Dundalk residents will celebrate this year's red, white and blue holiday with a four-day party -- complete with a phony (as in inedible) cake the size of a compact car. This year's 60th Fourth of July parade will be part of the community's 100th birthday celebration.
In Catonsville, the parade tomorrow is the focal point of a daylong patriotic celebration. In Towson, there is the parade.
Baltimore County's Big Three Fourth of July parades have been holiday traditions for generations.
Although Dundalk, named for a town in Ireland, is the old-timer, the other two go back close to 50 years. Catonsville will have its 48th Independence Day parade tomorrow and Towson, the youngster, its 45th.
The three parades have survived wars, recessions and inclement weather and still attract multitudes every year. A dedicated parade-watcher might even manage to see some of all three tomorrow -- with Dundalk starting at 8:30 a.m., Towson's at 10:30 a.m. and Catonsville's at 3 p.m.
"I think it's safe to say this might very well be the longest continuing parade in the state of Maryland," said Tom Toporovich, retired secretary of the County Council and an organizer for the Dundalk parade. "I think it's going to be an opportunity to display the pride and patriotism of the people in this community. This is a chance for people to feel good about themselves and boast that we are the greatest."
Dundalk's long weekend of birthday festivities puts its parade in the most elaborate context. The celebration leading to the parade began Friday at Dundalk Heritage Park with the annual Heritage Fair showcasing entertainment, arts and crafts, children's rides, games and food.
The four-hour parade, featuring 150 floats, bands and marching units, will start at Logan Village Shopping Center and end at Liberty Parkway and Dunmanway. Fireworks at dusk will wrap up the celebration. And for those who want a glimpse of the car-size cake, it will be on display year-round at Dundalk Community College in all its wood and plaster glory.
More than 200,000 people are expected to watch the parade, said Mr. Toporovich.
For Bob Fogle, president of the Dundalk Heritage Association, the parade holds special memories.
"I can remember all of the old fire engines, and people dressed up as Indians who would chase you all around," Mr. Fogle said. "I can remember the Mummers. . . . That was a big deal for us. Everyone was in the parade. Every organization you can think of was in the parade."
