Brentwood July 4 celebration back in full force after 2-year covid hiatus

After a two-year hiatus, Brentwood’s renowned Fourth of July celebration is back in full force with the annual parade, 5K and fireworks display.

“Everyone’s excited to bring back this tradition,” said Melissa Lenigan, chair of the Brentwood 4^th of July Committee. “It spans over 100 years and with a two-year hiatus, we’re certainly excited to bring it back.”

In 2020, the event was canceled for the first time in a century because of covid concerns, and last year saw only a drive-through parade.

The celebration kicks off Sunday evening with a street fair on Brownsville Road at the Presbyterian church and Brentwood Bank.

That same evening, community fire companies will face off in the Battle of the Barrel. A sort of reverse tug-o-war, crews compete to see who uses a hose stream to push a barrel suspended on a wire past the other team.

On Monday morning, festivities begin with the Firecracker 5K, now in its 39^th year. The parade begins an hour later at 10 a.m. Participants will assemble and step off from Brownsville Road near Sankey Avenue and end at Dewalt Avenue. The grand marshals are all of the borough’s essential workers, a nod to their continued work throughout the covid-19 pandemic.

That includes Brentwood’s EMS, fire department, police, public works, teachers, Spartan Pharmacy and Allegheny Health Network’s neighborhood hospital in the borough.

“We wanted to really highlight the ones that, over the past few years, never really took a break and had to really come up with different ways to deal with the situation that covid brought us,” Lenigan said. “We’re excited to showcase those essential workers.”

Schedule of events

Sunday, July 3 – 6 to 8 p.m

Brentwood Street Fair Brownsville Road – Brentwood Bank and Brentwood Presbyterian Church

Battle of the Barrel

Former Brentwood municipal building

Monday, July 4

39^th Annual Firecraker 5K – 9 a.m.

Race begins at Brentwood Towne Square

Parade - 10 a.m.

Parade route: Assembles at Brownsville and Sankey Avenue then proceeds along Brownsville Road to Brentwood Towne Square at Dewalt Avenue

Fireworks – 9:30 p.m.

Brentwood Park