Emily Kaplan and Francesca Dell’Ova work on a mural at the Town Commons. Photos by Kirk Ross

Photos and story by Kirk Ross

It was standing room only in the misting tent — a welcome place for young and old who made the trek to the Town Commons for the Carrboro Fourth of July Celebration.

Most arrived en masse in one of the Triangle’s shortest but well-attended parades. Hundreds wheeled and walked from Weaver Street Market to the commons in Carrboro’s annual and colorful plunge into summer.

Among the days highlights: Ira Sessler’s domination of the competition in the annual watermelon seed spitting contest. Sessler, in from New Jersey for a visit with family, bested two dozen challengers, sending a seed clear across the Town Commons parking lot.

Carolina Sherman and Natalie Jollis, 9, watch Fox Vail preparing to let fly a watermelon seed in the annual seed spitting contest.

His secret, he said, is a little bit of science and a lot of effort.

And, if there’s any doubt this town has seen a baby boom in the last year or so, take note of the annual baby crawl under the shade of the toddler tent.

Just before the race, Carrboro.com founder Jackie Helvey noted that last year there were only three youngsters vying for the trophy. This year it took three heats with a dozen participants in all. Carrboro’s Simon Vizithum crawled away with the title.

Hundreds took the streets for the annual parade down Weaver Street.