Leetsdale Fourth of July celebration a destination for many in nearby communities

Leetsdale resident Tom Belcastro recalled marching in the borough’s Fourth of July parade about 70 years ago as an Ohio Valley Little League player.

He and his teammates would be in uniform, making their way down the main streets to the delight of their family and friends who were also eagerly awaiting fire trucks, floats and other parade fanfare.

“I marched in this parade for five years,” said Belcastro, 77. “After the parade, we went to the park all day. Then we went to the Little League field where we had an all-star game. After the all-star game, the fireworks started and everybody sat on a hillside.

“That’s the way it was when I grew up.”

Belcastro said Little League is no more, but he and many others will be back on Beaver Street continuing the Independence Day tradition.

He is a member of the 4th of July Committee led by Leetsdale Councilman Scott Zahner, who has been committee chair for the past three years.

Zahner anticipates that about 2,000 people will attend.

The celebration costs at least $25,000. A bulk of the funding comes through fundraising.

The committee also receives contributions from Leet, Glen Osborne, Aleppo and Bell Acres. Edgeworth donates land at Dashields Dam along the Ohio River to launch fireworks.

Team effort

There are about a dozen committee members doing their part to make the celebration a success.

Committee members Anita Gebhardt, Janet Gilbert and council Vice President Osman Awad prepare many of the foods sold at fundraisers, including soup and sandwich sales, spaghetti dinners and bake sales at voting polls. There were also boot drives in May and June.

Gilbert also uses the parade to express her creativity. She plans on making a parade float based on the Dr. Seuss classic “The Cat in the Hat.”

Last year’s float looked something like a three-layered cake with American flag trimming and red, white and blue balloons.

“I moved here seven years ago (from Leet), and I just think it is such a sweet town,” Gilbert said. “I want to see it move forward. I think we have such a good group of council members.”

Resident Judy Jones has been with the committee for three years. She is heavily involved in fundraising efforts with local restaurants and businesses.

“I have distributed about 10 containers with signage from our flyers around the area with the hope that people would make donations on site,” Jones said. “I think what’s really amazing about this whole event is that this very small community manages such a great event.”

Committee member Debbie Murray said volunteers have been tough to come by, but people have been generous with their wallets.

“This year was a tough year,” she said. “It is a lot of work to have the food sales and the bake sales and the spaghetti dinners.

“I’m very honored to be with the committee. We have good people here. They are very committed and dedicated to this event to make sure everything goes right with the Fourth of July.”

Different time

Belcastro said parade participation has fallen over the years.

A lot of people who had been involved have moved or dropped out.

“When I moved here in the ’70s, we basically had a three-day party here,” Belcastro said. He recalled a carnival at the park during the Fourth of July weekend.

Zahner said carnival companies now want a weeklong commitment before setting up shop.

The chairman said that isn’t possible with the committee’s budget and doesn’t see it being well attended.

“If I can figure out a way to have a carnival here for a couple days, I’d be glad to do it,” Zahner said. “Right now, we’re a small group. We don’t have (the money or the people).”

Leetsdale’s celebration is so popular that many neighboring Quaker Valley communities use it in lieu of their own Independence Day activity.

“It’s what makes Leetsdale stand out,” Mayor Sandra Ford said. “That’s what makes us special. I think the most important thing is we’re trying to keep the tradition alive.”

Sewickley Mayor George Shannon recalled marching in the Leetsdale parade a few years ago. He said medical issues are preventing him from marching this year.

Shannon praised the Leetsdale committee.

“I think they do great,” Shannon said. “They get it well organized. They do a lot of fundraising. They manage enough to pay for it. Scott Zahner’s a fundraising machine. He does it all year. He gets very creative.”

Parade lineup

The parade lineup will be at the Quaker Village Shopping Center. Participants will make their way onto Beaver Street, left onto Broad Street and end at Henle Park.

Participants include Leetsdale police, vintage cars, turtle racing, village buggies, Shriners, the Quaker Valley marching band and more.

Fire departments throughout Quaker Valley and from Baden to Bellevue have been invited.

Leetsdale Fire Chief Wes James said he gets a sense of pride being able to showcase his borough’s patriotism.

James believes everyone will have their trucks shined and filled with candy for children.

“It’s a lot of fun to have everybody come and participate in your parade, for sure,” said James, who has been in the parade for at least 25 years. “It’s all the guys you work with throughout the year on fire calls or do trainings with or practices. Just people that you know and you get to invite them to the big show.”