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Parades, picnics and patriotism

South Metro Atlanta ready to light up the sky

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@TheCitizenNews.com

What would the 4th of July be without a picnic, especially when someone else does the cooking? 

On July 4th following the annual Peachtree City Independence Day Parade the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City and the Methodist Men’s Fellowship of Peachtree City United Methodist Church combine forces for their second annual Community Chicken-Que at the churches’ Windgate Campus on the corner of Peachtree Parkway and Windgate Road. Last year 1,500 happy customers were served. The menu includes chicken, baked beans, and cole slaw. Drinks are also available. Drive up in your car or golf cart between 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. to pick up the take-out picnic boxes. All tickets are $6.50 and are available now from any Methodist Men’s Fellowship or Kiwanis member. The Methodist Men will donate all their proceeds to the construction of a Scout Lodge on their Robinson Road church property. This lodge will be used by all area Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. Kiwanis will donate their profits to the Scout Lodge, plus other meaningful community service projects. For further information, contact John Musil, (770) 599-0772 or Kevin Snyder, (770) 486-8445.

The Peachtree City July 4th Parade begins at 9 a.m. and will head north on Peachtree Parkway from Village on the Green to McIntosh Trail to Shakerag Knoll. There will also be a patriotic concert from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at City Hall Plaza. The days celebration ends with Fireworks over Lake Peachtree from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. For further information about the day’s events, contact the Peachtree City Parks & Recreation Department at 770-631-2542.

After the July 4 parade in Peachtree City, a local group will be collecting used cellphones in an effort to raise money for phone calling cards to send to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq. In addition to having a golf cart entry in the parade to advertise the program, the group will be stationed at the Gathering Place off McIntosh Trail after the parade to collect the used cellphones. The cellphones will be sold, with money going to the national “Cell Phones for Soldiers” campaign, which was started by a 13-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother. So far, the program has sent more than 25,000 calling cards to soldiers in the Middle East. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

In Fayetteville, The Sons, Daughters and Children of the American Revolution will gather on the south side steps of the Fayette County Courthouse for “Let Freedom Ring,” part of the National Bell Ringing Ceremony July 4. A hand-bell ringing and musket volley will sound at 2 p.m. Help celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by tolling a bell 13 times, one for each of the 13 original colonies. For information on ringing, phone 1-800-330-1776 or visit www.Let-freedom-ring.org.

Newnan will have their Fourth of July Parade and Rotary Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. with a patriotic, hometown parade which will travel through downtown Newnan on Jackson and LaGrange Streets. Fireworks begin at dusk at Newnan High School's Drake Stadium.

Callaway Gardens will have their traditional Fourth of July celebration of our country’s freedom with the Surf and Sand Spectacular. Enjoy family-oriented beach activities including swimming in Robin Lake, playing miniature golf or shuffleboard, picnicking, riding paddle-boats and the miniature train, rock climbing wall and more.

In addition, children of all ages are sure to be thrilled by the acrobatics of the Florida State University “Flying High” Circus as they give two special performances at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.  In the evening, you won’t want to miss dancing to the inviting sounds of the Swingin’ Medallions at 7:30 p.m. Around 9:30 p.m. a very patriotic fireworks show will offer the finishing touch for a perfect Fourth of July.

If you want a break from the beach, enjoy the many attractions inside Callaway Gardens such as the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, Birds of Prey show and Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden.

Admission into the festivities at Robin Lake Beach on July 4th is $15 plus tax for adults and $7.50 plus tax for children (ages 6-12). Annual members and children five and under are admitted free. Admission into the Gardens is included.  The gardens will open from 7 a.m. and its attractions will open at 9 a.m.

Callaway Gardens, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.  For additional information, contact Callaway at 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com.

Kowaliga Marina on Lake Martin near Alexander City, Alabama will hold their 15th Annual 4th of July Flag Boat Parade July 4, beginning at 10 a.m. Contestants in the event are encouraged to be creative in showing their patriotic spirit and will have the opportunity to win some great prizes.

Boats of all sizes will line up single file and “parade’ from Kowaliga Marina, following the marina lead boat to Children’s Harbor, circling just past the lighthouse, and heading back to the marina. Onlookers line up all along the shoreline marveling and applauding the colorfully decorated holiday boats. Once back at the marina, prizewinners are announced in these categories: largest flag; tallest Flag; most creative boat; and “Yankee Doodle.”

Anyone interested in participating in the boat parade should turn in a registration form by July 3. Registration forms can be picked up at any Russell Marine location. For out-of-towners, call 334-957-2111 to request a form. Registration is free.

After the boat parade, head on over to the Lake Martin Amphitheater for the Russell Lands Fourth of July Blast. The 5th annual fireworks show is free and is scheduled for 9 p.m. that night. A musical show will begin at 6 p.m. with two bands performing, and proceeds from from the concert ticket sales benefiting Children’s Harbor. Those not wishing to attend the concert can watch the fireworks show from boat or in the open free or charge at the Lake Martin Amphitheater.

Headlining for the the Fourth of July Blast will be Montgomery’s own Sweet Young’uns, who will be taking the stage around 7:30 and again directly following the fireworks. Also, Children’s Harbor will have short programs between the sets for the young or just young at heart.

Tickets at the gate will be $15 and children under 12 are free.

Gates will open at 4:30 p.m., so bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy great music and a Russell Land’s fireworks show that is sure to bring wonderful memories. Concessions will be available. The Lake Martin Amphitheater is located on Ala.Highway 63 about one mile south of Kowaliga Bridge. From U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City, take Hwy 63 South approximately 16 miles.

No boat traffic will be allowed to or from the amphitheater shoreline. Access is by car only. Access to the large amphitheater park field will be free all along Hwy. 63.