President Schatzel to serve as Grand Marshal for Towson's Fourth of July Parade
Towson University float, mascot and students will also be featured in the 120th annual holiday parade
The Towson Fourth of July parade is one of the oldest Independence Day parades in Maryland, and this year Towson University will help lead the way.
Towson University President Kim Schatzel will serve as Grand Marshal for the 120th annual Towson Fourth of July Parade on Monday, July 4. She will help lead the parade with firefighters from Fire Station No. 1.
It will be the first time that Schatzel will attend the parade, and she’s more than excited to not only attend the parade, but also to be in the front with her family.
“I was bestowed the honor by the Towson Parade Committee, and I couldn’t be more excited to participate along with the Towson Fire Station No.1,” Schatzel said. “I look forward to experiencing this Towson tradition as a brand new Marylander, along with my husband Trevor, and our daughter Katie who will also join me in the parade.”
The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. with a flyover by jets of the Air National Guard. The route runs from the corner of Bosley and Burke avenues, in front of Towson University, then heads north on Bosley to Allegheny Avenue, and back south on Washington Avenue. The parade ends at Washington and Towsontown Boulevard, only a few steps from the American Legion Towson Post 22.
Along with Schatzel serving as Grand Marshal, TU will be featured prominently in the event. The parade will showcase the annual Stephens Hall float and will feature the Towson University Pep Band, the Towson Tigers football team and a special appearance by TU mascot Doc.
And for the second straight year, Towson University will serve as lead sponsor for the parade, which attracts close to 100 participating groups and over 60,000 attendees every year.
“As the largest university in Greater Baltimore, I look forward to building an even stronger and better connection between TU and the community of which we are a part,” Schatzel said. “We are committed to partnering with our greater community through our academic mission and to creating a welcoming environment with our academic, athletics, arts and community engagement opportunities throughout the year. Ultimately we want our neighbors to consider TU a partner, a hub of resources, as well as a destination.”
Along with Towson University, other parade participants include: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin; U.S. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger; U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes; the Baltimore Marching Ravens; the Baltimore Oriole Bird and much more.
There will also be a commemorative parade t-shirt giveaway for Towson University students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees. Shirts can be picked up at the tent on the corner of Washington and Pennsylvania avenues with a valid TUID or TU Alumni card.