Traditional 4th Of July Parade 2020 Canceled In Dundalk

DUNDALK, MD – July 4 events across the country will not look the same this year thanks to the coronavirus. Many cities and towns have been forced to cancel the annual Fourth of July events, including the 86th Annual Dundalk 4th of July Parade and Independence 6K.

However, in order to abide by coronavirus guidelines, the Dundalk Parade Committee will instead host the Dundalk Independence Day Community Caravan Celebration on July 4 at 9:30 a.m. The Community Caravan Celebration route will be extended from the traditional 2.5 miles to an 8.1-mile route to encourage greater social distancing but still allow for viewers to safely watch the procession pass by. The route will wind its way through the major streets of Dundalk but include portions of the “traditional” parade route.

The route will begin on Wise Avenue, cross over Merritt Boulevard and continue on Holabird Avenue, then make a right on Delvale Avenue to German Hill Road, then another right on German Hill Road to Merritt Boulevard, right again on Merritt Boulevard to Sollers Point Road, then left on Sollers Point Road to the traffic circle in Watersedge. From there, the parade route will take the circle exit to Dundalk Avenue, turn right on Belclare Road to Liberty Parkway, turn left on Liberty Parkway to Dunglow, left again at Dunglow Road to Dunmanway, right on Dunmanway to Trading Place, left on Trading Place to Shipway, right to Shipway to end in front of Dundalk Elementary School.

Even though event organizers have managed to keep the Fourth of July parade alive and in accordance with coronavirus guidelines, a cloud of sadness has fallen over the event as Joe Falbo, president of the Heritage Association of Dundalk and person in charge of fireworks, has since passed away.

“We know Joe is watching over us and we hope to make him proud, even during these difficult times,” says Will Feuer, co-chair of the parade committee. "The parade committee honors his memory and we recognize all that he has done for Dundalk with an entry in the caravan.

Michael Andy will be the 2020 Grand Marshall of the Community Caravan Celebration. He is a "very active" member of the Dundalk Historical Society, chairing the Dundalk Patapsco Neck Historical Society Christmas Train Garden for 20 years. He started it with his personal collection of trains in 2000 and functions as a designer, layout builder and engineer. He also assists with the Historical Society’s Luminary Night by filling the bags with sand and candles and decorating the park around the Historical Society building. He also works on the Defenders Day Committee, helping to plan the end of summer event at Fort Howard, which celebrates the valiant
efforts of local residents in the 1814 Battle of North Point. Every year for at least the last decade, Andy can be found pre-announcing at the Dundalk Independence Day Parade, setting up the main stage at 5:30 a.m. and then working in the July heat to slow the entries down and allow them to perform in front of the judges.

“Mike is an asset on the parade committee. Anytime we have a question or need help with anything he is the first one to raise his hand. Dundalk should be honored to call him their own and I am privileged to call him my friend,” Feuer said. "You wouldn’t know all that Mike does because he doesn’t tell you, he just does it because he cares about Dundalk. It is fitting that he should lead the Caravan through his town."

The grand marshall will ride with John Purkey in the lead fire engine directing the caravan. A retired firefighter, Purkey owns several fire engines and keeps them in pristine condition to ride in parades and shows throughout the county. Not only has Purkey had fire engines in the Dundalk Independence Day Parade, he also delivers Santa Claus for the Christmas Tree Lighting, and new this year, he led the Easter Bunny Parade.

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