Canonsburg dedicates Fourth parade to Colaizzo
Courtesy of the Colaizzo family
Anthony Colaizzo waves while serving as grand marshal of a Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Canonsburg Fourth of July parade
Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan High School cheerleaders march down Pike Street during the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade last year.
Observer-Reporter file photo
Shelby Dodd waves at marchers as she sits under an umbrella with Bria Coleman, both of Canonsburg, during the borough’s Fourth of July parade last year.
Observer-Reporter file photo
Jakob Fonner of Scenery Hill waves a flag and salutes as a military troop marches by during the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade last year.
Observer-Reporter file photo
A member of New Orleans Riverside band plays his trumpet as the unit marches down Pike Street during the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade last year.
Observer-Reporter file photo
Susan Dade of Canonsburg was not to be outdone when it comes to patriotic attire as she watches the parade in 2008.
By Fred Terling Jr.
The Canonsburg Fourth of July celebration will mark its 57th year. The celebration is being dedicated to the memory of the Fourth of July celebration’s founding father, Anthony L. Colaizzo.
Mr. Colaizzo developed the idea for the celebration in 1962 following the illness of his daughter. That year, the Colaizzo family had to miss their annual trip to South Park, their typical Fourth of July tradition. As he walked through town, he noted that his beloved Canonsburg was barren of any type of patriotic celebration. No decorations, no flags and certainly no chairs set out the week prior, a moniker that would put the celebration on the map for the coming decades.
This inspired him to organize a group to start a daylong celebration with a firework display as a grand finale. As chief fundraiser, Mr. Colaizzo went to work raising the funds, including working the crowd with a bucket on the morning of the inaugural celebration to make the budget at the 11th hour.
From his seeding of an idea and his ongoing efforts, the celebration has grown to an annual attendance of an estimated 15,000 people filling Memorial Stadium for fireworks and 30,000 people along the parade route in Canonsburg the day of the celebration since that first parade in 1963.
Unfortunately, on January 12, 2019, we lost Mr. Colaizzo. In his memory during the parade this year, the committee will be wearing Tony’s signature bow tie and panama hat and enthusiastically encourage the citizens of Canonsburg to join them.
The parade will start with opening remarks by Mayor David Rhome and Canonsburg Forth of July Committee Chairman Bill Brooks at the reviewing stand at 9 a.m. The parade officially steps off at 10 a.m.
One big change this year is the location of the reviewing stand. One big change is the location of the reviewing stand. The reviewing stand this year will be in front of the downtown Rite Aid at 25 East Pike Street.
The parade grand marshal will be 1990 Canon McMillan and Carnegie Mellon graduate Capt. Jonathan Kline, Commanding Officer, Naval Support Activity Hampton, the largest concentration of naval headquarter units outside of Washington, D.C.
Following the parade, there will be free activities at the Town Park for all ages from noon until 6 p.m. Free swimming, balloon animals, face painting, rock climbing and inflatables will be featured. Music will be provided by SNPJ Button Box and the Tom Terling Band. Visit the committee website for the schedule.
The evening festivities will begin at the Canonsburg Memorial Stadium at 8 p.m. with the national anthem performed by Ashley Mullens followed by special musical guest, On the Level. Float winners will be announced following the musical entertainment with a new award for the first time this year, The Anthony L. Colaizzo Memorial Award. Fireworks will fill the sky at 10 p.m., produced by Zambelli Fireworks International. In the event of rain, the fireworks rain date will be Friday, July 5, at 10 p.m.
For more information or questions on the celebration, please contact Rob Maceiko at 724-745-5310 or visit the website at canonsburgjuly4th.org.