Fourth of July Calendar
Happy 230th Birthday,
United States of America !
Fireworks
Salute 2 America. Six Flags Over Georgia. Great American pastimes,
including fireworks. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. June 27-July 1 and July 3-4;
10 a.m.-10 p.m. July 2. $43.99; $26.99 children under 48 inches and
senior citizens; $21.99 active military and family. Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Parkway, Austell. 770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/georgia
Fantastic Fourth Celebration. Stone Mountain Park. Laser show followed by fireworks display shot from both the base and the top of the mountain. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. July 2-4; 9:30 p.m. laser show nightly;
fireworks follow. $8 parking; $35 annual parking pass. Stone Mountain
Park, U.S. Highway 78 East, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690,
www.stonemountainpark.com
Big Bang Boom. Georgia National Fairgrounds, Perry, GA. Fireworks
display. Attendees are encouraged to bring food, blankets, and lawn
chairs; coolers are permitted, but subject to search. 6 p.m. gates open;
9:30 p.m. fireworks. July 2. Free. Georgia National Fairgrounds, 401
Larry Walker Parkway, Perry. 478-987-3247, www.gnfa.com
Fireworks in Dawson County. Dawsonville Municipal Complex, Dawsonville. Specialty and antique cars and antique tractors welcome. Live music by the Southern Eagles and other groups. Food available from various vendors. Special activities for children. 5 p.m. July 3; fireworks begin at dark. $5 per car parking. Dawsonville Municipal Complex, 415 Highway 53 East, Dawsonville. 706-265-3256.
Duluth Celebrates America. Duluth. A pre-Independence Day celebration. Dusk July 3. Free admission. Scott Hudgens Park, River Green Business Park, River Green Parkway, Duluth. 770-476-3434, www.duluth-ga.com
Chateau Elan Fireworks: Chateau Elan, Braselton. Early Fourth of July. Half-hour fireworks show co-sponsored by the city of Braselton. Picnics welcome. Fireworks at dark July 3. Free. Chateau Elan, 100 Rue Charlemagne, Braselton. 678-425-0900, www.chateauelanatlanta.com
Decatur Pied Piper Parade, Concert & Fireworks. Decatur Square. Decorate your bicycle, skateboard or wagon and join the parade as it winds through the streets of downtown Decatur. Concert on the square features Callanwolde Concert Band, followed by fireworks. Parade 6 p.m.; concert 7 p.m.; fireworks 9 p.m. July 4. Free. Decatur Square, West Ponce de Leon at Clairmont Avenue, Decatur. 404-371-8262, www.decaturga.com
"Star-Spangled Classic." Bishop Park, Athens. Independence Day
celebration featuring the Little Mr. and Miss Firecracker Contest,
musical performances by Classic City Band and Power Play, birthday cake served by Athens-Clarke County firefighters and a fireworks display. 6 p.m. July 4. Free. Bishop Park, 705 Sunset Drive, Athens. 706-613-3589,
www.accleisureservices.com
Independence Day at Vogel. Vogel State Park, Blairsville. Celebrate
Independence Day with a flag-raising ceremony, bicycle parade, paddle boat races, sand castle building, watermelon eating contests, sack races, egg toss and greased pole climb. 8:30 a.m. July 4. $3 parking. Vogel State Park, 7485 Vogel State Park Road, Blairsville. 706-745-2628, http://www.gastateparks.org/info/vogel/
Fourth in the Park. Marietta Square. Historic Marietta celebrates
Independence Day with a parade, festival, concert and fireworks. 10 a.m. parade and festival; fireworks at dark (usually 9:30 p.m.). July 4.
Free. Marietta Square, Roswell Street at Park Square, Marietta.
770-429-1115, www.mariettasquare.com
Light Up the Sky July 4th Celebration. Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park. Live entertainment, games, family fun and fireworks display. 10 a.m. park opens; fireworks at dusk. July 4. $27; $17 senior citizens and children shorter than 42 inches; 2 and younger free; $7 parking fee applies. Half price after 4 p.m. Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park, 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. 770-932-7200,
www.lakelanierislands.com
Fabulous Fourth. Mall of Georgia, Buford. Daylong family festivities
include live bands on stage throughout the day, a kids' zone with
inflatable rides, and vendors and sponsors throughout the mall village
and parking lot. Noon; Fireworks at dusk (9:30 p.m.). July 4. Free
admission. Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788,
www.mallofgeorgia.com
"Gwinnett Glows." Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center,
Lawrenceville. Arts and crafts, food concessions, free children's
activities and a live band, Tim Purcell and the Mustangs. The fireworks
display starts after sundown. 4-9:30 p.m. July 4. Free admission.
Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive,
Lawrenceville. 770-822-7126, www.gwinnettcounty.com
Centennial Olympic Park 4th of July Celebration. Centennial Olympic
Park. Family entertainment, children's activities, fireworks. 4:30 p.m.;
9:30 p.m. fireworks. July 4. Free. Centennial Olympic Park, 265
Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-222-7275,
www.centennialpark.com
AirTran Airways Fourth of July at Lenox Square. Lenox Square. Activities for the entire family include a kids' zone featuring giant slides and obstacle course, live musical entertainment and fireworks. Noon kid zone; 5 p.m. music; 9:40 p.m. fireworks July 4. Free. Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-233-6767, www.lenoxsquare.com
Alpharetta Fourth of July Celebration. Wills Park, Alpharetta.
Activities include children's games, performances by the Alpharetta City Band and other musicians, fireworks display. At the Alpharetta Community Center event lawn (175 Roswell St.). Food available for purchase. 5 p.m. children's games; 6:30 p.m. music; fireworks at dusk July 4. Free admission. Wills Park, 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta. 678-297-6130,
www.alpharetta.ga.us
Fabulous Fourth. Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers. Craft
vendors, food, amusement rides, face painting, pony rides, moonwalk, and a fireworks finale. 5 p.m. festivities; fireworks at dusk July 4. Free
parking and admission. Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers. 770-860-4190, www.georgiahorsepark.com
Drama / Arts / Orchestra
"Of Thee I Sing." Cumming Playhouse. Patriotic song and dance with
historic characters in period dress. 8 p.m. June 30-July 3. $15; $12
ages 60 and older and 18 and younger. Cumming Playhouse, 101 School St., Cumming. 770-781-9178, www.playhousecumming.com
Gainesville Symphony Orchestra. Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee.
"Patriotic Pops by the Lake." Georgia Mountain Fair, 7 p.m. July 1.
$20-$25. Georgia Mountain Fair, Park Road at U.S. 76, Hiawassee.
706-896-4191, www.gsomusic.com
"John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams." Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Drama explores the complex life of the nation's sixth president and his wife. 2 p.m. July 2. Free with museum admission: $7; $5 ages 60 and older and students; free ages 16 and younger. Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7101,
www.jimmycarterlibrary.org
Gainesville Symphony Orchestra. Brenau University, Gainesville. Bring a picnic and quilt for an evening of patriotic pops tunes and stage and screen favorites in celebration of Independence Day. At the Brenau Amphitheater. Rain location in Pearce Auditorium. 8 p.m. July 3. $23; $20 senior citizens; $8 ages 5 and older; 4 and younger free. Brenau University, 204 Boulevard, Gainesville. 770-532-5727, 770-538-4757, http://artsweb.brenau.edu/
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, Mableton. 8 p.m. July 4. $15-$45. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. 770-819-7765, www.mablehouseamphitheatre.com
State Parks
Old Fashioned Family Fun. Amicalola Falls State Park. A weekend filled with old-fashioned games, patriotic crafts, watermelon seed-spitting contest, pie-eating contest, greased pole climb, Hula Hoop contests, hayrides and more. Each day ends with a nostalgic visit back to the '50s in the "Amicalola Diner." 9 a.m.-9 p.m. July 1-3; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. July 4. $3 parking. Amicalola Falls State Park, 240 Amicalola Falls State Park Road, Dawsonville. 706-265-4703, 1-800-573-9656, www.gastateparks.org
July Fourth Mountain Style. Unicoi State Park and Lodge. Field day
activities, tug-of-war, sack races and a greased pole climb. Participate
in a different event each evening: campfire, a concert and southern
mountain culture with Buck & Nelson, gold panning and a hoedown. 8 p.m. campfire July 1; 1-9 p.m. games and evening concert July 2; 1-9 p.m. games and gold panning July 3; 1-8 p.m. games and hoe-down July 4. $3 parking; pass-the-hat donation at concert. Unicoi State Park and Lodge, 1788 Ga. 356, Helen. 1-800-573-9659, http://www.gastateparks.org/info/unicoi
July Fourth Celebration. Red Top Mountain State Park, Cartersville.
