Costumed children filled Main Street Thursday for the kiddie parade, games and prize drawings.

Outfits of characters spanning the history of the United States circled the street in wagons and on foot from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thomas Jefferson, Uncle Sam, rock stars and some random figures -- including a pirate and a devil -- made for an interesting mix.

Emily Loveland, 12, copied her costume from a picture of Thomas Jefferson she found in the encyclopedia. Most of her costume came from items around the house. The rest required a little creativity.

"I pretty much made everything I didn't have," she said.

One of her homemade extras included the point of a pen stuck into a feather, but the Declaration of Independence was her most authentic-looking prop, made more convincing with a little muddy water.

"I printed it off the computer, taped the pieces of paper together, made them dirty and attached them to sticks," she said.

Ashleigh Smith, 12, had to search the house for an accessory to her costume.

"I couldn't think of anything," she said. "So I just painted a volleyball."

The red, white and blue volleyball accompanied her American-flag overalls and mini-flags stuck into her ponytail.

She will use her costume Friday as well, when she participates with the Catholic schools in the parade.

Prize drawings took place after the parade, and a number of kids took home baskets of toys including items such as stuffed animals, squirt guns, outdoor games and a pinata. With the help of one child, dressed as an Abraham Lincoln penny, the lucky numbers were drawn from a hat.

A moonwalk bounce, mini-golf, a mini-train and a water-balloon battle ground were some of the activities children took part in.

Eric Maloney, 11, and Taylor Hackensmith, 9, bombarded each other with balloons from metal booths.

Maloney declared himself the winner.

"She's drenched," he said, nodding toward Hackensmith. "Of course, I am too, though."

The pair spent their morning at the petting zoo, mini-golf course and the moonwalk.

Hackensmith is looking forward to the athletic events on Friday.

"I'm going to be in the running race, the piggy-race," she said. "This is my third year."

At 11 a.m., many parents and children went to the library for crafts, face-painting and temporary tattoos. Volunteers and library employees read books with patriotic themes and showed a video of United States songs and poems.

The downtown family day kicked off three days of activities for this year's Heart of America Festival. Games, concerts, food and dancing will be going on through Saturday. Fireworks shows will be at 9:45 p.m. Friday at Horace Austin Park and at 9:55 p.m. Saturday at Bandshell Park.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com