Catonsville finds funds for Fourth of July parade

The chairs are out and preparations for the Catonsville Fourth of July parade are in full swing.

This year's parade will feature performances from 12 bands from around the U.S and as far away as Canada and a number of floats from community organizations, schools, churches and businesses.

"We're on track for everything, it's all coming together really well," said DyAnn Moree, a director of the Catonsville Celebrations Committee.

She said that, each year, the committee must raise about $90,000 to fund the parade and the fireworks and that the fundraising is on schedule this year.

"People have been so generous with their donations," she said. "We're in good shape. We have collection tins out at every business."

She said a Ravens Roost did what she called a road block — during which members of an organization stand on the corner of Frederick Road and do bucket donation collections — on June 8 and that the Catonsville Men's Civic Association will be doing one Saturday, June 29.

"The community chips in money, whoever drives by," she said.

Moree said the committee was lucky to have Peace a Pizza, Sweet Frog and Dimitiri's International Grille all host private benefits to raise money for the summer celebration.

She said Opie's Soft Serve and Snowballs also had a large fundraiser for the committee June 23.

All of the floats this year will center around the central theme of "What's to love about Catonsville," Moree said.

St. Mark School, Westchester Elementary and Hillcrest Elementary are among the local schools that will have floats on display in the parade. They'll be joined by local businesses such as Wurtzer's Garage.

This year's grand marshals will be about 25 members of the now disbanded Woman's Club of Catonsville.

"I think the big thing this year is who our grand marshal is," Moree said. "They're awesome. They're so responsible for Catonsville staying the way it is.

"And of course we have our local kids who decorate their bikes," Moree said of the participants that will be coming from the annual morning of free children's activities on the fields at Catonsville High School.

"It's really a community joint effort," she said.

The July 4 activities begin with a kids fun day with games and prizes on the Valley Road fields of Catonsville High School at 9 a.m.

That's followed by a concert at Christian Temple Church on Edmondson Avenue.

Groups participating in the parade begin to line up at 1 p.m. and the parade begins at 3 p.m.

"Then everybody re-gathers up at the high school at about 6 (p.m.) for live music and for food until the fireworks go off at 9 (p.m.)," Moree said.