MIDDLEBORO — On Fourth of July, Middleboro bleeds red, white and blue. 

The town’s patriotic spirit came alive during the annual North Middleboro Independence Day parade on Thursday, July 4.

All sorts of vehicles, from old, refurbished go-karts, to boats, antique tractors and rebuilt trucks traveled down a Plymouth Street that was packed with spectators. 

Love for this annual celebration permeated the air, as Middleboro residents and those from surrounding towns brought forth their patriotism and relished spending time with family and friends. 

For Middleboro resident Eric Olson, the Fourth of July is “all about America.” 

Olson comes to the parade every year. The tradition, he said, is about “being able to support everybody and hav[ing] my people out here supporting me.” 

He loves the parade because of the variety of forms of transportation that people travel in. “Middleboro lets you do whatever you want, that’s what I like about it,” he said. His favorite part? “The tractors.”

Riding on one was David Roy, who debuted the 1965 tractor he spent the last year rebuilding. For Roy, the day was all about family. 

Before the parade began, he anticipated that he would feel like “the richest man in the world” being up in the driver’s seat. Roy had attached a platform to the back of the tractor to transport his family members. 

“I hit the lottery with the ones I love,” he said. 

Friends Donna Fontes and Carol Conway cheered on those in the float parade from the sidelines, as they do every year. 

They love coming down to the parade because it’s “the start of the celebration,” said Fontes. “Once the parade is over then all the cookouts start,” and the rest of the Independence Day festivities ensue.