LOWELL — At the sound of the first siren, waving ensued.
An enormous crowd of people continued the cordial gesture for the next three hours as Lowell's 98th Labor Day parade made its way down Commercial Avenue.
By the end of the event, arms might have been a little tired but spectators walked away happy.
Kids were certainly cheerful as they left with mounds of treats that were passed out from the parade participants.
“I got 20 pounds of candy and then some,” Nevaeh Fritts, of DeMotte, shouted after the event.
Her mother, Crystal Fritts, said she also enjoyed herself, and her favorite moment came when she heard the Lowell High School Marching Red Devils.
Crystal Fritts said Monday was “the first time in a long time” she watched the Labor Day parade, and she was happy her family attended it.
“This was great,” she said.
As much as she enjoyed watching the Lowell High School band, members of the Marching Red Devils also had a great time during the event.
Ava Lowe, a freshman in the high school color guard, has marched twice in the parade. Lowe said the procession starts off easy, but it can get a little tiring.
“I bear through it,” she said.
Although slightly fatigued, it didn't take away from the fun of participating in the parade, Lowe said.
In addition to the Marching Red Devils, there were more than 100 other entries, ensuring the event had something for everyone.
The Mi Ranchito dancing horses, Pitch Black Drumline and Northwest Indiana Jeepers were among the entries attracting heavy attention.
The Jeepers, a club of Jeep vehicle owners, caught spectators' eyes as they performed a maneuver in which one Jeep would climb up the wheel of another parked Jeep.
Some took selfies in front of the Jeeps while the vehicle stayed elevated for a few seconds.
Much planning goes into organizing the annual parade, and the same applies for watching it.
Days before the event, people began claiming their spots by setting up chairs and tents along Commercial Avenue.
When Monday arrived, the spectators showed up hours before it kicked off to get ready to view it.
At the parade's conclusion, Gisela Peterson was among the people who walked away satisfied.
With a smile on her face, she said the parade attracted a great turnout and the weather was perfect.