Former opera singer Chrissellene Petropoulos continued an 18-year tradition when she sung the National Anthem during the Potomac Day parade Oct. 29.
A more recent tradition of cloudy skies for the annual event was broken as residents enjoyed sunny skies for the annual festival.
Current politicians and aspiring newcomers were out in force, already boosting campaigns for 2006, but the event had less political flavor than last year's — just days before the presidential election — and none of the distractions of the previous three, when security concerns set the tone.
Children, including some suspiciously large ones, wore Halloween costumes and caught candy thrown by groups in the parade, as well as the signature popovers thrown by Grand Marshal Cary Prokos.