A dark brown dog with a red, white and blue cape.

Two light brown dogs with red, white and blue collar decorations.

A white dog with a blue kerchief and a red harness.

A gray dog with a red scarf.

A black dog with a blue shirt in a red wagon.

A black dog on a red leash.

A little brown dog with a red and white vest. How do you like his HAT?

A big brown dog with an orange harness.

A little orange dog on a blue leash.

The July 4th parade is organized by the Ann Arbor Jaycees.

Color guard for the Ann Arbor July 4th parade.

Washtenaw County sheriff Jerry Clayton.

Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie wears his traditional patriotic tie.

Ann Arbor police chief John Seto.

Democrat Chuck Warpehoski is running for re-election as a Ward 5 city councilmember.

Cute kids in a bike brigade.

Graydon Krapohl, vice chair of the city’s park advisory commission, is running unopposed in the Ward 4 city council Democratic primary. The seat is currently held by Margie Teall, who is not seeking re-election.

One of the youngest campaign workers passed out candy.

Democrat Samuel McMullen, a candidate for Ward 3 city council, puts finishing touches on a parade sign.

Samuel McMullen.

Julie Grand, candidate for Ward 3 city council, exhorted onlookers to enjoy the Fourth of July festivities.

An enthusiastic campaigner for Julie Grand.

Bob Dascola is in a three-way race for the Ward 3 city council seat that’s currently held by Christopher Taylor, who is running for mayor. Other Democrats in that race are Julie Grand and Sam McMullen.

Another cute kid on a bike.

Nancy Kaplan, a trustee of the Ann Arbor District Library, is running for Ward 2 city council in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary. Also running is Kirk Westphal.

Ward 2 city councilmember Jane Lumm is not up for re-election this year, but is supporting Nancy Kaplan’s campaign for the other Ward 2 seat that’s currently held by Sally Petersen. Petersen is running for mayor.

Democrat Kirk Westphal, chair of the Ann Arbor planning commission, is running against Nancy Kaplan for Ward 2 city council.

Kirk Westphal, candidate for Ward 2 city council.

This kid made a break for it, but the hand in the right of the frame was attached to a parent who had longer legs than the escapee.

Democrat Don Adams is running for the Ward 1 city council seat against incumbent Democrat Sumi Kailasapathy. He handed out fruit instead of candy during the parade.

Don Adams’ fruit cart.

Democrat Sumi Kailasapathy, the incumbent Ward 1 city councilmember.

Democrats Sumi Kailasapathy and Sabra Briere both represent Ward 1 on the Ann Arbor city council. Briere is running for mayor.

The Huron High drum corps.

A fitness crew rolled this massive tire down the street to prove their awesomeness.

Democrat Andy LaBarre with his son Declan. LaBarre represents Ann Arbor’s District 7 on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners and is seeking re-election.

The Statue of Liberty gets a balloon ride with a birthday cake.

Democrat Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, is seeking re-election and is unopposed in the Aug. 5 primary for District 8. He high-fived his way through the parade course.

Two flags are twice as fun.

Democrat Felicia Brabec of Pittsfield Township is running for re-election to represent District 4 on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. She is unopposed in the primary and faces Republican Stanley Watson in November.

A unicyclist.

Republican Larry Murphy is running for Washtenaw County commissioner in District 1. He is challenging incumbent Democrat Kent Martinez-Kratz.

Washtenaw County Republicans.

The camera caught this little one looking a little glum.

A member of the Derby Dimes.

Democrat Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor, state representative for District 53. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary and faces Republican John Spisak in the November general election.

Jim Toy of the Jim Toy Community Center.

Democrat Adam Zemke, the incumbent for the state House seat representing District 55. He’ll face Republican Leonard Burk in November, but does not have a Democratic challenger for the Aug. 5 primary.

Miss Washtenaw County Daveaux Riggs.

A martial arts demonstration on the street.

State Senator Rebekah Warren of Ann Arbor represents District 18. She’s running for another four-year term and is unopposed in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary. She’ll face Republican Terry Linden in November.

Metro Delivery Uncle Sam.

Debbie Dingell is running for the District 12 Congressional seat held by her husband, John Dingell, who is not seeking re-election. She faces Democrat Raymond G. Mullins in the Aug. 5 primary and Republican Terry Bowman in November.

A member of the St. Francis band.

One of the antique cars on parade included this watermelon on its running board.

