Manayunk to Host Philadelphia's Oldest 4th of July Parade

In 2016, the 326th anniversary of old Roxborough Township, in an effort to bring more people to the parade, the 21st Ward Fourth of July Association has invited specific community groups to march in the community’s Independence Day Parade.

Groups will include: Northwest Veterans, Jeanette’s School of Dance, and the Wissahickon Braves Cheerleaders.

Monday, July 4, 2016 will mark the 186th year of the community’s sacred Independence Day Parade of Sunday Schools and Churches. In the community, it is the 109th year Churches have joined the Sunday Schools in the combined parade march to honor Christ Jesus. Our hometown Independence Day Parade will begin at 9 am sharp at Manayunk Avenue at Lyceum Avenue. Participants will march up Lyceum Avenue to Ridge Avenue, before continuing with the post parade hometown picnic celebrations.

The Association asks the residents of these streets to move their cars so the parade can be viewed without obstruction.

The 21st Ward Fourth of July Association said that St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Manayunk, [founded in 1831, the same year as this parade] is celebrating its 185th Jubilee Anniversary, and will be the lead church in the hometown’s Independence Day Parade of Sunday Schools & Churches on Monday, July 4.

According to the custom of the 21st Ward Fourth of July Association, it is the lead church's privilege to honor Samuel Lawson, founder of this community celebration, by parading with the bronze tablet dedicated to his memory and displaying it throughout the year

The parade line of march with picnic locations includes:

1 St John the Baptist, Manayunk The Woods, Port Royal Ave
2 Josie D. Heard A.M. E. NO picnic
3 St Timothy's Episcopal Church grounds
4 St Alban's Episcopal Church grounds
5 St Mary's Episcopal NO picnic
6 St David's Episcopal Church grounds
7 Epic Church NO picnic

8 Ridge Avenue United Methodist With Green Lane United Methodist
9 Wissahickon Presbyterian Church grounds
10 Church in the Yunk NO picnic
11 The Salvation Army NO picnic
12 Galilee Baptist Church grounds
13 Leverington Presbyterian Gorgas Park
14 Community Bible Fellowship NO picnic
15 Roxborough Presbyterian With Leverington Presbyterian
16 Pilgrim Presbyterian Private Residence
17 Green Lane United Methodist Church grounds

For more rules, regulations, and information, see here.