Deseret News Share this story Annie Barker, Deseret News After a year hunkered down and without much reason to celebrate, Utahns gathered Monday to cheer, march and take in Independence Day celebrations. The holiday weekend marked a return to something closer to normal after many of the state's popular parades were canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At Provo's Freedom Festival, colorful parade floats rolled down the street and Utah Valley University cheerleaders and other performers made their way along the route as onlookers applauded, many from under pop-up tents. Former Gov. Gary Herbert gave a thumbs up and his wife, Jeanette Herbert, a wave from a limousine-style Forde Model T as the parade's grand marshals.