They came in waves — first the youth on their bikes, surging ahead like fireworks that went off too soon, then a mass of people waving flags, pushing strollers and flaunting their best red, white and blue apparel. 

The parade circled the neighborhood of Swifts Beach on the morning of the Fourth of July, celebrating America’s independence. 

The Swifts Beach Association holds the parade annually for the neighborhood’s kids and families. Participants started off from the Association’s clubhouse and returned there at the end for freeze pops and other refreshments. 

Kids didn’t just dress up in the colors of the American flag, but took the opportunity to celebrate their tough, tried and true-blue love for their country. 

Scotty King, 10, said the day meant a lot to him, because “my dad was in the war.” His father served in Iraq, his family said — but he couldn’t be there that day, as he had to work. 

“It means everything to the World War fighters,” said Daniel Levesque, 7. Levesque came all the way from Woburn for the Fourth, there to join his grandparents, who have a home in the area. 

Brody Naper, 12, said the Fourth of July meant “just pretty much all of the independence that we got.”

He said his plans for later in the day included going to the beach with his friends, playing wiffle ball and having a cookout. 

“We do this every year,” said Lindsay Hussey. Her daughter Devyn Hussey, 4, has been doing the parade since she was 4 years old. 

Devin and Declan Hussey, 8, were pushed through the parade by Ella Diggins, 13. 

Her mother, Shauna, said the parade was a great day for “celebrating with friends and family.”