Photos: From the Bristol parade to WaterFire, the most extravagant Fourth of July celebrations in Rhode Island

Students and staff from the Navy Supply Corps School marched along the parade’s route, as the crowd chanted “USA.”

As expected, each member of Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation marched in the Bristol parade alongside state lawmakers and other movers and shakers. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who has been seen collecting signatures around the state this week to run for reelection, took the opportunity to speak to a few future voters. But it might be a few years until they’re allowed to fill out a ballot.

Shortly after attending Bristol’s festivities, US Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Seth Magaziner went to Chepachet, R.I., to walk in the 98th Ancients & Horribles Independence Day Parade.

The State Archives in Providence was open briefly so the public could view Rhode Island’s three copies of the Declaration of Independence. The original Declaration is housed at the National Archives in Washington D.C., but there were what’s known as the “second printings” of the Declaration that were provided to each of the 13 colonies.

But unlike the official copy in Washington, one of Rhode Island’s Declarations has a woman’s name on it as well. At the bottom of the document is printed: “Baltimore, in Maryland: Printed by Mary Katherine Goddard.” After years of sitting in an outdated case, becoming fragile and brittle, the document was selected in 2018 to be restored.

Family friendly activities on Block Island started in the morning, where locals paraded around with floats starting at The Oar bar, and ending at the statue of Rebecca, an iconic lady first put in place in 1896 in an effort to curb the consumption of alcohol on the island. But not all traveling to the island for the day may have received that same memo. At Ballard’s Beach Resort, for instance, ‘80s cover bands played hits from Def Leppard and Bon Jovi while partiers slurped down frozen daiquiris served in whole pineapples and massive souvenir cups that were shaped like legs wearing stilettos and fishnets.

On Aquidneck Island, sailboats gliding around Newport Harbor raised American flags during the day, as the Claiborne Pell Bridge (or, more commonly referred to as the Newport Bridge) was twinkling with red, white, and blue lights at night.

Around 9:15 p.m., fireworks bursted over Newport while crowds gathered in areas of the coastal city, such as Queen Anne Square and Perrotti Park, for a clear view.

To close out the night, Providence held its iconic WaterFire event to illuminate the river. American flags framed the water’s edge, performers twirled flames, and fire-tenders held burning torches in small boats. Gondolas rowed alongside the sparkling bonfires, which burned until at least 11 p.m.

Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.