Tea Haus float: “Tea Rexes”

John Hieftje walks in his last parade as Ann Arbor mayor. He’s not running for re-election.

Sabra Briere is one of four Democrats – all current city councilmembers – who are running for mayor this year.

Sabra Briere, who sprained her ankle a few weeks ago, was transported by pedicab.

Democrat Stephen Kunselman, current Ward 3 councilmember, is running for mayor.

Stephen Kunselman is flanked by his twin daughters and other supporters.

Democrat Sally Petersen is a Ward 2 city councilmember who’s also running for mayor.

Sally Petersen.

Sally Petersen’s float included the band Pitch Cocktail and the Molotovs

Democrat Christopher Taylor is a Ward 3 councilmember who is also running for mayor.

Christopher Taylor.

Eva Rosenwald, who is married to Christopher Taylor, greets a supporter.

The Detroit Parade Company’s Bo Schembechler walked near the parade’s end. And those who stayed until the end were, in fact, champions.

The Ann Arbor July 4th parade is organized by the Ann Arbor Jaycees.

The grand marshal for this year's Ann Arbor July 4th parade was Kim Barnes Arico, the new University of Michigan women’s basketball head coach, who rode with her daughter Emma.

Democrat Daniel Marcin is challenging long-time U.S Rep. John Dingell for the District 12 congressional seat, which includes Ann Arbor. Dingell now represents District 15, but boundaries have been redrawn as a result of redistricting to create this new district. Dingell – the longest-serving current member of Congress – did not attend the Ann Arbor parade, but was represented by his wife, Debbie Dingell, and other supporters. The winner of the Democratic primary will face a Republican in November – either Karen Jacobsen or Cynthia Kallgren.

Jeff Irwin, an Ann Arbor Democrat who's running for his second two-year term in the state House of Representatives for District 53, is facing challenger Thomas Partridge in the Aug. 7 primary. The winner of that race will be competing in November against Republican John Spisak, who is unopposed in the primary.

A Jeff Irwin supporter pulls his "float" on a bicycle trailer.

Last year, Adam Zemke drove the car for U.S. Rep. John Dingell's entry in the July 4th parade. This year, the Ann Arbor Democrat had his own entry – he's running for state representative in District 55. He'll face Ypsilanti Democrat Andrea Brown-Harrison in the primary, with the winner running against Republican Owen Diaz, the former mayor of Milan, in November. Diaz is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Supporters of Democrat Andrea Brown-Harrison, who's running for District 55 in the Michigan House of Representatives. She is facing Adam Zemke in the primary.

Rebekah Warren and Conan Smith drive to their staging spot before the start of the July 4th parade. Warren is state senator for District 18 but is not up for re-election until 2014. Smith, her husband, is chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners and is running unopposed in the Democratic primary to represent District 9 in Ann Arbor. He will face Republican John Floyd in November for a two-year term on the county board.

State Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-District 18) does not need to contest and election this year – her four-year term ends in 2014.

Republican Rob Steele, an Ann Arbor cardiologist who ran against Congressman John Dingell in 2010, is now campaigning for a position on the University of Michigan board of regents.

Carol Kuhnke is running for judge on the 22nd Circuit Court – along with three others in this non-partisan race: Erane Washington, Doug McClure and Jim Fink. The four candidates will compete in the Aug. 7 primary. The two who garner the most votes will move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

Erane Washington is one of four judicial candidates for an open seat on the 22nd Circuit Court now held by judge Melinda Morris, who is ineligible for re-election because she is past the statutory age limit of 70. Washington and Carol Kuhnke had entries in the Ann Arbor July 4th parade, but the other two candidates – Doug McClure and Jim Fink – did not.

Tim Connors, who has served as a 22nd Circuit Court judge since 1997, is running for another six-year term and faces challenger Mike Woodyard in the non-partisan November election. Woodyard did not participate in the Ann Arbor parade.

Christina Montague, a Democrat and former chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, is hoping to return to the county board for District 7. To do that, she'll need to beat Andy LaBarre in the Aug. 7 primary and Republican David Parker in November. The new Ann Arbor district, formed as a part of redistricting that takes effect with this election cycle, would have been the seat of incumbent Barbara Bergman, who is not seeking re-election.

Andy LaBarre is running for District 7 on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, facing Christina Montague in the Aug. 7 primary. The winner of that race will face Republican David Parker in November. Walking with LaBarre in the July 4th parade is his wife, Megan.

