The Fourth of July is all about celebrating America’s history and founding principles, and a few groups used local parades to express their opinions—both odd and humorous—to large crowds.

When it comes to the Annual Fourth of July Palisades Parade, it’s about both patriotism and campaigning. And since handing out literature or trying to engage voters sitting in the sun on the finer points of special education reform isn’t likely to be particularly effective, candidates for a variety of elected positions give candy to kids, hand out promotional tchotchkes, shake a lot of hands and do plenty of waving. But they’re not just walking….

As always, the annual Fourth of July Palisades Parade was a scene to behold: campaign cars and trucks — some, like Kwame Brown’s massive vehicle, barely able to navigate the narrow streets of the riverside neighborhood — signs, and, of course, free stuff. Our own Martin Austermuhle was inundated with candidate giveaways — water and towels from Adrian Fenty (“not very soft, like the candidate!”), a fan from Vincent Gray, a pocket constitution from Mary…