Mother Nature apologized for last year’s thunderstorm assault on the Westport Fourth of July with an apology of sorts.

“Perfect parade weather — cloudy, low 70s … people say they want sunny and hot but this is much better, “ said Parade Committee Chairman David Palmer. “People aren’t overheating, old cars aren’t overheating — ideal.”

And Westport responded with gusto.

Pre-parade signups had led organizers to expect around 22 floats. That expectation was way off.

“It was closer to 60 floats — just amazing. They kept coming and coming, so much imagination and enthusiasm,” the parade chairman said.

There were so many floats, in fact, that a parade float traffic jam quickly took over the starting point near the corner of Hix Bridge and Main roads.

The idea is that parade participants line up along one side of the road to keep the other side open for emergencies.

“But before we knew it, they started lining up along both sides. As soon as one does it, others fall right  in behind.”

Which prompted Westport Police to close the road there. “There wasn’t enough room to fit an emergency vehicle through the middle and that isn’t good,” Mr. Palmer said≥

That was one stressful moment but another awaited for the parade committee.

“When the last vehicle had finally departed (by coincidence, an AJ Potter truck led the parade and another was the final vehicle),”I let out a big, deep sigh of relief,” Mr. Palmer said.

“But then I turn and see (Westport Police) Lt. John Bell on his radio — There’s an ambulance coming through,’” the lieutenant said. There had been a rescue call from near Partners Store which was closed at the time.

Organizers on golf carts set out up Main Road and implored marchers, vehicles and spectators to clear a path.

“At first, some spectators were slow to oblige — maybe some of them thought it was part of the show. So we yelled louder” and the ambulance finally made it through.

For the most part though, it was “just a great day,” Mr. Palmer said.

Memorable floats came from Boy Scouts and Cubs Scouts (enjoying good times around a campfire) and from Little League ballplayers.

Pine Hill Dairy demonstrated that dairy farmers here are also Patriots fans — their red dairy barn was festooned with little Patriots helmets and riding along were dairy farmers in Patriots jerseys..

Perry’s Bakery, a perennial float favorite, produced a psychedelic tribute to the 1960s featuring a car with tie-dyed paint scheme.

Judge’s awarded this one second best in the parade (Westport Girls Softball took the top prize).

Mr. Palmer said he was taken aback to read a Facebook comment to the effect that “the same floats win every year.

To that author he said, “Did you even look at these floats? They were amazing — the effort that went into them. There is a reason the judges chose the floats they chose.”

And this year there was music. Towed by the lead AJ Potter truck was a trailer bearing the Moment of Clarity Band.

“A little rock and roll up front — it sounded great,” Mr. Palmer said. “I’m hoping that next year we can get more music.”

Chief Marshal Elaine Ostroff waved to the crowd from a top-down Mercedes. Long an active member of the community, she’s moving away next fall but said she’ll never forget the honor of being selected.

And marchers heeded pre-parade pleas that they climb aboard something for a rid for the final mile or so — through sparsely settle wooded areas — to the high school.

“For the most part everything moved along well,” the chairman said.

The committee puts in loads of work to pull it all off, but comments heard along the way make it all worthwhile, Mr. Palmer.

Up at the parade’s end at the high school, “people called out things like ‘What a great parade.’ That is so wonderful to hear!”

And the winners are …

Judges’ choices for this year’s prize winning parade entries are:

Floats

1. Westport Girls Softball Team, Kevin DeMello

2. Perry's Bakery, Karen Smith

3. Cub Scout Troop 100, Ken Sullivan

Tractor

1. 1955 John Deere, Michael Oliveira

Novelty

1. Mass Attack Roller Derby, Ashley Robbins-Perry

Hot Rod

1. 1973 Plymouth Road Runner , Brad Goldstein

Antiques

1. 1964 Chevelle Super Sport, Clint Lawton

2. 1954 Chevrolet, Robert Collins

3. 1925 Truck, Manuel Medeiros