John Sorbo, 65, of Valencia, drives his sidecar sidekick, Tommy, down Crowe Avenue in Mars during the Independence Day Celebration parade Monday. The men threw candy to kids watching the parade. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

MARS — If Butler County residents who felt like sleeping in were looking for a late-afternoon Fourth of July parade on Monday, they didn’t have to look any further than the borough of Mars.

The annual parade brought something for people of all ages to enjoy, which included food vendors, balloon artists and airbrush tattoo artists near the spaceship by The Narrative Church and the Christian Community Church of Richland.

“It was wonderful today, but there could be more shade,” parade attendee Becky Fritz said with a laugh. “It was nice to see the kids running around as well. There was something for everybody.”

Downtown festivities began at noon near the spaceship, with the parade starting at 3 p.m.

Pets and children on bikes started the parade, followed by fire engines and live music performed by the Mars Area High School marching band.

Kids on bikes are a highlight of the Independence Day Celebration parade in Mars on Monday. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Mars marching band member Logan McSwain said he liked the other floats that participated in the parade, including a truck with a rhinoceros on the back of it.

“I love it here, everybody is like one big family,” McSwain said. “We all have a good time together, and nothing bad ever happens.”

Parade attendees were handed out American flags at Pfeifer Hardware & Supply, but supplies were limited.

A fireworks display was expected to begin dusk, with the help of a donation from the Mars Bank, and those who attended were told to listen to 88.1 FM for accompanying music.

The Independence Day Celebration at Mars features an afternoon parade among Monday's activities. Rescue 42 Squad of Adams Area Fire District makes the turn to Crowe Avenue in front of the Mars Flying Saucer. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Grand Avenue Grille, Mars Farmhouse Cafe and Aviva Brick Oven were among the food vendors along the parade route from Pittsburgh Street onto Grand Avenue.

Temperatures reached the upper 80s as the parade began, which gave treat vendors Kona Ice and Graeter’s Ice Cream plenty of business.

“This was our first time here,” Kona Ice general manager Jared Maxin said. “It was a great event. All of a sudden there was just crowds of people around me. I sold out of all my ice, which is good. It just seemed everything went well on their end as well.”

Emma Bland, 4, waves at marchers in the Independence Day Celebration parade in Mars. Bland's family is visiting from Ohio. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle