Star spangled spectacle: Canonsburg celebrates Fourth of July parade’s diamond anniversary
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
It’s a “sweet” spot for parade watching outside Grandpa Joe’s in Canonsburg Tuesday morning. Crowds lined the streets of Canonsburg for the 60th anniversary, which boasted 131 units and 54 sponsors.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Michele Rumbaugh and her daughter Adalynn Rumbaugh, 3, of Venetia, hurry to their seats as the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade begins Tuesday morning. Adalynn’s favorite part of the parade: police officers who throw candy.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The 911 Airlift Wing flies over Canonsburg Tuesday morning, signaling the start of the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
And it’s begun! The Canonsburg Fourth of July’s 60th anniversary lived up to the hype, with live music, first responders and U.S. veterans, marching bands, dazzling floats and more.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Lilly Zombeck, 11, left, and Katie Gondringer, 12, dance the morning away at the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday. The two, both of Cecil, were there with their families.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The first float of the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade rolls along Pike Street in Canonsburg Tuesday morning. This year’s parade lasted three hours and boasted plenty of floats, music, classic cars and marching bands.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Jenna Becker, Tim Estlow and their dogs Murphy and Ramona, right, enjoy the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade from the shade Tuesday morning. “It’s been a childhood tradition. It’s nice to carry it on,” said Becker, who grew up in Canonsburg.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Rhythm City Dance by Chelsea moves and grooves through Canonsburg Tuesday, as part of the 60th annual parade celebration.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Matthew Coon and Robert Litman, top right, of Washington, have a bird’s eye view of the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday. “My great-great grandfather was a merchant marine, he grew up in Canonsburg. We’re just trying to pay a little homage,” said Coon.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Kelli Meddings dances with her daughter Everleigh Meddings, 18 months, during the annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday morning. Meddings said the best part of the event, which she and Everleigh attended with her husband Adam, is seeing familiar faces and celebrating together.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
For the first time in years, the Washington High School JV and varsity cheerleaders march in the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The crowd claps to the beat as the New Orleans Riverside Band marches along Pike Street Tuesday afternoon during the annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Canonsburg mayor Dave Rhome presents a plaque to Linda Lou Neill, this year’s local grand marshal, during the Fourth of July parade Tuesday afternoon. Neill was the first 4th of July Fire Queen 60 years ago, when she sold the most tickets for the fire department, and has never missed a parade since.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Mt. Olive Baptist Church sets the soundtrack to the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday morning. The church was one of several churches to get crowds moving to live music.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Canon-McMillan High School marching band elicits cheers from the crowd Tuesday afternoon, during the annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade. Canon-Mac and Chartiers-Houston are always staples during the event.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Washington Wild Thing says hello to fans Tuesday afternoon during the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The crowd chills out with ARC Human Services, whose float featured women with spray bottles to cool off spectators. This year marked the Canonsburg parade’s diamond anniversary, and boasted more floats than in years past.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Range Resource balloons parade through Canonsburg Tuesday afternoon. Crowds gathered along the sidewalks for the star spangled spectacle that is the annual Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Little fans cheer on the Shriners as they make their way down Pike Street Tuesday during the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A majorette twirls beneath her baton before catching it expertly Tuesday afternoon during the annual Fourth of July parade in Canonsburg.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Lainey Gordon, 5, of South Fayette, receives an American flag from one of Santa’s elves Tuesday afternoon, during the 60th annual Fourth of July parade. Gordon’s mother, Jennifer, grew up in Canonsburg, and the family attends the parade every year.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The crowd goes bananas for Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop, who tosses bananas instead of sugary sweets in the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday afternoon.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Wonders Unicycle Club wows the crowd with choreographed twists and twirls Tuesday afternoon, during the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Landon Gordon, 9, steps wondrously through a spray of confetti Tuesday afternoon. Gordon, of South Fayette, enjoyed “everything” about the annual Fourth of July parade in Canonsburg, he said.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The melodic sounds of bagpipes fills the air as the Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh marches down Pike Street Tuesday afternoon. The band was one of several bagpipe groups to participate in Canonsburg’s 60th annual Fourth of July parade.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Sophia Haywood, 4, is all smiles as she rushes, candy in hand, back to her mom Sara Haywood during the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday. The Haywoods, of Glassport, found the trek to Canonsburg for its annual red, white and blue blowout well worth it.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
A Canonsburg resident saved a seat at this year’s 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade for Betsy Ross. The borough was dressed in its finest red, white and blue for the annual event.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Addie Triilino, 6, and Lily Warnock, far right, marvel as the Balmoral Pipes & Drums Band from Pittsburgh plays during the 60th annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday morning.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Chartiers-Houston High School “Char-ettes” shimmer down Pike Street Tuesday, where they led the marching band in the annual Canonsburg Fourth of July parade. Chartiers-Houston and Canon-Mac bands are always a staple in the big summer event.
Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The Balmoral Pipes & Drums Band from Pittsburgh marched in the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade Tuesday.
