Congratulations to Allston Brighton, mice and all

Residents of Allston and Brighton stepped out on a cool, crisp fall day to celebrate their community at the annual neighborhood parade on Sunday.

“We have great music, great food and great people here,” three-year resident Jeremy Collins said as Rat City Arts Festival marchers handed out rat awareness stickers. “I loved living in this area, even with the mice.”

Neighbors came out in droves Sunday to watch the parade from Union Square in Allston to Brighton Center and Oak Square. The 41st annual parade started at 13:00

This was preceded by the annual Brian Honan 5K in Allston, followed by a raucous three-hour “Party in the Park” at Hardiman “Tar” Park near the end of the parade route in Oak Square.

The parade was led by Mayor Michelle Wu, City Councilwoman Liz Breadon and others. The festivities fill the streets with a long list of marchers, including high school and college marching bands and cheerleaders, characters like Captain Jack Sparrow and Elsa, floats decorated to look like dogs, and numerous community groups and figures.