Canonsburg preps for jam-packed Fourth of July weekend
The Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee is hopeful that this year’s parade will be bigger and better than ever before, with a full three days of free events for attendees.
Founded in 1963, the Canonsburg Fourth of July Parade started as a handful of borough maintenance vehicles but quickly grew into one of the largest such celebrations in the commonwealth.
According to committee Co-Chair Robert Maceiko, the parade regularly draws more than 50,000 visitors to the borough, more than doubling its usual population of just under 10,000.
Mayor David Rhome said the parade is often an informal reunion for Canonsburg natives who have since left for careers in other states.
“People come back from all over the country, many people want to come back permanently,” Rhome said. “We want it to be somewhere for families to go for family fun.”
It’s easy to tell when excitement is building for the annual parade, as seemingly endless rows of colorful lawn chairs line Pike Street in anticipation of the 10 a.m. start time.
Maceiko said the unique tradition began as a way for residents to reserve prime viewing positions along the parade route, with the chairs appearing earlier and earlier each year.
Eventually this spiraled into chairs left out beginning in early June a month in advance of the event.
Rhome said that while lighthearted, this extended timeframe created additional hurdles for local law enforcement and first responders as they often had to climb over the chairs to assist residents on sidewalks or at residences along Pike Street.
Borough council recently adopted an ordinance limiting the space-saving chairs to 48 hours ahead of the parade start time, now 10 a.m. on July 2.
Event schedule
The Parade Committee coordinated with a number of local organizations for three days of events in celebration of the 63rd edition of the parade, which coincides with America’s semiquincentennial anniversary, Maceiko said.
Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop will kick off the weekend with its third annual Hot Dog & Soda Festival starting at 6 p.m. on July 3 in the Midtown Lot.
According to a flyer for the event, the mini festival will include chili dog and gummy hot dog eating contests, plus a $5 soda tasting experience that confers a passport to visit 18 downtown Canonsburg businesses and enjoy unique craft soda samples at each location.
The Fourth events begin at 7:30 a.m. with the 42nd annual Whiskey Rebellion 5K Race & Walk sponsored by the Canon-McMillan Cross Country Boosters, before the national anthem and opening remarks by local leaders starting at 9:05 a.m.
The parade starts from Cavasina Drive near Walgreens at 10 a.m., heading west along Pike Street and finishing at the Bluff Street intersection.
Rhome said the party then moves to Canonsburg Town Park for an afternoon of free swimming and rock climbing, plus caricature drawing by Clarence Butler and face painting by Busy Bees Art Party at the pavilion from noon till 6 p.m.
The Calfo Kaboom fireworks show starts at the Canon-McMillan Stadium on North Jefferson Avenue at 9:45 p.m. with free admission and parking.
The weekend concludes with a free performance by Chris Higbee at the Canonsburg Town Park Amphitheater at 6:30 p.m. on July 5 as part of the 26th Annual Free Summer Concert Series by the Friends of the Canonsburg Town Park nonprofit group.
Rhome said the committee is urgently seeking additional volunteers to staff annual events such as the parade, and that volunteer participation is essential for the borough continuing to put on “joyful events” like the parade.
Rhome said interested volunteers can contact his office at 724-745-1800, ext. 3, for additional information.