By just a little after 8 a.m. Thursday, the sun started peaking through the clouds over Canonsburg, where Pike Street was lined with Fourth of July parade chairs.
And even though the parade wasn't slated until two hours later, many Independence Day enthusiasts were already perched in their chairs.
Traffic creeped though the borough as residents and those who came from out of town to celebrate Canonsburg's biggest day of the year looked for a parking space.
The Whiskey Rebellion 5K race had started the festivities off earlier in the morning, and people were staking out their spots before streets were closed at 9:15 a.m.
Music was blaring from a tent in the lot adjacent to the municipal building, where retired borough manager Terry Hazlett was acting as DJ.
Minutes after 9 a.m. He told the crowd that there would be some surprise guests participating in this year's festivities-but said enthusiasts would have to wait and see as the parade proceeded.
But the party extended well past Pike Street.
While the parade may have been the main attraction, there was a pool party and live music performances in Town Park.
A skydiver was slated to jump in the pool at 2 p.m, while a rock climbing facility, the Tom Terling Band and fireworks were planned for Big Mac Stadium.
By 10 a.m. Pike Street was packed, with people grabbing last-minute spots along the parade route all the way down to the Houston end of the borough.
And the special guest? Gov. Tom Corbett, who took time afterward to pose with local folks in pictures.
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