Retired NASA astronaut Suni Williams rode through her hometown as Grand Marshal of Needham's annual Fourth of July parade on Saturday, July 4, as the town marked the nation's 250th birthday.

Williams, a 1983 Needham High School graduate, retired from NASA in December 2025 after 27 years and three missions totaling 608 days in space. She holds the record for the most spacewalk time by any female astronaut: 62 hours and 6 minutes over her career, fourth on NASA's all-time list. Her most recent mission made national headlines when she and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5, 2024, and didn't return until March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

The Needham Channel broadcast the parade live, capturing interviews with Williams and local officials as the procession passed its tent outside the Needham Free Public Library. Programming Manager Mike Levin and board member Vipul Bhushan photographed the parade from that spot as floats rolled by.

» WATCH: Did you miss the parade? Watch on the Needham Channel

A national milestone with a local feel

The parade coincided with the United States' semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary, giving the annual tradition added weight. Williams's homecoming gave Needham a direct connection to the celebration: a hometown astronaut who spent more time walking in space than almost anyone in history, back on familiar ground for the Fourth.

Coming up

Needham Carnival: The Rotary Club of Needham hosts its annual carnival Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26, at Needham High School, 609 Webster St. The event features kiddie rides, thrill rides, midway games, and carnival food. Entry is free; ride and food prices vary.