There are always the telltale signs this time of year: tourists crowding sun-drenched streets, flags flying proudly above every doorway and red, white, and blue everywhere you look. The Fourth of July is nearly here, and with it comes the official start of summer on the Vineyard.

And Edgartown is a classic place for a Fourth of July celebration. Its perfect white houses, each a marker of the town’s rich history from the days of whaling, neatly frame the Island’s annual Independence Day celebration, watching over the parade and its revelers as they wind and weave through town.

The parade promises many of the floats and traditions that have made it such a success year after year, including Camp Jabberwocky, the Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the kids from Felix Neck and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum interns, who will present a whaling-themed float. The parade also displays a significant number of public servants, boasting a float of Peace Corps volunteers, celebrating the 50th anniversary of that organization, the Island law enforcement, and of course veterans.

One of those veterans who will surely stand out from the crowd is Fred B. Morgan Jr. This marks Mr. Morgan’s 42nd year as parade marshal, and he will lead the procession wearing his World War II paratrooper’s uniform. He chalks the parade’s success up to the enthusiasm of its participants. “Everyone is happy to be a part of it. People want to participate, and that’s why the same people come back every year. It’s a conglomeration of many, many people and that’s what makes it successful,” the much-decorated World War II veteran said.

Trailing behind Mr. Morgan will be three bands: The Colonial Navy of Massachusetts, the Bay State Band, and the Sutherland Pipe Band, which is sponsored by the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard. The Colonial Navy band is a relic of the Revolutionary War: Originally founded in December 1775, the present band of music men was revived by an act of the General Court of the commonwealth, bringing the history of the war for independence into our present.

The bands will also play two concerts, one at 2 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Whaling Church. The groups will chime brass band favorites for anyone who hasn’t had their fill at the parade.

The parade begins at 5 p.m. sharp on Monday afternoon, stepping off at the Edgartown School on West Tisbury Road, marching down to Pease’s Point Way and up to Morse street, where it then turns onto Fuller, proceeding to North Water street, and finally coming up Main street where it will pause in front of the viewing stand at the Old Whaling Church.

The viewing stand brings the moment of truth — each float is assessed and judged there by the town selectmen, whose numbers are bolstered by the presence of Cape and Islands Rep. Timothy Madden. Four prizes will be handed out, including a grand prize of $100 for the best float.

Edgartown police will close lower Main, Dock and North Water streets to traffic from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., but visitors should expect delays to begin around 3 p.m. and last until 11 p.m. after the conclusion of the fireworks. Free trolley service will be provided from the town parking lot at the Triangle on Upper Main street to the center of town.

The Vineyard Transit Authority, doing its part to accommodate the crowds, will be offering supplementary bus service on some of its routes. Several of the routes will stop at Memorial Park while the roads are closed, resuming Church street service following the conclusion of the fireworks, which begin at 9 p.m.

The fireworks are a major attraction every year, and Melissa Vincent, secretary of the Edgartown Board of Trade, said, “Every year it’s getting bigger and better, so we’re really looking forward to it.” Half of the expenses for the fireworks come from the town and the rest is covered by donations, which the board of trade is still accepting.

Mrs. Vincent also said the organization of the display is not a solitary effort: “We could not make this happen without the Edgartown fire department, and they keep the fireworks safely in the outer harbor once they get here.”

Edgartown fire chief Peter Shemeth said his department has been preparing for months to get the town ready for the big day. “There’s a lot of legwork that happens before, after and during. And there’s a lot of behind the scenes work,” Mr. Shemeth said. Much of that backstage preparation is a joint effort by the fire departments of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven, who coordinate the effort to transport the fireworks on the ferry, and safely transfer them to the barge where they are launched come nightfall.

Both the fire and police departments will be out in full force, primed for any and all kinds of crowd control and disaster response. And crowds there will certainly be: The Steamship Authority saw a 13.8 per cent increase in vehicle reservations on the Vineyard run over last year. From Friday to Sunday, nearly 3,500 cars will come ashore, dotting the roads with license plates from all over the country.

Cape Air is also anticipating increased service, reporting advance bookings are up from Boston, Providence, Nantucket and White Plains.

And Edgartown is not the only town to host a parade. The town of Aquinnah also hosts its own parade for children at the Gay Head Light on Monday at 11 a.m. There will be floats, cars and bikes leading the parade, and face-painting and flagging available for young participants starting at 10 a.m. Hidden treasure will be buried at Philbin Beach in the morning, promising a fine reward for any and all intrepid diggers.

Island businesses are also bracing for a busy weekend. Sarah McKay, the store manager of Cronig’s Market, said, “It’s one of the busiest weekends of the entire year, and we’re trying to be prepared. We get new things in stock every day, and we’re getting them out to the shelves.”

At Mad Martha’s in Edgartown, they are doubling the number of scoopers on duty throughout the day. The ice cream store is conveniently situated on the parade route, so celebrants looking for a treat won’t have to wander far.

Tamari Gachechiladze, a native of Georgia (the country) currently studying journalism at an American university in Bulgaria, is ready for her second Fourth of July at Mad Martha’s. “We clear all the tables and chairs out of here because it’s just packed all day. And then people leave to go to the parade, and then they all come right back,” she said.

And at this Island institution, they have a little holiday fun of their own: “Last year we wore headbands with antennas in the colors of the American flag, and it was really funny. It was really fun last year, but it’s tough to work that day. You just have too many people and you’re so busy that you can’t stop, but mostly everyone is in a good mood,” Ms. Gachechiladze said.

With any luck, the high spirits and good weather will continue through the holiday weekend, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the festivities, which come as a result of hard work at the hands of many. Chief Shemeth is ready for the holiday, though his respite may come the following day. “I’m looking forward to the fifth. Well, after the fireworks are done — then I can kick back and relax a little bit,” he said.

Gazette reporter Nina Tarnawsky contributed to this story.