The Band Shelter

Catonsville is proud of its annual July 4th Parade, and this mural celebrates the vibrant sounds of the parade.  This bus shelter is adorned with marching band instruments and is perfectly located at the Montrose Ave. starting point of the annual parade.

The July 4th celebration in Catonsville was originally started in 1947. It was founded on the belief that deaths and injuries on the new interstate highways could be reduced if the community could stay home and participate in a full day of activities.  Marie O’Dea, then editor of the Herald-Argus (the forerunner of the Catonsville Times) community newspaper, organized the event to provide a “safe and sane” holiday for Catonsville residents.  Marie passed away in 2021 at 96, secure in the knowledge that this Catonsville tradition will continue for generations.