Yousef Rabhi rides his scooter with the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. For his re-election bid to the county board of commissioners, he is unopposed in the Democratic primary but faces Republican challenger Joe Baublis in November to represent District 8 in Ann Arbor.

Felicia Brabec is seeking re-election to her first full two-year term on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. She was appointed to the board in October of 2011 and won a special election this May. The Pittsfield Township Democrat is unopposed in the primary but will face Republican Richard Conn in November.

Democrat Evan Pratt, an Ann Arbor resident who currently serves on the city's planning commission, is running for the position of Washtenaw County water resources commissioner. He's endorsed by Janis Bobrin, the current water resources commissioner who decided not to run for another term. Pratt faces Harry Bentz in the Aug. 7 primary, and the winner will run against Republican Eric Scheie in November.

Democrat Harry Bentz of Ann Arbor is vying for the job of Washtenaw County water resources commissioner. In the Democratic primary he'll be running against Evan Pratt, who also lives in Ann Arbor. The incumbent, Janis Bobrin, is not seeking-re-election. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Ann Arbor resident Eric Scheie, who is running unopposed in the Republican primary.

Janis Bobrin, Washtenaw County water resources commissioner, talks with Ann Arbor city councilmember Stephen Kunselman. This will likely be the last parade for Bobrin, who has served for more than two decades. Bobrin, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election. As she traditionally does, this year she walked the parade with county prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie. Mackie is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and does not face a Republican challenger in the November general election. Kunselman is up for re-election in 2013, and walked the parade with the Ann Arbor Democrats.

Jerry Clayton, Washtenaw County sheriff, is running for his second four-year term. He is unopposed in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary, but faces Republican Jeffrey Gallatin in the November general election.

Catherine McClary is seeking another four-year term as Washtenaw County treasurer. She is unopposed in the Democratic primary, but will face Republican Marlene Chockley in November.

Washtenaw County clerk Larry Kestenbaum, a Democrat, is unopposed in the August primary but will be challenged by Republican Stanley Watson in November.

Sumi Kailasapathy with some of her supporters before the start of the July 4th parade. Kailasapathy, a Democrat, is running against Eric Sturgis in the Aug. 7 primary for a Ward 1 seat currently held by Sandi Smith, who is not seeking re-election. No Republican is seeking that seat.

Eric Sturgis, right, is seeking the Ward 1 Ann Arbor city council seat currently held by Sandi Smith. He is facing Sumi Kailasapathy in the Aug. 7 primary.

Sally Petersen, right, is making her first run for Ann Arbor city council, hoping to defeat incumbent Tony Derezinski in the Ward 2 Democratic primary. Unless an independent enters the race, the winner of the primary will be unopposed in November.

Democrat Tony Derezinski, the incumbent Ward 2 Ann Arbor city councilmember, is seeking his third two-year term. He'll face challenger Sally Petersen in the Aug. 7 primary. There is no Republican running in Ward 2. His usual mode of transportation is a Harley, but he rode a different kind of bike for the parade.

Democrat Jack Eaton is challenging incumbent Margie Teall in the Ward 4 city council race. No Republicans are running in that ward. To the right is one of Eaton's supporters, Rita Mitchell.

Democrat Mike Anglin, Ward 5 city councilmember, isn't up for re-election this year, but drove in the parade to support Jack Eaton and Sumi Kailasapathy. Eaton and Kailasapathy are running for council in wards 4 and 1, respectively.

Margie Teall, the incumbent Ward 4 city council representative, is seeking re-election and faces Jack Eaton in the Aug. 7 Democratic primary. She did not originally have an entry in the parade, but mayor John Hieftje offered her the space that the Ann Arbor Jaycees had allotted him – as he was out of town for the parade.

Republican Stuart Berry is running for a Ward 5 city council seat, and in November will face the winner of the Democratic primary – either Vivienne Armentrout or Chuck Warpehoski.

Chuck Warpehoski, a candidate for Ward 5 city council, is running against Vivienne Armentrout in the Democratic primary. They are seeking the seat held by fellow Democrat Carsten Hohnke, who is not running for re-election. Hohnke has endorsed Warpehoski in the primary.

Mike Henry, co-chair of the Ann Arbor Democratic Party.

