Jul 1, 2026 By Karen Mansfield 2 min read

Temperatures will be approaching 90 degrees Saturday morning when tens of thousands of parade-goers are expected to line Pike Street for Canonsburg’s annual July 4 parade.

Final preparations are being made, and parade organizers are bracing for the extreme temperatures.

“Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate,” Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said Tuesday. “It’s going to be a hot one, and we want people to take precautions.”

An estimated 50,000 people attend the parade each year. Parade organizers have warned attendees to take steps to stay cool, as Saturday’s high temperature is expected to hit 90 degrees with a “feels-like” temperature potentially exceeding 100 degrees.

The parade kicks off at 10 a.m., and many parade participants will be dressed in full uniform and performing as they wind their way along the 1.5-mile parade route.

“Our concern is for everybody, those attending the parade and those participating in it,” said Rhome. “There is concern for the folks in the staging area who might be standing around for a while until their unit gets going in the parade.”

Rhome said Canonsburg Ambulance Service is increasing its standby presence to respond to heat illness and other medical emergencies.

This week’s high temperatures prompted the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh to issue a heat advisory that went into effect at 11 a.m. Tuesday and is expected to run through 10 p.m. Friday for Washington, Greene, and parts of Fayette counties, as the region sees temperatures in the mid- to high 90s and heat indexes, or “feels-like” temperatures, of around 105 degrees.

NWS said the dangerous heat and sticky temperatures may cause illness, including heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

The weather service urged people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

When outside, it advised wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing and limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

Rhome said the borough is encouraging parade-goers to prepare for the heat by staying hydrated and packing water and electrolyte beverages, bringing umbrellas, and wearing sunscreen.

“Just be careful, and use common sense,” said Rhome.