The Greater Glenside Patriotic Association (GGPA) announced at approximately 5:30pm today that last-minute adjustments have been made to the 123rd Glenside 4th of July Parade.

On Monday, Montgomery County announced a “Code Red” Hot Weather Health Warning through Saturday. Tomorrow’s forecast has held through the week: 97 degrees of “dangerous heat”, according to AccuWeather.com.

That forecast in mind, parade organizers, elected officials, township staff, and community leaders have arrived at a compromise.

“We want to make sure safety is the most important thing. The heat wave has brought up major concerns so we want to do what’s best for the performers and the community. It’s been a difficult and challenging decision,” Jamey Piggott, president of the GGPA, told Glenside Local.

The Children’s Program at Renninger Park has been cancelled. Facets of the parade will continue with adjustments.

“The parade has not been cancelled per se. We’re going to honor the 123rd year with firetrucks and other vehicles,” Piggot said.

At 6:00pm, parade participants will head from the North Penn VFW down Jenkintown Road, across Easton Road, left onto Abington Avenue, at which point they will enter Abington School District’s campus.

From 7:00pm to 9:00pm, a number of the out-of-state (and out-of-country) bands will perform at several locations throughout the campus, Piggot said. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s 28th ID Band (originally scheduled for 8:00pm) will join them.

“Once we’re on campus, we’re going to have a majority of the non-local bands scattered along the campuses of Copper Beech Elementary, the junior high, and the high school,” Piggot said. “We’re still going to have mounted horses and we’re hoping to have Little Mr. and Miss Glenside as well as other elements of the parade.”

9:00pm will see a fireworks display as planned.

“These bands want to play, they know our history, and Glenside is excited to have them perform. The temperatures will be cooler by that time, and that gives our community an opportunity to still see the performances leading up to the Army band that will play before a fireworks show. That will cap off July 4th in Glenside,” he said. “It’s a compromise and that’s what community is all about. We’re doing the right thing. We’ll be working feverishly through the night to make sure everything goes to plan. The last three hours have been insanity. It’s a day I’ll never forget.”

Piggot concluded with a note of thanks for all those involved.

“I’m extremely proud of our townships and our community leaders, our fire departments and police departments for putting the community first, but still commemorating a special day in Glenside,” he said.

For additional updates, you can visit the GGPA’s website and Facebook page.

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Photos: GGPA