By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — The Arnold Mills Fourth of July Parade, a town tradition for more than 80 years, will return again this year with a patriotic theme on Friday, July 4.

The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. on Nate Whipple Highway, Route 120, near the North Attleboro town line.
The parade’s theme this year will be “Land of the Free Because of the Brave.” The lineup will include fire trucks, antique and custom cars, bands, clowns, decorated bicycles, patriotic walkers and floats.
Float prizes are $200 for first place; $100, second place; $75, third; and $50 for fourth place. Plaques will also be awarded in various categories.
As a safety precaution, throwing candy or other objects from floats and cars is not permitted.
Beginning with the parade’s start in 1927, officials encouraged participants to dress in the tradition of  “Ancient and Horribles.” 
“First seen in the histories prior to the United States celebration of 1926, the ancients and horribles were a grass roots phenomena that highlighted the love of the American people of all thing ‘wild and wonderful,’” according to its Web site.
Participants of the phenomena included Stephen Macaulay and Phillip Pilkington in 1972, when they attended the parade as part of the walking “horribles.” Since then, they have been seen as the Skylab Cleanup Crew, the Cumberland Water Police, Jimmy and Tammy Faye Baker, an eight-foot ant and more.
As part of the tradition, costumed walkers and bicyclists will be eligible for awards this year.
The Rhode Island Shriners have also been traditional participants of the parade with their colorful costumes, miniature cars and theme bands.
The Rhode Island Veterans Band will also participate in the march and perform at the Arnold Mills Methodist Church after the parade at 1 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
The annual town tradition would not be complete without the Arnold Mills Four Mile Road Race, which will begin at 9 a.m. from the North Cumberland Fire Station. Top finishers will receive trophies and other prizes.
The Arnold Mills Four Mile Road Race began in 1969 with 27 contestants. Today, hundreds compete for prizes in the holiday race. The event is open to adults and children.
The race will begin at the North Cumberland Fire Station and proceed west on Nate Whipple Highway, turning left on Abbott Run, left on Arnold Mills Road and left onto Quaker Road.
At Nate Whipple Highway, runners will take another left to Abbott Run Road, travel down Abbott Run to Sun Valley Drive, turn right on Arnold Mills Road and onto Quaker Lane, which leads back to Nate Whipple Highway and the road race’s starting point.
Runners will continue past the starting point back to Arnold Mills Road and past the North Cumberland Fire Station and a one-room schoolhouse to the finish line.
Prior to race day, the entry fee for the road race is $10. The deadline to register before race day is Tuesday, July 1.
The post-entry fee is $12. Registration will be accepted until 8:45 a.m. on race day. T-shirts will cost $8.
For more information about the road race or to register, call Tom Kenwood at (401) 658-0831 or visit www.arnoldmillsparade.com.
Officials are also seeking digital photographs from this year’s or previous Arnold Mills parades to include on the Web site. Photos should be sent via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For more information about the parade, visit www.arnoldmillsparade.com.