As worries about pandemic ebb, summer potlucks start back up The attraction is more than potato salad and fresh watermelon but seeing friends they haven't seen in over a year. By Karina ElwoodThe Washington Post Share For the past 20 years, the Takoma Horticulture Club has walked in the annual Takoma Park, Maryland, Fourth of July Parade – then celebrated after with a potluck at one of the members’ homes. But even as the pandemic led to the cancellation of the iconic parade two years in a row, club members are ready to resume at least a little bit of normalcy – and reconnect with each other – by passing around a green-bean salad.