If you had planned to enter Peachtree City's annual Fourth of July parade to get a slew of free advertising, you might have to look into other avenues to get your name recognition.

That goes for all groups and individuals, whether they are local businesses, political candidates, or neighborhood organizations, said Susan Taylor of the Peachtree City Recreation Department.

The recreation department began taking parade entry forms yesterday. The entries will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

Each group will be limited to one float, golf cart, automobile or marching group to help shorten the parade, Taylor said. Last year's Fourth of July parade lasted two-and-a-half hours, she estimated.

The idea is also to take the commercialism out of the parade and make it more family-oriented, Taylor said.

This year, the parade starts at 10 a.m. and all parade entries must be decorated. Decor of a patriotic theme is suggested, according to the new rules issued by the recreation department. Trophies will be awarded in several different categories as judged by a three-person panel, Taylor said.

In the past, some groups have used several vehicles in the parade and some weren't decorated well, Taylor said.

“We are glad for commercial, organizational and church interest, but the parade has gotten longer and longer every year,” Taylor said.

The new requirements will help new groups and individuals enter the parade who haven't been able to in the past, Taylor added. By limiting entry to one per group, it creates more room for others, she said.

“We,re still giving people the exposure, but we're allowing more people to participate,” she said.

The band in this year's parade will be a combination of students from McIntosh and Starr's Mill high schools, Taylor said. But she hopes the music doesn't stop there: all participants are encouraged to bring a stereo or other device to play patriotic music along the parade route to entertain the crowd.

The parade will line up in front of Booth Middle School and travel north on Peachtree Parkway, turning westbound on Flat Creek and finishing at City Hall Plaza. To be judged for awards, entries must be lined up by 9 a.m. Organizers expect the parade to last as long as two hours.

Another change for Fourth of July festivities is that the free concert will be held at City Hall instead of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. The new location will keep residents from having to choose between attending the 7:30 p.m. concert or getting a good seat for the fireworks show, which starts at 9:30, Taylor said.

Residents are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to the event, but a sound system will be used so the Peachtree Wind Ensemble can be heard throughout the area, Taylor said.

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