Mars Fourth of July event remains consistent and ever popular
MARS — Pittsburgh Street was filled with red, white and blue on Friday, July 4, not only because of the outfits people at the borough’s annual Fourth of July event were wearing, but also because of what they were eating: shaved ice.
Everyone on the street was trying to keep cool while awaiting the start of the 30-some-entry parade, and the American Flag-colored clothing helped do the trick with some similarly-colored frozen ice. The Stauffer family, of Mars, hung out in the shade after grabbing some ice for the Stauffer children, as has become tradition for the four.
“If we’re in town, we come to this,” said Todd Stauffer, who watched as his two children, William, 6, and Isabelle, 8, chowed down on some shaved ice.
Mars has put on a street fair to commemorate the Fourth of July each year since 2022, but the borough has always had a parade as part of its festivities. Amy Brown, assistant secretary-treasurer for Mars, said the street fair’s beginnings in 2022 were somewhat of a reboot of the borough’s July Fourth festivities, but it has been successful since then, with many people coming to the town to celebrate.
“It’s pretty much the same thing every year, we just try to make it bigger,” she said. “People always seem to enjoy it.”
Staying cool was also a thought Brown and Bonnie Forsythe, Mars secretary, had when organizing this year’s Fourth of July event. According to Forsythe, the borough pushed the parade back from the early afternoon to 5 p.m. this year so it would cap off a day of activity. Seeing that Zelienople’s parade took place in the morning the same day, the decision allowed for people to attend both parades, if they wanted to.
“We specifically pushed the parade to 5,” Forsythe said. “There has been a parade here every year since before the fair.
“The Mars Boy Scout Troop 400 would lead the parade, only being preceded in the lineup by motorcyclists. Brown said there would be about 30 entries in the parade, including the Mars Area High School Band and Scouting organizations.
While the Mars Fourth of July event is a hit with locals who live in the area, Forsythe and Brown agreed that it also brings in people from farther away, like many events the borough hosts. Every few minutes, a different person or group would stand by the flying saucer on the grass near Pittsburgh Street for a photo. Forsythe said that is a common sight for people in Mars.
“I think a lot of people have family visit. They bring them to see the flying saucer,” Forsythe said. “It’s always a hit.”
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Parade participants wave and throw candy to crowds during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Parade participants wave and throw candy to crowds during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Parade participants wave and throw candy to crowds during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Riders in the bike parade ride lead the Mars Borough July 4th Parade through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Mars Area High School Marching Band performs during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Parade participants wave and throw candy to crowds during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Riders in the bike parade ride lead the Mars Borough July 4th Parade through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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The Mars Area High School Marching Band performs during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Antique vehicles roll through downtown Mars during the Mars Borough July 4th Parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Boy Scouts carry the Mars Borough July 4th Parade banner through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Riders in the bike parade ride lead the Mars Borough July 4th Parade through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Riders in the bike parade ride lead the Mars Borough July 4th Parade through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Mars Police kick off the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Mars Police kick off the Mars Borough July 4th Parade in downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Riders in the bike parade ride lead the Mars Borough July 4th Parade through downtown Mars on Friday, July 4, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
