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.
Canonsburg celebrated the town’s 60th annual Fourth of July parade this year. The diamond anniversary parade lived up to the hype. As is tradition, 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.
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.
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.