Pittsfield celebrating the 4th of July

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Pittsfield's big 4th of July parade has long been one of the treasures of Western Massachusetts honoring America's birth as a nation, in style.

22News reporter Alexis Miller makes no secret of how impressed she is with the Berkshire county extravaganza.

The sounds of drums, bag pipes, horns resonate through the streets of downtown Pittsfield.

Its the 4th of July parade and 10's of thousands of people lined the street this holiday for the largest parade in Western Massachusetts.

It was a real family affair for many people coming from all over the Northeast.

“I like to come back for the parade I used to walk in it my grandfather was in VFW we walked it every year. So for me it's a tradition.” Jaime Solitro from Pittsfield.

The parade that heading down the town's South Street was filled with marching bands, huge floats, and an assortment of community participants.

Even Governor Deval Patrick made an appearance in the parade.

For some people this is their first time at the parade and they told us what this huge parade has to offer.

The Pittsfield 4th of July Parade has an historic reputation dating back to 1824, when the procession consisted of Revolutionary War survivors, patriots, politicians and horse-drawn carriages.

In Pittsfield Alexis Miller 22News.