Credit: Whitemarsh Township.
On May 9, Whitemarsh Township announced the cancellation of its traditional Fourth of July parade along Germantown Pike in Lafayette Hill, citing safety as the primary concern.
According to Jace Toll, chair of the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors, the decision followed an internal safety assessment conducted by township departments, including police and emergency management. The review reportedly raised concerns about public risk, particularly around vehicle access and control. The announcement referenced “recent events,” though no specific incidents were named.
“As your elected officials, we’re sometimes faced with choices that have no ideal outcome, Toll wrote. "This is one of those moments.
"We are cancelling our annual 4th of July parade," Toll added. "We came to this point after hearing from Township staff, our Police Department and our Emergency Management Office. In light of recent events, they had conducted a thorough review of safety at the parade, including vehicle control, and concluded that holding the event presented an unnecessary risk to the community. We thank them for their time and expertise."
Whitemarsh Police Chief Christopher P. Ward lent his support for the difficult decision.
"As the Chief of Police, I was involved in the discussions and research that led to this decision. Let me assure you that this decision was very difficult to make and took a lot of courage from everyone involved," Ward said.
"Unfortunately, the world we live in today has changed and what people are willing to do to today to risk the safety and security of our communities has increased to a point where we would have imagined."
Chief Ward pointed to previous examples of violence at large public events like in New Orleans on New Year's Day, Vancouver, and Highland Park, Ill.
"I must emphasize to everyone that none of the locations where violence has hate came to be ever thought this would happen," Chief Ward said.
Chief Ward said that the Township did consider additional security measures to make sure the parade went on as scheduled, but said the cost for manpower and equipment was "far more" than the Township could afford.
Since the decision was made and became public, a group has put together a petition to try and save the Fourth of July Parade in Whitemarsh.
"We believe there are practical, community-driven solutions to these challenges," the petition states. "We urge Whitemarsh Township to reconsider this decision, which does not reflect the wishes of the residents. The parade is more than just an event—it represents our shared history and local pride. In a town with such deep historical roots, preserving this tradition is essential.
"While other local events that require far greater resources have received support, this low-budget event has an outsized impact on our community," the petition continued. "And let’s be real, if canceled this year, it’s unlikely to return. Traditions fade when we stop showing up for them. This one's worth saving."
You can view the petition here.
