“Creating Smiles since 1947” at the 65th Annual Catonsville July 4th Parade: Monday, July 4, 2011 at 3 p.m.

It is hard to believe that it has been 65 years since Marie O’Dea planned and executed the first Catonsville parade and fireworks. The first parade had two bands and was over in 35 minutes.

Prior to 1947, many Catonsville residents were using the newly created interstate highway network to leave the area and celebrate the July 4th holiday in neighboring communities. Marie, the editor of the local paper, was worried about growing holiday accident statistics and wanted to create an event that would keep Catonsville residents safe at home. With the help of a few friends and businesses, she organized the first Catonsville’s Independence Day celebration.

Marie had no idea that her little Catonsville parade would blossom into a first class regional parade attended by 60,000 people annually. She had no way to gauge the tremendous impact this event would have on generations of families. Marie would be amazed at the number of Catonsville natives who return home every July 4th to recapture the happy home town memories of their youth.

Rose Edwards
2011 Chairperson