Woodstock area.

“The weather's been cooperating,” Jim Fadden of Fadden's General Store & Maple Sugarhouse said shortly before the start of the parade.

“Look at the town — it's full,” he continued, nodding toward the crowds lining the street waiting for the parade.

Sheri Oddis, a waitress at Peg's Restaurant next door to the general store, agreed the season has been good.

“I'm glad to see the people,” she said Wednesday as she filled in at Fadden's.

“It's been great. We've already hit numbers we usually hit in August,” said Chris Olsen, front desk clerk at the Woodstock Inn, Station & Brewery. The popular eatery is undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion. The new bar — with a very wide pine bar counter — opened last Saturday. Olsen said they expected a quiet opening, but the place was packed and they served 850 diners.

When the parade started, Chief Morehead waved over a car coming into town. He advised the driver to pull over, park his car and enjoy the parade.

And then the color guard came down the street, followed by children of all ages on sparkling bikes and ATVs decorated in red, white and blue, and floats of all shapes and sizes. The grand marshal for the parade, which was sponsored by the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, was the North Country Center for the Arts. Local attractions such as Clark's Trading Post and the Hobo Railroad had fun floats, too.

The parade ended with a long line of fire trucks — active and retired — from the Woodstock and Lincoln fire departments. Children and older people covered their ears as the shiny red vehicles went past.

“That's the last time I'm voting for a new fire truck,” one bystander joked.