Monroeville cancels popular summer events, focuses on Labor Day

Monroeville canceled its Memorial Day and Fourth of July events that annually draws thousands because of the uncertainties surrounding the covid-19 pandemic, according to an announcement posted to the municipality’s website.

“We feel the planning of these very special events would be greatly hindered by the current statewide restrictions,” said Mayor Nick Gresock.

Instead, the municipality will focus its planning efforts on a possible “Labor Day weekend celebration.”

“This will be an event to celebrate our community and country with special regard for our veterans, first responders, health care workers, and businesses in addition to laborers. We feel Labor Day weekend is the perfect match for such a celebration, considering its annual tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. It will take workers along with the entire community to get us through this pandemic, and return us to our normal way of life,” Gresock said.

Labor Day weekend this year falls on Sept. 5-7.

Manager Tim Little said the decision to cancel the events was not influenced by Gov. Tom Wolf’s updated stay-at-home order that now goes through May 8.

“It was based on planning,” Little said. “Even though we’re more than two months out, when we’re planning for it … we wouldn’t even know if the participants would want to do it. (If it gets half the) participants, I mean, what kind of parade are you going to have?”

The Fourth of July parade typically attracts around 100 participants, he said.

The events cost the municipality $31,000, with the majority of that money going toward fireworks, Little said.

Other communities, such as Latrobe and Brentwood, also canceled their July 4 parades earlier this week.