1"We were watching all the videos and the kids were all there and they started doing the dance," said Trumbour. Then someone shouted out — "Let's do it in the parade."

In just a few days time, these two families, along with six groups of friends, prepared to enter the Rockport Fireman's Parade as one of the Horribles entries.

The women took out their old bridesmaid's gowns and shredded them, as well as roughing up and dyeing some old suits, as their Horribles "Thriller" entry took shape.

Theirs was just one of the Horribles entries in Saturday night's annual Rockport Fourth of July Parade. And the Rockport parade was one of several around Cape Ann as residents and visitors alike in towns and villages offered up their own take on celebrating America's birthday.

The events included the annual grassroots parade in Lanesville, the second annual children's parade in Magnolia, a boat parade in Essex, a parade in Manchester — and other celebrations, such as the Lanesville Emergency Action Program road race, fun run and other events Saturday morning, and traditional bonfires that followed the parades in Lanesville and Rockport Saturday night.

As for the Rockport Horribles, Trumbour played the role of Michael Jackson.

"I was meant to be Michael Jackson," said Trumbour, who was the one who knew the dance best, and who was a big fan of the pop singer back in the 1980s.

They found a Web site, thrilltheworld.com, that had instructions on how to do the dance. They had a marathon rehearsal on Friday with 20 dancers in preparation for the Saturday event.

The group made themselves ghoulish. One of her 10-year-old twin daughters, Sophie, was in charge of make-up, and Kiva, her other daughter, danced next to her.

Other contributing families were the Sullivans, McCloys, Faulds, the Kobroskys, the Catenas, the Burleys and the Rukeysers

This was a step up for Trumbour and Murphy since the times when they were children in Rockport when they used to decorate their bikes to take part in the annual parade.

"It was more fun than catching the candy," said two of the Murphy children, Sarah, 9, and Colleen, 8.

Regular parade viewers know that, for many of the youngsters, it is all about the candy, which is generously doled out by most all the Horrible entries.

The town filled with residents and visitors starting in the morning. Fire and police officials said it was the largest crowd in many years.

"It was just a sea of people but there were no problems with the crowd at the parade or the bonfire," said Police Chief Tom McCarthy.

Jack Porter, a Rockport firefighter, said the crowd was probably so large for many reasons.

"Everyone has been cooped up all month with no place to go and the economy is bad. But you can come to Rockport and see a great parade, have a hot dog for $2 and a soda for $1, so it makes for great family fun," he said.

There were eight bands this year, and George Ramsden's Firemen's Clown band went through part of the parade twice, thanks to help from Beauport ambulance which transported the musicians from King Street back to Prospect Street for the second round.

As always, parade participants came in all ages.

Residents Kathleen Sousa and John Coletta wasted no time in taking part after the birth of their child. They created an entry titled Octopus's Garden, in which their four-month-old son Jonas was dressed up as a baby octopus nestled under an elaborate sea-themed float.

The Rockport Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Susan King, spent part of her holiday marching with the Rockport Education Foundation float.

Abby Engel, daughter of School Committee member Carl Engel, had an added surprise at the parade when she lost a tooth.

The awards were as follows. The best neighborhood float was "Shrek — the Fourth of July." The best visiting band was the Crann Tara Pipes and Drums.

In the merchant's division, first prize went to Cape Ann Distillery's Beauport Vodka, second place to Cape Ann Animal Aid and third prize to Hula Moon. In the fraternal division, first prize went to the steel drum band, second prize to Peabody Fire pipes and drums and third prize to the Italian American band.

The awards for the best Horribles went to: Froggie Patriotic, Random Arts Gallery, Thriller, Molly's Sweet Tooth, Sandy Bay Yacht Club, Rockport bandits, Rust Island Vikings, Camp Fire Happy Birthday America, Octopus's Garden, the lawn chair drill team, George Ramsden's band and the Rockport Rednecks.

Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com