The sound of drums in the distance signaled the beginning of the Burtonsville Day Parade, led by the James Hubert Blake High School Marching Band. Families and friends crowded close to the street to get a good view of the parade and children prepared their brown paper bags to catch candy being thrown by parade participants.

At 10 am on Saturday, September 29, the Blake Varsity Cheerleaders stomped up Old Columbia Pike while color guard followed behind, twirling flags in unison. Every community group, from Brownie girls to the Elite Dancers showed their spirit in the parade. Students with the “Save the Bay” organization marched together holding signs to support their cause. Parents seemed to enjoy watching their children participate in the parade and the atmosphere was joyous.

Throughout the parade, a variety of candidates and representatives of office drove in convertibles with their own signs taped to the sides of their cars. The Paint Branch Varsity Cheerleaders and Marching Band followed closely behind with the Poms team and cheerleaders gracefully performing alongside them. The crowd danced on the sidelines and cheered on their home schools. Greenbelt Dog Training showed off their Pomeranians, German Shepherds, and other unique dogs. The Woodland Horse Center ended the parade about thirty minutes later, while putting their finest animals on display.

The fun didn’t stop there as the Fairland Recreation Center hosted plenty more activities for the crowd to participate in. Vendors sold flowers, candles, purses, and a variety of jewelry. The Hobby City Games stand seemed to be a favorite of the children in attendance. The kids also gathered in the parking lot for a turn on the moon bounce, huddled around the face-painting stand, and carried around balloons. Parents participated in a raffle to win goodie baskets. It seemed as though Burtonsville Day was a great way for families to spend time together. “We’ve been going to Burtonsville Day for as long as we can remember,” said one mother at the festivities. “We enjoy the shopping, but our favorite part is the parade. My daughter won best in show in the parade last year!”

Friends attended the Burtonsville Day activities together as well. Boys could be seen skateboarding in the parking lots, while some girls walked around wearing similar tall hats bought from vendors. Vendors selling food made many sales, too. Madison Allen, a Paint Branch High School freshman, said that even she loved to eat the “bangin’” cheeseburgers. Families gathered on the other side of the lot, where the Blake Band was performing. “The band is good,” 13-year old Sierra Denny said as she enjoyed the relaxing, jazz-feel of the music. The band drew a large crowd, and they soon became one of the biggest attractions at the festivities.

The crowd slowly began fading away around 1:00 pm, but the day looked to be quite a success. The tired looks on the childrens’ faces indicated that they were kept busy with plenty of activities. Allen remarked, “I can’t wait to bring my kids here when I get older!”