The west Georgia area is preparing for several Independence Day celebrations on July 4th this year. We have compiled a list of each parade and fireworks show for our readers.
Carrollton
July 4th People’s Parade
The Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club is preparing to host its 41st annual July 4th People’s Parade in Carrollton. The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. on July 4, with line-up for floats starting at 8:30 a.m. The People’s Parade will follow the 1.8 mile route beginning at Dairy Queen and heading north on Highway 27 before turning right onto Alabama Street. The parade will continue on Newnan Street and onto Bankhead Highway where it will end at Robinson Salvage Overstock Warehouse at 620 Bankhead Highway.
Sounds of Liberty Concert and Fireworks
The Sounds of Liberty celebration featuring the Carroll Symphony Orchestra will take place at the Carrollton City Schools complex on July 4. Ample space is available for lawn chairs and beach blankets on the front lawn of Carrollton Elementary School.
The free concert, which begins at 8:15 in the evening, features a salute to each of the Armed Forces as members and veterans of each branch are recognized. Composer John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan will be performed as a tribute to all those who gave their lives in service.
The program will also debut the compositions of the three winners of the CSO’s statewide Young Composers Competition.
The concert of American music culminates with rousing renditions of patriotic favorites including “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as fireworks light the night sky beginning at 9:30.
For more information, see the Carroll Symphony Orchestra’s Facebook page.
The Carrollton Police Department will observe the following traffic guidelines in relation to the Fourth of July celebrations:
Traffic exiting the evening’s event will flow steadily in new traffic patterns under the guidance of Carrollton Police officers.
All streets leading to the event will be open until the beginning of the fireworks display.
Once the fireworks begin, “the curve” on Ben Scott Boulevard that separates the stadium from the tennis courts will be blocked and there will be no thru traffic.
At the conclusion of the fireworks display, all vehicles on the “stadium side” will be limited to one-way travel to exit on the north side of campus. The traffic on the north side will exit via Wedgewood Drive, Trojan Drive, and Oak Avenue.
All vehicles on the “tennis courts side” will be limited to one-way travel to exit on the south side of campus. The traffic on the south side will exit via either Tom Reeve Drive which leads to Hays Mill Road or Ben Scott Boulevard which leads to the Highway 166 Bypass.
Police will be directing motorists and controlling the flow of traffic until traffic is cleared from the area.
Villa Rica
Villa Rica will host its annual Fireworks Display Extravaganza on July 3 at the Villa Rica Civic Center & Sports Complex, also known as the Villa Rica V-Plex at 1605 Highway 61. The annual celebration will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the singing of the National Anthem by American Idol contestant Andrew Weaver.
The event will also feature live music from Head Games, a tribute to Foreigner who will perform from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event’s headline music group, Departure, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Departure is a Journey tribute band which recreates the atmosphere and sound of the popular 80s rock group.
The event will also feature a Spin the Wheel and win $10,000 contest, sponsored by Liberty Chevrolet. The Fireworks Display Extravaganza will have many different food options, rides, and attractions and will also feature helicopter rides. The event is free admission with costs for attractions. For more information, call 770-459-7011.
Bremen
Pioneer Ford in Bremen will host a July 4th Celebration on June 29 that will be free to attend. The event will take place at the Pioneer Ford location at 150 Highway 27. The concert starts at 6 p.m. and will feature local music artists Me and the Girls, Jerry Rogers, Coy Taylor, T.C. Ray, and Homegrown. Fireworks will begin immediately after the concert at 10 p.m.
Tallapoosa
The City of Tallapoosa will host its 34th annual Fourth of July Celebration beginning at dark on July 3rd with a fireworks show which will be held at Helton Howland Park. The City says the celebration is the largest fireworks show in the west Georgia/east Alabama area.
The Haralson County Veterans’ Association will host its annual Veterans Program on July 4th beginning at 10:00 a.m. The event will take place at the Veterans’ Memorial Park on Robertson Avenue and will feature speakers and honor our local veterans.
The City of Tallapoosa will also host its annual July 4th Parade which is set to begin at Providence Church Road and Highway 78 at 1;00 p.m. The parade will take its traditional route through the city of Tallapoosa.
Newnan
Newnan Main Street will host the City’s annual Fourth of July Parade on July 4, beginning at 9 a.m. The parade will start at Veteran’s Memorial Park and end at Greenville Street.
The Newnan Rotary Club will host a celebration on July 7, starting at 5:30 p.m at Drake Stadium. Concessions will be available for purchase and attendees can enjoy live music and other attractions. The event is free to attend and is sponsored by the City of Newnan, Coweta County, Coweta County Schools, and The Rotary Club of Newnan.
Franklin
The Heard County Chamber of Commerce will host its Summerfest 2018 Celebration on the town square in Franklin on July 7. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will feature live music, food and drinks, arts and crafts, and a fireworks show. The fireworks show will begin around 9:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Heard County Chamber of Commerce website here.
Heflin
The City of Heflin will host its annual Independence Day celebration on July 4th with a Salute to America parade at 9:30 a.m. The celebration will continue later that day at 5:00 p.m. with a variety of festivities taking place at City Park. The event will feature live music, a duck derby, waterslides, sand castle building, bingo and lots of food, as well as a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Headlining the live music will be Flatt Lonesome, a Tennessee-based bluegrass band who will take the stage at 7:00 p.m. A fireworks show will begin at 9:00 p.m. at the Heflin City Football Field. For more information, call 256-463-2290.