Enjoy a weekend at the lakeside beach or participate in guided hikes,
nature programs, a bluegrass concert, view fireworks from Websters Ferry Landing and more. 8 p.m. music July 2. 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. activities July 3. Noon crafts and reptiles; dusk (9:30 p.m.) fireworks July 4. $3 parking. Red Top Mountain State Park, 50 Lodge Road, Cartersville.
770-975-0055, http://www.gastateparks.org/info/redtop
Peachtree Road Race
Peachtree Road Race Expo. The Grand Hyatt, Peachtree Road N.E.
Showcasing major running shoe manufacturers, experts in health and
nutrition, training aids, food, and memorabilia. Hourly drawings for a
free Peachtree Road Race number. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 2-3. Free. The
Grand Hyatt, Peachtree Road N.E. at Piedmont Road, Atlanta.
404-231-9064, www.atlantatrackclub.org
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race. Lenox Square. This Fourth of July tradition is a 10K from Lenox Square in Buckhead to 10th Street at Charles Allen Drive, alongside Piedmont Park. There are two major uphill sections: at three miles and again at five miles. 7 a.m. wheelchair division; 7:30 a.m. foot race. July 4. Application closed in March. Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404-231-9064,
http://www.ajc.com/peachtree
Woodstock Freedom 5K Run. Downtown Woodstock. One-mile race and tot trot to follow the 5K. Big race event with a small town feel. Run the race, then stay for parades, arts and crafts, entertainment and the Army Golden Knights jumping from their plane to land in the middle of Main Street. 7:30 a.m. July 4. $7; $5 advance. Downtown Woodstock, 8594 Main St., Woodstock. 678-795-0115, www.active.com
"Come Home for the Fourth." Woodstock City Park. Woodstock's
Independence Day festivities include a 5K foot race and tot trot,
parade, arts and crafts vendors, a dunk tank, cakewalk, pie judging,
music, hot dog-eating contest and watermelon seed-spitting contest. 7
a.m.-4 p.m. July 4. Free. Woodstock City Park, Arnold Mill Road at Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock. 770-926-8852, www.ci.woodstock.ga.us
Parades
WSB Salute to America Parade. Centennial Olympic Park. WSB's 45th July 4th parade begins at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard, then proceeds south on Peachtree to Marietta Street, then west to end at the intersection of Marietta and Centennial Olympic Park Drive. 1 p.m. July 4. Free. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Centennial Olympic Park Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-897-7855, www.wsbtv.com
"American Soldier." Cauble Park at Lake Acworth. Performance honoring active-duty soldiers and veterans. Presented by the junior and senior companies of Centre Studio. 6:30 p.m. July 4. Free. Cauble Park at Lake Acworth, 4425 Beach St., Acworth. 770-975-1604.
Sports / Baseball
Baseball: Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs. Turner Field. Featuring a
postgame fireworks show. 7:05 July 4. $1-$53. Turner Field, 755 Hank
Aaron Drive, Atlanta. 404-522-7630, www.atlantabraves.com
Baseball: Rome Braves vs. Greenville Bombers. State Mutual Stadium, Rome. With post-game fireworks. 7 p.m. July 4. $4-$10. State Mutual Stadium, 755 Braves Boulevard, Rome. 706-378-5144, www.romebraves.com
Area Attractions
Callaway July 4th "Surf and Sand Spectacular." Callaway Gardens, Ga. Beach activities include swimming in Robin Lake, circus performances by Florida State University's Flying High Circus, rides on miniature train and paddle boats, miniature golf, live music and fireworks. Entry via Beach Gate. 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; fireworks at dusk. July 4. $15; $7.50 ages 6-12; 5 and younger free. Callaway Gardens, Ga. 18 at Ga. 354, Pine Mountain. 1-800-225-5292, www.callawayonline.com
