Happy 4th of July Week, Neighbors! 🎆

This week’s issue is packed fuller than a picnic basket — from parades and fireworks to float decorating and jazz jams. Whether you’re cheering at Catonsville’s Grand Parade or catching Arbutus’s soap box derby, this is one of those rare weeks when the whole town feels like family.

We’re especially grateful to our sponsor, Catonsville Comprehensive Dentistry, for making this issue possible (and for keeping our smiles as bright as the fireworks).

Scroll down for your complete July 4th guide, dozens of fun local events, and a few surprises tucked in like sparklers. Let’s make this Independence Day one to remember.

See you around town!

In this week’s issue:

• Local 4th of July Celebrations

• Things to do this week

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Thank you to our friends at Catonsville Comprehensive Dentistry for sponsoring this week’s newsletter:

Celebrating July 4th in Catonsville and Arbutus

In Catonsville and Arbutus, Independence Day isn’t just another holiday – it’s the highlight of summer. Both communities have proud July 4th traditions that locals prepare for all year. Will you be there?

In Arbutus, festivities kick off bright and early. At 8:00 am, runners take off in the annual Firecracker 10K race, and at 9:00 am families line Elm Road to watch the old-fashioned Soap Box Derby races (a beloved tradition started in 1967). After a patriotic flag-raising ceremony downtown at 10:30 am, the main event arrives: the Arbutus Fourth of July Parade steps off at 12:30 pm, rolling through the heart of town from Tom Day Boulevard to East. Neighbors set up chairs along the route to cheer on floats and marching bands as they pass – a true small-town spectacle that draws crowds from across the area.

In Catonsville, the celebrations span the entire. The morning starts at 9:30 am with kids’ games and races at Catonsville High School – think classic activities like sack races, a decorated bike contest and more, with prizes for the winner. By late afternoon, it’s parade time: at 3:00 pm the 79th Annual Grand Parade winds its way down Frederick Road. This big parade (rain or shine) features everything from local marching bands to the Baltimore Ravens’ marching band, and residents crowd the sidewalks to wave flags and greet the passing performers. Afterward, the excitement shifts back to Catonsville High School, where an evening Family Fun Fest offers live music and plenty of food as everyone relaxes on blankets and lawn chairs. As dusk falls, Catonsville treats the community to a “mammoth” fireworks display around 9:15 pm – the grand finale that lights up the sky. (If Mother Nature interferes, the fireworks rain date is set for July 5 at 9:30 pm.) From morning races to nighttime rockets’ red glare, the Fourth of July in these neighborhoods is an all-day, family-friendly celebration – a tradition so big, it truly takes two towns to pull it off.

Sources: Greater Arbutus Business Association & Patch

Happening This Week

Featured Events

More Local Events:

Key: $ - Costs Money; R - Requires Registration; D - More Details

Monday, June 30

BINGO at Arbutus Fire Hall 5-10:30pm D

Irish Step Dancing at Catonsville Clubhouse 7:30-9:30 pm $

Tuesday, July 1

Free Ice Cream Float Chick-fil-A in Arbutus 6-10am D

4th of July Family Fun Night (kids get free ice cream) at Chick-fil-A in Arbutus 4:30-6:30pm D

Celtic Music Class & Session at Catonsville Clubhouse 6:30-9:30pm $ 

Ultimate Game Show at Bar Bones Grill in Ellicott City 7-10pm D 

Jazz Jam at Judge’s Bench in Ellicott City 8-11pm

House Party at State Fare in Catonsville 10pm-2am

Wednesday, July 2

Farmers Market at Christian Temple in Catonsville 9:00am-12:00pm D

Food Trucks at Arbutus Fire Hall 4-8 pm D 

BINGO Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department 5-10pm $

4th of July Float Decorating at 1 Mill Town Ct in Catonsville 5-8pm R

Flight The Dinosaur Tour at Morsberg Tavern in Catonsville 6-11pm $

Open Mic at Catonsville Clubhouse 6:30-9:30 pm R 

Trivia at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 7-9 pm D

Team Fued at DePaolo’s Pub in Halethorpe 7-9pm

Thursday, July 3

BINGO at Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department 5-11pm $

4th on the 3rd (FREE live music, food trucks) at The Vortex at CAA in Catonsville 5:30 pm D 

Adult POTtery at the Pottery Stop in Ellicott City 6:30-9pm $

The Amish Outlaws - Live Music at State Fare in Catonsville 7pm

One Step Down - Live Music at LeeAnn’s Dining Room in Ellicott City 7-9pm

Trivia at Shuffles Bar & Grill in Arbutus 7-10pm

Dream Police - Live Music at Fish Head Cantina in Halethorpe 7-11pm D 

Julius Caesar on Stage at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City 7:30 pm $

Latin Dancing at LaPalapa’s 7:30 (lesson), 9:45 (open dancing)-11:45pm

Throwback Thursday at State Fare in Catonsville 10pm-1:30am

Friday, July 4

Arbutus Firecracker 10K Race Starts at Arbutus Middle School 8-10am D

Bike Ride to Fort McHenry meet at Catonsville Bike Shop 8am-12pm R 

Children’s Games and Races at Catonsville High School 9:30 am

Arbutus 4th of July Parade on East Drive 12:30pm

Grand Parade at Frederick Rd in Catonsville 3pm (Rain or Shine)

Food Trucks at Elkridge Fire Hall 4:30-7:30 pm D

NO Frederick Road Fridays this Week because of the 4th celebration

Fireworks Family Fun Fest (live music & food venders) at Catonsville High School 6:30pm

Team Trivia at DePaolo’s Pub in Halethorpe 7-9pm D

Latin Dance Lesson and Open Dancing at La Palapa’s in Ellicott City 7:30 pm - 1:30 am D

Poetry & Prose at Backwater Books in Ellicott City 8-9 pm D 

Aiden Ewald - Live Music at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 8-10 pm D

Remedy - Live Music at Fish Head Cantina in Halethorpe 9 pm - 12 am D 

Mammoth Fireworks Display at Catonsville High School 9:15pm (Rain Date, July 5)

Saturday, July 5

Farmers Market on Main at Tiber Park in Ellicott City 9 am-1 pm D 

Pizza Making Class at Sorento of Arbutus 10am-2pm D

Finger Painting at sweetFrog in Catonsville 11am-12pm

The Remedy Band - Live Music at the Courtyard at Little Market Café in Ellicott City 6-8 pm D

*NO Concert at Lurman this week because it’s the rain date for the Catonsville parade.

Karaoke at Daniel’s Restaurant in Elkridge 7 pm D 

Christos FC vs. Patuxent FA | Home Match 06 | USLY Night at UMBC Soccer Fields 7pm $ 

Julius Caesar on Stage at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City 8 pm $

The Flatwounds - Live Music at Backwater Books in Ellicott City 8-10 pm D

Alex Peters - Live Music at White Oak Tavern in Ellicott City 8-10 pm D

Summer Movie Night "National Treasure" at The Wine Bin at 9 PM D

Sunday, July 6

Sunday Farmers Market at 15 Mellor Avenue in Catonsville 9:00am-12:00pm D 

Tales & Trails Audio Book Walk at Backwater Books in Ellicott City 11am-1pm D

West Side Rocks - Live Music at the Courtyard at Little Market Café in Ellicott City 12-3 pm D 

Julius Caesar on Stage at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Ellicott City 6 pm $

Carey Ziegler’s Expensive Hobby - Live Music at Lurman Woodland Theater in Catonsville 6:00pm-8:00pm D

That’s it for this week’s view. Please share this newsletter with your local friends and neighbors via this link. We’re stronger together.

Until next time,

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