Dreary skies couldn’t dampen the spirits of the thousands of attendees who turned out to celebrate the 286th birthday of Alexandria’s hometown hero and Founding Father George Washington.

“It was a great day today,” said Joe Shumard, the organizer and driving force behind the parade. “And we are proud to be the nation’s oldest and largest parade celebrating Washington’s birth.”

Participants marched a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town that ended at a reviewing stand in Market Square. Former ACT for Alexandria CEO John Porter and recently retired director of the Office of Historic Alexandria Lance Mallamo served as co-emcees . First responders to the June 2017 shooting at Simpson Field served as the parade’s grand marshals.

Gen. George Washington, as portrayed by Brian Hilton, surveyed the troops and Fairfax County District Supervisor Dan Storck made an appearance as Abe Lincoln.

New this year was an appearance of the Spirit of Liberty flag carried by dozens of volunteers and two bands from Woodbridge and Port Chester, N.Y.

“This is a team effort,” Shumard said. “I am always so grateful to the many organizations who participate in this parade and the thousands who turn out to celebrate the birth of George Washington.”