Happy birthday, America
—celebrating July 4th in grand style
The flags are waving, the grills are out of storage and the marching bands are practicing as America prepares to commemorate her 233rd birthday. Those whose hearts are beating a little faster in anticipation of Independence Day, can find many places to celebrate the holiday here in DeKalb County and in nearby areas. Here’s a sampling.
Around 9:15 a.m. folks will start to line up at Avondale High School in preparation for the 10 a.m. start of the parade up Clarendon Avenue. From 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. the folks at Avondale Baptist Church will sell hamburgers, hot dogs and sodas at Lake Avondale, where the Atlanta Blue Notes start performing at 7:30
p.m. Then, when the sky is dark, there will be fireworks over the lake.
Those who would rather be in a parade than watch one will have the opportunity in Decatur. “Decorate your bicycle, skateboard, or wagon and join the Pied Piper Parade as it winds through downtown Decatur,” the city’s announcement states. Spectators, of course, are welcome, too. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a concert on the square at 7 p.m., featuring the Callanwolde Concert Band. There will be fireworks over the concert area at dark with a rain date of Sept. 2. The events are free. Those who come to the festivities may bring their own picnics and eateries around the square will be open for those who want to purchase food and drink.
Stone Mountain Park is a popular destination on July 4, so visitors are advised to come early because gates may close early because of a high volume of traffic. The park will charge its special-event parking fee ($10, instead of the usual $8) on July 4, and will not allow visitors to come and go during the day on the same parking pass.
The park’s 42nd annual Fantastic Fourth celebration will feature the new Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D movie in addition to activities usually available in the park. Families can cap off the day’s activities on Memorial Lawn, where they can watch the Lasershow Spectacular any night, July 3-5.
On July 4 at 9:30 a.m., the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier Newspaper will host the city’s annual Fourth of July parade, featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, animal units and local celebrities. Last year the parade attracted more than 2,500 participants and 28,000 spectators. This year’s parade theme is A Gathering of Eagles, and organizers are asking all Eagle Scouts young and old to march in the front of the parade behind the grand marshals. Eagle Scouts who wish to participate can e-mail Pam Tallmadge (pamtallmadge@comcast.net), for further details.
Following the parade, there will be a family festival in the parking lot of Dunwoody Village. Parade participants and spectators can meet for live entertainment, children’s activities, barbecue, hotdogs and more.
While some think of flag burning as a way of disrespecting America’s colors, the Northlake Elks know that burning is the proper way of disposing of flags too worn, frayed or faded to be flown. That is the spirit in which the organization sponsors its annual Fourth of July event that includes “a particularly dignified and solemn occasion for the retirement of unserviceable flags,” according to a lodge official.
Live buglers, the Dobbins Air Force Base Color Guard and a special dedication to POWs and MIAs have been added to the Independence Day American Flag burning ceremony to be conducted during the Northlake Elks Lodge 78 Saturday, July 4, celebration, which is open to the public and begins at 10 a.m.
Following the ceremonies the lodge will offer such traditional July 4 fare as hot dogs or hamburgers, including chips and a drink for $2.
This is the third year the Northlake Elks Lodge has provided a venue to help area residents properly dispose of their worn American flags and celebrate the July 4 holiday.
“Many citizens know there are procedures for properly disposing of a torn or worn flag but aren’t sure exactly what they are,” said Edward Carmine, a member of the Northlake Elks Lodge 78, who coordinates the annual event. Area residents wishing to properly dispose of their tattered flags are invited to drop their worn flags off at the lodge located at 1775 Montreal Road, Tucker, where the July 4 event will be held. For residents who come by when the lodge is closed a container will be provided in front of the building. Residents can also contact the lodge at (770) 908-0835.
Chamblee’s Keswick Park will be the location for the city’s July 4th celebration. Activities include a children’s carnival with games, food and music.
The Children’s Bike Parade will begin at 6 p.m. at Chamblee Middle School and end at Keswick Park. At 6:40 p.m. a karate demonstration by Lewis Global Karate will be held and 7 p.m. will mark the start of music featuring Mike Veal. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.
There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and cold drinks for sale. Those attending can bring chairs and stay for the entire evening. Call (770) 986-5016 for more information.
The Embassy International Chamber of Commerce presents a Family and Friends Festival, one of the largest Fourth of July Celebrations in the Atlanta area, on Saturday, July 4, from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on the campus of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia. The daylong patriotic celebration will include live entertainment, amusement rides, food and family activities.
Hosted by Bishop and Mrs. Eddie L. Long, the evening features contemporary R&B jazz ensemble Five Men on a Stool as well as a variety of patriotic performances. At approximately 9:15 p.m., what the organization says is DeKalb County’s largest fireworks display begins. Public parking will be available on the New Birth campus.
A number of large Independence Day celebrations will be going on a short drive from DeKalb County. They include:
Centennial Olympic Park’s 4th of July Celebration, which offers a full day of family fun and entertainment. Children’s activities, noon – 5 p.m., include arts and crafts, face painting, performances, inflatables, stilt walkers and more. There will be music, local celebrities and a fireworks display synchronized to patriotic music. Food and drink will be available for purchase. For more details, visit www.centennialpark.com.
Lenox Square will host its 50th anniversary Fourth of July celebration in grand tradition with activities for the entire family, including a Kids Zone with fun-filled inflatables, live musical entertainment from The Regulars Band, Sons of Sailors and Party on the Moon, food concessions and what organizers are calling the largest fireworks display in the Southeast. The U.S. Army will also be on hand with a rock-climbing wall for adventurers. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Lenox Square is located at 3393 Peachtree Road., N.E., Atlanta. For more information, visit www.lenoxsquare.com. |
