The Show Goes On: Postponed Parade Showcases Immense Community Spirit

When the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce postponed its Independence Day parade due to heat-related logistical challenges, people around the area were right to wonder what would happen to the beloved tradition.

A few float entries had to drop out and a few additions registered late. Yet the one-week delay did not stop the community from showing up on July 11 and sharing their love for the event and their country, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary.

More than 100 entries traveled the parade route from Benfield Road to Cypress Creek Road while being cheered on by a sea of spectators clad in red, white and blue.

Linstead on the Severn scored the coveted title of Best Overall for a fifth straight year with its USS Linstead design, a 40-foot naval aircraft carrier flanked by four golf carts transformed into fighter jets.

“We chose this design to honor two historic milestones: the 250th birthdays of both our nation and the U.S. Navy,” Linstead resident Marit Duffy explained. “Over the past month, more than 15 Linstead families worked to convert a standard pontoon boat trailer into this spectacular vessel.”

Round Bay took home the award for Best Community, and many attendees called it their favorite entry. Ashley Zaleski-King and Dan Spadicino served as co-chairs on the neighborhood’s float committee. They wanted to celebrate a longstanding tradition: the Round Bay carnival.

“With 2026 marking America’s 250th birthday, we wanted to honor not only our nation’s history but also one of Round Bay’s own treasured traditions,” Zaleski-King shared ahead of the event. “Our neighborhood has been hosting carnival festivities on the community beach since 1920, bringing generations of families together through creative games, performances and community magic.”

Inspired by those early carnivals, the float featured a handcrafted, working Ferris wheel; a giant popcorn box; a classic ticket booth; and plenty of patriotic carnival flair. “But the real stars are the neighborhood kids, who enthusiastically embraced the theme,” Zaleski-King said. “They’ll be bringing the carnival to life as jugglers, gymnasts, cotton candy vendors, and even a pair of ‘strong men’ attempting to lift 1,000-pound weights!”

Severna Forest took Most Original with a 10-foot trailer that featured a volunteer dressed as Betsy Ross. Celebrating the 250th Anniversary went to the Olde Severna Park Improvement Association, which showcased some iconic American symbols: the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence.

Olde Severna Park resident DJ Gile drove to New Jersey in June to acquire a cast aluminum Statue of Liberty that was listed on Facebook Marketplace. “I rebuilt the missing/broken pieces with hardware cloth and two-part epoxy, then have been sanding, priming and painting to get her in shape for the big parade,” Gile said in the days leading up to the event.

Businesses and nonprofits also left an impression. The Magothy River Association — sponsored by Anderson Marine Services, Chesapeake Geosystems Inc., Davis Tree Service, Donnelly’s Dockside, Maguire Marine Construction and The Orso. Team — created the “Magothy Queen.” A 19th century steamboat float, it served as a nod to the nonprofit’s history, and volunteers distributed an educational placemat to children along the route. Titled “Landings of the Magothy,” the placemat highlighted historical landings local farmers used to ship produce to Baltimore and Annapolis.

Park Books owner Melody Wukitch met with several area merchants to collaborate on a “Discover the Park” float that resembled storefronts. Employees walked in the parade and dressed as Waldo, corresponding with a new campaign and an August 1 event at the bookstore.

“We have hidden small Waldos in more than 30 small businesses locally, and shoppers are encouraged to find all the Waldos and get their passports stamped,” Wukitch said, adding that passports can be picked up at Park Books. “When done, they can come back to the bookstore and turn them in to win a ‘Where's Waldo?’ prize. The ‘Where's Waldo? - Discover the Park’ game will run for the whole month of July!”

Patriotic pride was not limited to the community floats. The Airman First Class Nathaniel McDavitt Memorial Scholarship Fund arrived with a parade mainstay, a trailer with an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Every year, the entry honors McDavitt, a 2011 Severna Park High School graduate who enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was working in a building in the Middle East when a severe windstorm caused it to collapse and ultimately cause McDavitt fatal injuries in April 2016.

His mom, Jeanette Middleton-Sudano, called the parade a meaningful opportunity for her family to honor and celebrate her son’s life while also raising awareness of the A1C Nathaniel H. McDavitt Memorial Scholarship. Those funds allowed two Severna Park High School students to each receive $2,000 scholarships in 2026.

“Our trailer features an F-16 because Nathan proudly served in the United States Air Force as an F-16 crew chief, working on the aircraft in Germany and Jordan,” Middleton-Sudano said. “He took great pride in supporting the pilots, the mission of his unit, and serving his country. Every year, displaying the F-16 is our way of honoring his service, preserving his legacy, and inspiring others through the scholarship established in his memory.”

The memory of that float and many others will linger for all the people who came to Severna Park’s first — and hopefully only — July 11 Independence Day parade.