Retro photos from Baltimore area Fourth of July parades

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Take a stroll through memory lane with these retro photos from Baltimore area Fourth of July parades from years past.

The Big Three Parades

Three of the biggest Fourth of July parades in the Baltimore area are held in Dundalk, Towson and Catonsville.

In Dundalk, now in its 79th year, the parade still marches a step ahead of others just like it did in 1935: “The Dundalk celebration started at 9.A.M. with a parade of floats fire engines and automobiles a mile long that toured Sparrows Point and then ended at the carnival grounds. During the afternoon, games and contest were held for the children.”

There was even something called “chicken scramble.”

“Just before the fireworks several crates of chickens were turned loose in the crowd of 10,000 and who ever grab one was owner – unless fowl managed to scrambe free and inspire a new chase,” a Sun published back in July 5, 1935.

This year, the parade starts at 8:15 a.m.

The Catonsville 4th of July Celebration started in 1947 when community newspaper editor Marie O’Dea organized the event to provide a safe alternative for residents. The chairs come out early and the parade starts at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, Towson’s Fourth of July Parade is the oldest and largest of the three. It started in 1921 and is in its 92nd year. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at Bosley and Burke Avenues.

Enjoy the parades and Happy Fourth of July.

RELATED
Catonsville chairs a tradition with unknown origins
By Julie Baughman, jbaughman@tribune.com
12:00 p.m. EDT, July 2, 2013

Metal chairs. Plastic chairs. Big chairs. Little chairs. Lawn chairs. Table chairs. Even reclining armchairs.

Since as early as June 17, they have become part of the scenery along Frederick Road, between Locust Drive and Montrose Avenue, in Catonsville.

They are a unique Catonsville signal that the town’s annual summer celebration is not too far away.

Read More.

LINKS
BALTIMORE-AREA JULY FOURTH EVENTS
INTERACTIVE MAP: WHERE TO WATCH FIREWORKS IN BALTIMORE