Hundreds of people lined the streets of Hamilton Monday for one of the bigger Independence Day parades in Greater Cincinnati.Military veterans led the way as spectators thanked them for their service.Children dressed in red, white and blue waved from the sidelines and took a moment to talk about the importance of the Fourth of July."Fourth of July is important because it's America's birthday, and we are free because we are protected by the U.S. Army, and we have liberty and now freedom," said 9-year-old Landen. Monday was a day for people to reflect and celebrate.Crowds cheered as high school bands marched and as the Cunningham sisters rolled through their hometown."Happy Fourth," the Cunningham sisters yelled from the bed of a pick-up truck.This year's parade was kicked up a notch."The parade goes all the way this year across the bridge over to Main Street. It's the first year it's done that in decades, at least that we can find," said Jeff Archiable, Fourth of July committee member. It gave the city a chance to showcase all the new shops and restaurants that have moved in ahead of Spooky Nook's opening. "It's so cool to see how there's so much more than there used to be five years ago," said spectator, Gracie Abner. Twenty businesses including Alexander's Deli remained open Monday."This is a great opportunity to not only just celebrate the fourth but really understand what the fourth is to our history but for businesses to be introduced to new people," said Dan Bates, owner of Alexander's. Hamilton's festivities also included musical performances honoring service members, walks through four museums, games at area establishments. Monday night, there will be a fireworks show.