LOWELL | They wheeled and rolled and marched their way through downtown on Sunday, continuing a 55-year tradition: the Lowell Labor Day kiddie parade.

With 17-year-old Andy Vauter, a Lowell High School senior, leading the way on a unicycle, the band of costumed children delighted parade watchers along Commercial Avenue.

"I'm ketchup," said a red-draped Kyleigh Stanley, 10, of Lowell, as she walked Sally, the long-haired dachshund, replete with a bun around her midriff.

Not far away, cousins Annabelle Pancini, 8, of Lowell, and Hunter Mae, 4, of Cedar Lake, sounded their duck calls as they made their way down the parade route in their child-sized Jeep and camouflage outfits with Labrador retriever Scout alongside.

"We're goose and duck hunters," Annabelle said.

The children from Marie's In-Home Daycare, of Lowell, gave leis to children watching the parade as their California Dreamin' entry passed by.

Nina Garner, 18 months, was one of the happy recipients. Her mother Jennifer Garner, of Merrillville, and grandmother Sandra Jones, of Chicago, were first-time visitors to the parade.

Nearby, 10-month-old fairy princess Abigail Mahan, of Indianapolis, was pretty in pink. She was a "sleeping beauty" by the parade start and "strolled" in her carriage with grandparents Greg and Diana Shook, of Lowell, and her parents Todd and Jennifer Mahan.

"It might become a tradition," Jennifer Mahan said.

Running after each other, Thing 1 and Thing 2, aka Lowell toddlers Jacob and Sam Patchin, were a scary sight with bright blue hair and red sweats.

"We do this every year," mother Connie Patchin said.

So does Taylor Frampton, 8, of Lowell, who with Colin Panfil, 7, also of Lowell, made up the superhero duo of Superwoman and Superman. "My dad loves Superman," she said.

The Labor Day celebration continues at 10 a.m. today with the 89th annual Lowell Labor Day parade.