On a chilly Saturday morning, around 9 am, multiple groups of parade participants lined up along the sidewalks of Paint Branch High School by the tennis courts to get ready for the Burtonsville day parade. From marching bands to a dance studio of girls, the many participants of the parade were ecstatic to be a part of this huge event. Abel Dereje, president of the Key Club of Paint Branch High School gave his thoughts before the event, “This event only comes once a year and I’m extremely excited!” His enthusiasm sure did help his club collect money for UNICEF’s eliminate project, to stop maternal and neonatal tetanus all over the world. Banners and posters of all sizes and different designs flooded the streets of the parade, helping to inform the crowd on the sidewalks of their cause or advertisement.

All the way down Old Columbia Pike to the Marilyn J. Praisner library, the groups marched and marched, dancing, playing instruments, collecting donations, and holding up signs. The entire stretch of Old Columbia Pike from Paint Branch to the library was closed down for the parade. The turnout of the event was great, and hundreds of people were piled up on the sidewalks of Old Columbia Pike and by Banneker Middle School. Hundreds of phones were pointed at the participants of the parade. Candy was being given out by some of the participants and many of the little kids who were observing the parade seemed to love every moment of it. One of the spectators of the event, Susan Quinn, who lives right next to Banneker Middle School, absolutely loved the participants and acts of the event, “Every year I go and I love it every year too.” Expressing her fondness of the parade and Paint Branch High School, she says that she especially enjoyed the Paint Branch marching band and even donated to Paint Branch’s Key Club. Towards the end of the parade in the parking lot of the Marilyn J. Praisner library, multiple stands were set up, and even live music was performed. Some stands sold barbeque, others sold apparel, and the others were advertising their cause or advertising.

All of these groups of people in the community came together to create an event that was highly enjoyable for people of all ages. From children to the elderly, people of all ages were present. The crowd was great.