Canon-Mac stadium closed for Fourth of July festivities
Spectators who use Canon-McMillan Memorial Stadium for fireworks viewing will have to find a new location this year. Due to renovations of the track and field, the stadium is closed this summer.
Flags are flying along Pike Street in Canonsburg in preparation for the July 4th parade through the town Saturday morning.
This year, the best seats in the house will not be in Canon-McMillan Memorial Stadium – at least not for watching Independence Day fireworks.
Due to renovations of the track and field, the stadium will be closed to visitors who traditionally use it to view Canonsburg Borough’s famous July 4 pyrotechnics.
But Robert Maceiko, committee member and former co-chairman of the event, said that there will still be a good show.
“We did tell the fireworks company nothing low,” he said, noting the display will begin at 9:45 p.m. from the same spot near the stadium. “There will be high aerial shots.”
While no other facility of comparable size is available, Maceiko and Mayor David Rhome said there are many places throughout the borough for optimal viewing.
“We ask people to use common sense and not block roadways or driveways,” said Rhome. “If you use common sense, we don’t believe we’ll have any problems.”
Last year, the borough hosted 60,000 to 70,000 visitors during the day-long festivities, which originated in 1963. Canonsburg is believed to host the second-largest Fourth of July celebration in the state.
“Once again, this is a way to celebrate our independence and have folks stay at home and have their families visit. We want to keep everyone safe, enjoying the day and being a part of what the celebration is all about,” Rhome said.
This year’s theme, “United in Peace and Freedom,” will include traditions like the Whiskey Rebellion 5K, parade, polka music and free Town Park family activities, including face painting, a petting zoo, crafts and rock-climbing.
Also making an appearance this year will be three skydivers, dressed as superheroes, who will jump into the Town Park pool at 3 p.m.
A longtime custom that has been altered is the annual “placing of the chairs” to reserve parade viewing spots. This is the third year residents are limited to placing chairs on the sidewalk no sooner than 48 hours prior to the parade. In previous years, residents claimed their spots along the route as many as 12 days in advance, chaining chairs together and limiting access to curbs.
Police Chief Alex Coghill doesn’t anticipate any issues with the chairs or the stadium closure.
“Everything worked beautifully,” he said of residents obeying the ordinance last year.
He advised revelers to enjoy the borough’s fireworks and not to set off their own. Traffic is the main concern of the police department, but Coghill and his team are experts in handling the large holiday crowd.
“Everything is on autopilot at this point,” he said, noting that for the past 25 years, the borough has had at least 50,000 attendees to the celebration.
At 9 a.m., a peal of church bells will signal the official start to the festival, followed by the closure of Canonsburg’s main route for the 10 a.m. parade.
Morganza Road, from McDonald’s, 100 Bobby Vinton Boulevard, to Shop ‘n Save, 617 W. Pike St., will remain closed to traffic until the parade ends around noon.
Serving as this year’s community grand marshals will be lifelong borough residents, R.T. Bell, retired police chief, and Harold “Buddy” Coleman, retired fire chief and deputy police chief.
“We wanted to honor them for their years of service to Canonsburg,” Maceiko said.
If it rains, fireworks will be set off at 9:30 p.m. Sunday.