Perry’s Bakery, a perennial powerhouse in the world of Westport parade floats, rocked and rolled its way through the village Tuesday with a trailer load of enthusiastic and unique superheroes.

The high energy effort took first place among floats — Sue Steadman decked out as a Portuguese Superman, complete with moustache, may have won a few judges’ votes with her handouts of fresh-cooked chourico rolls.

Bakery owner Karen Smith (aka Super Girl), along with Superman, Batman, Nina Turtles and other caped crusaders were also aboard as the float delighted youngsters and protected Westport from evil.

Why so much effort each year?

It’s great fun — we love the Fourth, she said.

Helped by superb parade weather, that spirit was evident as the parade set off at 10 a.m. sharp from the corner of Hix Bridge Road.

Leading the way was long-time town tax assessor Jack McDermott, who retired recently after 42 years on the job . He was chauffeured in a VW convertible by colleague Steve Medeiros and, in what must be out of the ordinary for his line of work, was treated to loud cheers along the way.

Sharing the proud moment (and helping out with the parade) were both of his daughters — Ann Boxler, a member of the parade committee, and Beth McDermott who made the trip up from Washington DC for the occasion and did parade route golf cart duty.

Last year’s chief marshal, Eddie ‘Fast Eddie’ Beaulieu, now 101 years old, didn’t ride this year but watched and waved from his son’s driveway.

There were, as always, veterans, Scouts and politicians.

State Senator Michael Rodrigues rode in an old car; Rep. Paul Schmid drove a tractor in his farming clothes.

“What a day — perfect weather, low humidity, light breeze … we could not have asked for better,” said parade committee Chairman David Palmer.

The parade flowed smoothly, nobody got hurt, nobody that he knows of got in trouble — “everybody just had fun celebrating Independence Day in Westport.”

One change — marshaling antique cars and trucks in Beech Grove Cemetery to help keep Hix Bridge Road open for emergency vehicles, worked like a charm.

“We had a volunteer at the gate and when I needed five cars I’d hold up five fingers and out would come five cars.”

And perhaps because they had taken the precaution to prevent repeats of the last few years when ambulances have had a tough time getting through, “Not a single ambulance needed to get through this year.”

Float quality was strong — Brownie Troop #675 put first-rate work into their patriotic float — “but numbers were down, maybe by half from last year,” Mr. Palmer said.

The pre-start lineup, which last year stretched down to Westport Marine, barely made it to Hay Ray’s.

“Why? I don’t know. The weather was perfect but it could have something to do with the Fourth falling on a Tuesday … We’ll try to get word out for more next year.”

Mr. Palmer said he is always especially pleased when nobody gets hurt.

“Safety is our first priority — it’s the biggest thing we focus on.” He added that he was sorry to read about a woman in the Bristol parade getting run down by a float.

“Bristol’s focus is safety to but it just shows that no matter how well you prepare, things can happen in an instant.”

Once concern, he said, is right at the starting corner where the crowd often presses out into the roadway.

Organizers repeatedly urged parents to keep children from darting out into the roadway in pursuit of candy tossed from floats and vehicles.

Prize winners

Judges’ awards for best floats and vehicles were:

Floats —

1. Perry's Bakery

2. Alan Walters for the covered wagon

3. Paul Manchester for hillbilly float

Tractor

1. Alan Walters for his 1960 Farmall 460

Antique vehicle

1. Manuel Medeiros for his 1951 Mack Dump Truck LF

Novelty

En L'Air School of Dance