PITTSFIELD, Mass — Through moments of inclement weather, the Pittsfield Parade put the shine in the term "rain or shine" for their 2023 Fourth of July Parade. Among the hundreds who marched, the city honored Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn as the grand marshal.

The Pittsfield Parade Committee selected Wynn to lead the parade, as his career with the department ends on July 8.

"It was the first time I've ever been at the front of the parade, so I didn't get to see any of the units, which is unusual," Wynn said. "And we're usually at the back, so it's a different perspective.”

Wynn said it's been an honor and a privilege to serve his hometown for 28 years.

"It was amazing," Wynn said. "The amount of people who were out specifically to say thank you and congratulate me, so that was overwhelming.”

Despite the weather, families from Berkshire County and beyond lined the parade route to see this year's theme of "Stars, Stripes and Smiles — In the Berkshires."

"We got family up from Florida here to come see this beautiful parade," Brenda Bigelow said. "Got my daughter and my granddaughter, the little ones. The parade hasn't been this great in a long time, and it came out really nice — although the rain, but it's so hot, it works out.”

Many like Fred Polnisch have made the Pittsfield Parade a tradition.

"Maybe 20, 25 years," Polnisch said. "It’s a fantastic parade and it's a great parade. A lot of people here, a lot of welcome and it's very patriotic."

And while communities across the country celebrate the Fourth of July, Pittsfield’s grand marshal wanted everyone to remain safe.

"General Fourth of July thoughts as a police officer are, 'God, don't let it happen here. Don't let it happen on my last watch.' But I love this parade," Wynn said. "It speaks so much to our city and our community that people come from all over to come here. And it's our honor and privilege to secure it."

The parade committee says the city is celebrating Independence Day this year with events through July 9.