On a warm, sunny June evening, a group of Catasauqua and North Catasauqua residents gathered to maintain a tradition that dates back 50 years.

Every couple of years since 1976, a committee of residents from the two communities have gathered to plan a joint Fourth of July event. The tradition started with America’s bicentennial celebration in 1976 when the community decided to commemorate the milestone with a local event.

A committee formed to plan the occasion and found men and women like John Druckenmiller, who was the president of a youth baseball organization in Catasauqua, to serve.

“They recruited me,” Druckenmiller said. “We had a big celebration in 1976. We had a band, a cake walk, a beer truck and more here at the park. It went over so well that we said we should have it again.”

Ben Ferenchek also attended the initial celebration, remembering it as a big event that brought the whole community together.

Out of that bicentennial event formed what is now the J4 Celebration that brings together Catasauqua and North Catasauqua boroughs and its residents.

In 1980, the event spanned two days — one in each borough. Over the years, the celebration has included everything from parades and fireworks to bicycle races. Additionally, Catasauqua High School holds a mega reunion as part of the event for all past graduates of the high school.

Rather than hold an event each year, the boroughs and the committee choose to hold the J4 Celebration every couple of years, coinciding with the holiday falling on a weekend, and it is again a one-day event.

Over the early years, many individuals served on the committee, said Betty Miller, a longtime committee member. They included Druckenmiller, William Albert and his wife, Charles Albert and his wife, Joe Tognoli, Laverne Ball, Joe Yeager, Howard Hahn, Bunnie Yeager, Rose Kleckner, Mrs. McGinley, Bettie MacHose, John Luchansky, Roy Scheetz and Larry Tait.

Not having the event each year allows the committee to put in the months of planning required to make the event happen. Planning for this year’s event started in March 2025, said Bob Zakos, current committee co-chairperson.

The boroughs rotate holding the event each time. North Catasauqua held the last celebration in 2022.

“It represents a coming together of our two boroughs,” said Zakos, who has served on the committee since 2012. “We are one community with one shared identity and one shared celebration.”

The event and the committee truly brings all aspects of the town together, he explained.

“Not only are all of our committee members individuals from our communities, most of them are also representatives from many of our organizations in town,” Zakos said.

Those include American Legion Post 215, Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association, George Taylor House Preservation Society, Public Library of Catasauqua, Catasauqua Area School District, Catasauqua Club, Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, Catasauqua Youth Athletic Association, Porter Lodge No. 284 F&AM, Girl Scouts River’s Edge Service Unit, members of the former Suburban North Family YMCA and members of the former Woman’s Club of Catasauqua.

This committee does not just cross borough boundaries — it crosses generational ones too, with people of all ages giving their time and talents to the group.

“It is great,” Zakos said. “It is terrific how all of the different generations come together.”

Druckenmiller agreed having people of all ages involved only makes the event stronger.

“I love my community,” he said. “I grew up in Catty. I graduated in 1963, (and) 1976 got me really involved. The whole community was involved. It is good to see the younger groups getting involved. I hope they keep it up.”

Ferenchek and Druckenmiller have also kept several keepsakes from the event, such as yearly programs and the commemorative coins that are made for each celebration.

While it is predominantly citizen driven, both boroughs also have elected officials participating on the committee.

“Everyone does a fantastic job with this event,” North Catasauqua Mayor William J. Molchany Jr. said. “It means a lot for both communities to be involved, rather than just Catasauqua or North Catasauqua. The high school mega reunion is special. It is just fantastic that people do this, and it shows we both have caring communities.”

Catasauqua mayor Anthony Alcalde agreed.

“It is humbling to see how people come together,” Alcalde said. “It is the definition of America, coming together for a common goal.”

Those involved said they hope this tradition keeps going for a long time.

“Patriotism means a lot to me,” Ferenchek said. “I am a Catty guy from way back. It is important to me to keep the tradition going.”

This year’s official Catasauqua/North Catasauqua J4 Celebration will be held July 4, starting 10 a.m. at the George Taylor House, Lehigh and Poplar streets. The event will continue throughout the day at Catasauqua Park and Playground, 501 American St., and Alumni Field, 850 Pine St., ending with fireworks starting 9 p.m.

The rain date is set for July 5.