David Cahill, who's helping to organize the Democratic Party's effort to re-elect Barack Obama, walks with the Washtenaw County Democratic Party.

Erica Kennedy, Miss Washtenaw's Outstanding Teen. (This caption originally mis-identified Kennedy as Lauren Brown, who is Miss Washtenaw.)

A member of the Ann Arbor Derby Dimes.

More skaters with the Ann Arbor Derby Dimes.

Ann Arbor Ringette players on the street.

Ann Arbor chief of police John Seto.

Skyline High School marching band. What's a July 4th parade without a marching band? But in recent years, that's been a rarity for the Ann Arbor event. Thanks to Skyline musicians for stepping up this year!

Drum major with the Skyline High School marching band.

Members of the Skyline High School marching band.

Bob Dascola gets ready for the Backwards Clown Brigade.

This Lady Liberty was an entry for the Ann Arbor Baptist Church – one of the few floats in the Ann Arbor July 4th parade.

Alan Haber, walking with the Gray Panthers of Washtenaw.

Members of the Redford Jaycees Lawn Mower Drill Corps execute choreography that was appreciated by the crowd.

The D3 Fife & Drum Corps marked the end of the 2012 Ann Arbor July 4th parade.

Neal Elyakin, center, greets Mike Anglin before the start of the parade. Anglin is the incumbent Ward 5 Ann Arbor city councilmember. Elyakin is running against him in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary. At the right is Tom Wall, former mayoral candidate.

Steve Kunselman, incumbent Ward 3 city councilmember, with his wife Letitia Kunselman. He's being challenged in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary by Ingrid Ault and Marwan Issa. Neither challenger had entries in the July 4th parade.

State Rep. Jeff Irwin (center, blue shirt) with his supporters on South State Street. Irwin, a Democrat, represents Ann Arbor's District 53 in the Michigan House of Representatives. He was first elected to that office in 2010, after serving on the Washtenaw County board of commissioners for a decade. He's faces re-election in 2012.

Larry Murphy, a candidate for the Ann Arbor Public Schools board of trustees, with his family. The slogan on the back of the T-shirts read: "More Teachers. Less Overhead."

Former Scio Township trustee Jean King, a Democrat, remains a political activist. She rode with the Gray Panthers of Washtenaw County. (Image links to Ann Arbor Chronicle column about a March 2011 tribute event and naming of the Jean Ledwith King Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan.)

Doug Kelley isn't running for office, but the Democratic activist is already gearing up for the 2012 presidential campaign.

U.S. Congressman John Dingell rides in the passenger seat, with his wife Debbie Dingell in back. The car is being driven by Adam Zemke, former Democratic candidate for Washtenaw County commissioner.

Washtenaw County sheriff Jerry Clayton was among the many elected officials who walked the Ann Arbor Fourth of July parade. First elected in 2008 after defeating fellow Democrat and incumbent Dan Minzey, Clayton will be up for re-election in 2012.

The Washtenaw County Republicans and the Willow Run Tea Party Caucus both had entries in the Ann Arbor Fourth of July parade.

Stuart Berry, right, is a Republican candidate for Ward 5 Ann Arbor city council. He'll face the winner of the Democratic primary – either incumbent Mike Anglin or Neal Elyakin – in November. (Notice in the background The Chronicle's name on the Michigan Theater marquee – for our sponsorship of the theater's summer documentary film series. Image links to series schedule.)

State Sen. Rebekah Warren represents District 18 in the Michigan Senate, an area that includes Ann Arbor. A Democrat, she was elected to the state senate in 2010 to a four-year term.

Brian Mackie, Janis Bobrin and Sabra Briere walk together down East Liberty. Briere (right, taking a photograph) is a Ward 1 Ann Arbor city councilmember running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Mackie, Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney, and Bobrin, the county's water resources commissioner, are also Democrats and will face re-election in 2012.

Some non-political clowns: Bob Dascola, left, with his clown pal were promoting Shakespeare in the Park, a summer series in West Park. (Image links to Blackbird Theatre website with more information.)

Just in case anyone wondered, this sign makes it clear that anything coming after these guys isn't part of the official parade. Notice the "Recall Snyder" sign in the background – supporters of the recall effort of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, an Ann Arbor area resident, were out collecting signatures for the recall petition.

Charlie White and Meryl Davis, University of Michigan students and Olympic silver medalists in ice dance figure skating. They were the grand marshals of the parade.