BRISTOL — Buddy Cianci made a triumphant return to the Bristol Fourth of July parade today, greeted by raucous cheers from the tens of thousands that lined the parade route.

“Welcome back!” they yelled.

“Buddy for mayor!”

“Buddy for governor!”

Hundreds of well-wishers left their seats to hug and kiss Cianci, shake his hand or hand him American flags.

The reception seemed to overwhelm the former Providence mayor.

“I’ve never had that reception, not even in 1980,” Cianci said as he finished the parade route early this afternoon. “I feel very thankful. When I was walking, I didn’t know how people would react. It’s overwhelming. It was constant cheering. It’s tremendous.”