Sirens roared, fingers pointed skyward, faces turned upward and, at 9:58 a.m., the 911 Airlift Wing flew over the Rite-Aid in Canonsburg, signaling the start of the town’s 60th annual Fourth of July parade.
“(I’ve been coming) since the first one, for years and years and years,” said Edie Thompson, keeping cool in a wide-brimmed hat and cheering as volunteer firefighters marched down Pike Street. “It just seems to have grown. There seem to be more people this year than ever.”
In its infancy, the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade, founded by Anthony Colaizzo, featured a few bands, dignitaries in nice cars and firetrucks.
“As it gained momentum and gained steam, we started to get bigger and bigger,” said Fred Terling, parade emcee and public relations specialist.
In the 1970s, the parade welcomed the Mummers from Philadelphia and gradually expanded to an over three-hour-long affair with 30,000 or more spectators.
“It’s absolutely insane every year,” said Jenna Becker, who grew up in Canonsburg and first introduced her boyfriend Tim Estlow and their dogs to the tradition a few years ago. “I don’t know anybody else who goes as hard as Canonsburg.”
The diamond anniversary parade lived up to the hype. Chairs claiming spots lined the parade route Saturday morning. Crowds gathered along sidewalks around 8 a.m. Tuesday and the grand ole parade, which boasted 131 units and 54 corporate sponsors, lasted until a little after 1 p.m.
“I always joke if you’ve got a parade filled with cars, all you’re doing is watching traffic. We have a lot more music, including dance groups, and we have more floats this year,” said Terling.
Dance groups and music abounded. Young and old dressed in red, white and blue clapped their hands and polkaed as the SNPJ International Button Box band rode by, and many moved to the tunes of local churches like Mt. Olive Baptist Church, whose floats featured live music.
“She’s come since she was a month old,” said Sherry McDonald of Cecil as her daughter Lilly Zombeck, 11, and cousin Katie Gondringer, 12, danced. “I’ve been coming since I was little. It’s tradition.”
Tradition brings Jennifer Gordon, of Canonsburg, to the parade annually too.
“It’s so wonderful,” Gordon of South Fayette said, smiling. “I have so many great memories as a child going to the parade and being in the parade. It brings back all those great childhood memories.”
Gordon also loves watching her kids make their own Fourth of July memories. Her son Landon Gordon, 9, who marveled as confetti flew through the air, said his favorite thing about the parade is “everything.”
There was something for everyone during the three-hour parade. Local businesses passed out candy – folks went wild when Sarris gave out chocolate-covered pretzels and bananas as Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop tossed bananas to the crowd – and parade-goers marveled at the grace and athleticism the Wonders Unicycle Club demonstrated as members twirled and danced on one wheel.
Local dance troupes impressed with their moves, and floats dazzled. Classic cars and decked-out Jeeps cruised along the parade route to applause, and first responders tossed candy from local firetrucks and police cars.
“The police officers throwing the candy” was Adalynn Rumbaugh’s favorite part of the parade, she said.
Rumbaugh, 3, attended the parade with her mom Michele, her father Shane, little brother Ridge, 2, and Nana Linda Rumbaugh.
For the first time in its history, the Canonsburg Fourth of July parade welcomed the Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band. The Balmoral Pipes & Drums Band from Pittsburgh and the Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh also marched.
Alums cheered loudly as the Canon-McMillan and Chartiers-Houston high school bands performed, folks put their hands together for the Washington High School and JV cheerleaders, and folks went wild for the Pittsburgh Pirates Pierogies and the Washington Wild Thing.
Addie Trivilino, 6, and her friend Lily Warnock, 5, had front-row seats to the show and enjoyed every moment of parade day, especially collecting candy and dancing.
The two were there with their moms, Melanie Trivilino and Heather Warnock.
“I did not grow up around here,” said Melanie Trivilino. “We’ve come the last maybe seven or eight years. Just the tradition of being together with our friends and enjoying the day – that’s why we’re here. We want them to grow up with the same memories, with better memories, even.”
Memory-making continued even after the last float announced, “That’s all, folks!”
Town Park Pool offered free admission and a myriad of activities, including a rock climbing wall all afternoon and live music in the park.
Canonsburg Memorial Stadium opened at 6 p.m., the first time the stadium has opened on the Fourth in a couple of years, for an evening bash that included food trucks, face painting, caricatures and balloon art.
Aaron Margaria took the stage at 7:30 p.m., followed by Cross Creek the Band at 8.
And fireworks by Pyrotecnico lit up the night skies over Canonsburg. The show, the first by Pyrotecnico, kicked off at 10 p.m.
When the last fireworks faded into blackness, the 60th Canonsburg Fourth of July ended, too, another marvelous day in the borough’s history books.
“Other than tradition, it’s a day of togetherness,” said Terling. “It’s a reminder about what this country’s about. There’s a lot of junk that’s going on in the world, and for one day, from the morning to night, it’s an actual celebration of America, it’s a celebration of family, it’s a celebration of friends, it’s a celebration of loved ones. It’s a full-day affair. For one day out of the year, there’s no stress. You just show up and be entertained.”