Fourth of July Parade in Monroeville canceled but fireworks still set to blast off over Monroeville Mall

The annual Fourth of July Parade in Monroeville has been canceled but the holiday will still end with a bang, as the committee plans to ramp up the fireworks show.

“After much thought and consideration in weighing the unknown restrictions for such a well-attended event, it was determined that it would be best to continue to postpone the parade until such a time that possible restrictions will not be necessary to keep our community safe,” read an announcement posted to Monroeville’s Facebook page.

Jim Johns, a former Monroeville councilman who serves as a member of the municipality’s Fourth of July Committee, said he’s disappointed.

“But it was just the right thing to do,” he said.

Johns said the participants in the parade haven’t even been able to gather to practice performances.

“It would be unfair of us to ask them to do that, especially when restrictions on gathering are still in place right now,” he said.

This summer would have marked the municipality’s 43^rd parade that it hosts on Independence Day. It was canceled last year, too, because of concerns surrounding the pandemic.

Johns said a parade could still happen over Labor Day weekend in September. He said the committee is joining forces with the local American Legion post for the parade. The legion usually sponsors a parade on Memorial Day, but that parade was also canceled this year, Johns said.

Johns said he was excited that fireworks will still explode above the Monroeville Mall this year.

“And they’re gonna be something to die for,” he said. “They’re gonna be bigger and better.”

Pyrotecnico Fireworks Inc. will launch them as soon as the night sky is dark. Johns said the committee pumped some extra money into the display this year so that the show can extend for another 10 minutes. He declined to say how much money was spent on the fireworks this year, but he said they usually cost about $18,000 or $19,000.

“And they typically last 20 to 25 minutes. So the finale this year, people will think it’s done, but it won’t be. It’s going to be a spectacular finale,” he said.

Officials have said the best spot to watch the fireworks display is in a parking lot area directly outside the Cinemark movie theater, on the south side of the mall. However, parking lots surrounding the mall will be open for spectators.

Parking for the fireworks display is free.