Thousands of people lined the streets in downtown Edmonton on Friday morning for the annual K-Days Parade.
More than 100 floats, mascots, horses, antique cars and performers were featured in the event.
Watch Below: The Edmonton Police Service and Honour Guard kicks off the 2016 K-Days Parade.
The parade started at 100 Street and 103 A Avenue and made its way west along 103 Avenue, south on 107 Street then east along 102 Avenue.
Watch Below: Parade honours Fort McMurray wildfire first responders.
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, Edmonton fire chief Ken Block and Wood Buffalo fire chief Darby Allen were the parade marshals.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray fire chief Darby Allen, first responders named among K-Days Parade marshals
Watch below: Edmonton’s biggest festival got underway Friday as thousands lined the streets to watch the K-Days Parade. As usual, it was filled with fun. But the parade was also used to pay tribute to people who endured something far more serious. Fletcher Kent explains.
Allen was instrumental in fighting the wildfires in Wood Buffalo in early May and helping to evacuate Fort McMurray. His efforts had many hailing Allen a hero.
READ MORE: Fort McMurray fire: The fire chief hailed as a ‘hero’ for battling the raging blaze
The parade was broadcast on Global Edmonton and on globalnews.ca and was hosted by Global’s Nancy Carlson, Kent Morrison and Mike Sobel.
Last year, Northlands began a tradition of honouring deserving Albertans through its Local Heroes Contest in partnership with Global Edmonton.
Winners are recognized in the K-Days Parade and receive a $2,500 donation towards a charity or not-for-profit of their choice. The winners also serve as honorary K-Days Parade marshals.
This year, the recipients included a man who drove back and forth between Edmonton and Fort McMurray to deliver water to first responders during the wildfire and a six-year-old boy who runs a hot chocolate and ice cream stand to raise money for charity.
Northlands expects between 70,000 and 80,000 people to go through the gates daily during K-Days.
WATCH: New and exciting things to enjoy at K-Days 2016
There will be 53 rides available courtesy of North American Midway Entertainment, and 92 vendors will be scattered through the midway.
Watch below: K-Days officially kicked off on Friday with a colourful parade making its way through downtown Edmonton. If you weren’t able to be there in person, here’s a recap of all the excitement.
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