KINGSTON — Like a Whistling Pete, Kingston’s Fourth of July celebration started off quietly, gradually getting louder before reaching a near deafening crescendo Tuesday night.

Every park in town was sparkling with various booths, musicians and hordes of people who said they wouldn’t be anywhere else on the holiday.

On the big day, Kingston started off, business as usual. By 10 a.m., the town had morphed into a busy epicenter dedicated to the stars and stripes. Chairs began dotting State Route 104, saving prime viewing spots for the noon parade, while children dashed around Tiny Town, ready for food and rides.

“This is a tradition we started last year,” said Silverdale resident Kelly Gaines, who attended with her family. “The boys enjoyed the parade the most. We really love it out here during the Fourth.”

This sentiment was echoed by the crowds of people. When the longest running parade in the state kicked off at around noon, the cheers and applause that erupted the massive body of people showed just how much they appreciated the small town party.

“I’m loving it,” said Kiwanis member and Tiny Town organizer Debbie Anderson. She was in the parade as Rotarian of the Year. The parade featured J.P Patches as the grand marshal, local royalty, floats from different groups and businesses, the ever-popular Chicken Band, the Kingston Junior High Band, numerous motorcycles, animals and children that all flowed together into a bright mass of celebration.

“Things all came together,” said Pete DeBoer, one of the Fourth organizers. “Everybody seemed happy. My favorite part of (the holiday) was being in Kingston.”

“Tiny Town is a tradition for us,” said Kingston resident Susan Thomas, as she watched 7-year-old Wylie Soltes on the pedal cars, which were new Tiny Town activity this year. “It’s neat with the stores painted on the fronts. We like it.”

For the first time in Tiny Town’s 18-year history, the small city — which formerly showcased local businesses — was painted with new colors reflecting the red, white and blue theme of the day.

“It’s killer,” Anderson said. “We have three to four times the people here today than each day before. We’re almost out of activities.”

“The reaction was wonderful,” said Sally Christy, who was manning the Kingston Revitalization Association booth during the event. “It was so much fun. (Tiny Town) always gets great (word of) mouth coverage.”

She added that people from other areas come to Kingston just for the parade and Tiny Town.

“There were a lot of people involved that had a lot of fun,” Christy said.

The town drew kids of all ages for face painting, dress-up and arts and crafts, all accompanied by music and the sweet smells of soda and funnel cake.

“This is my second time here,” said 6-year-old Gwendolyn An Harper. “I’m having a lot of fun. I really like the dress-up.”

Dayton Griffin, 7, denounced the dress-up room, but gave the Velcro Wall two thumbs up for coolness.

“It’s fun,” he said as he awaited his turn in the hula hooping competition.

Children ran to and fro, enjoying the rides and crafts, their parents standing close by as they frolicked. The meaning of the day might have been lost on many of the youngsters, but they celebrated along with the adults who understood the purpose of the holiday.

“I’m sitting back and catching my breath,” DeBoer said, adding that the whole town pitches in for the Fourth celebration, and a lot of people work hard to make the huge festival a success.

“We got together and brainstormed what went well, what was too congested, how to have kids help out more,” Christy said, discussing next year’s event and adding that it’s never too early to start planning the Fourth party in Kingston.