A small crowd surfaced in the middle of the Bristol Fourth of July carnival around Bristol resident Judy Uhlig and her red and blue parrot, Candy. She placed the patriotic parrot on the shoulder of 11-year-old Kadin Botelho and he winced with a smile as Candy dug her claws into his shoulders.

“Candy needs to hang on,” Ms. Uhlig said to the boy. He smiled back.

Kristin Flynn’s face lit up as Ms. Uhlig placed Candy in her hands. At first she held the bird at arm’s length, but quickly the fear subsided and she brought the gentle parrot in toward her face to get a closer look.

Ms. Uhlig bought Candy about five years ago when she was a chick.

“I can put her on anyone’s shoulder,” she said. “Candy doesn’t care. I can put her on a baby’s shoulder, as long as it doesn’t try to grab her.”

Ms. Uhlig likes to bring Candy out for the Fourth of July, but has been unable to the last two years. “Last year was too hot,” she said, as she put Candy on a gentleman’s shoulder. “The year before I had the flu and couldn’t go out. This year, she’s going to make it,” Ms. Uhlig said. “We’ll see how long we can last. Hopefully it’s not too hot, like last year,” she said.

“She could march in the parade,” said a member of the crowd.  “Absolutely,” Ms. Uhlig agreed.

She and Candy do not march, but Ms. Uhlig said she is going to bring Candy down to view the Fourth of July parade.

“I’m hosting my family from Florida. They’re so excited to watch the parade. The smallest one is 4 years old. She is ready for everything,” she said.