Monroeville’s Independence Day Parade returns with minor route change

After a two-year hiatus, Monroeville is getting back into the swing of traditional activities with the return of the longstanding Independence Day Parade and Fireworks.

“We have around 68 entries for floats, but more walkers and drivers always show up for the parade day of,” Councilman Joseph Hyzy said about the parade portion.

The event has been around since 1951, drawing the community together in celebration.

There will be a slight change to the route this year. Due to construction of the Veterans Affairs Hospital on Mall Circle Drive, the two-mile parade route will end in the back of the Monroeville Convention Center parking lot.

Despite the change, all major features of the parade will still take place, including floats, candy and the annual Decorated Bike and Wagon Contest. Participants are encouraged to enter their decorated bicycle or wagon into the competition to ride in the parade.

“The bikes should be patriotic and as decorative as can be,” Valerie Warning, head of the contest. “The kids can dress themselves up and paint their faces to go along with their bike.”

The top three contest winners will each receive a prize. First place will be awarded a $500 gift certificate from Pro Bikes. Second place will receive a $75 gift certificate, and third place will be given a $50 gift card. Each winner will also be awarded with additional gifts from the contest committee.

This year, participants in the competition may be a little sparse after its cancellation in 2020 and 2021.

“We used to have a huge turnout for the contest,” said Warning. “It was such a family event. Numbers started to dwindle in the past, but only three entries isn’t what this competition used to be.”

There is still plenty of enough time to enter the competition, though.

Interested applicants are able to register online at www.monroeville.pa.us. Anyone can register on the day of the parade at the building that was previously the Pro Bike+Run shop on the corner of the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. They are able to register from 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. in time for the 9 o’clock parade start.

Fireworks are featured at 9:30 p.m. at the Monroeville Mall Annex, presented in partnership with the Municipality of Monroeville and Monroeville Independence Day Committee.