Next Tuesday businesses will be closed, kids will be lathered in sunscreen and homes will be filled with family and friends to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. Cities across the country will vie to be the largest, most patriotic and most festive celebrants of the holiday and in Atlanta there will be events for people of all ages and celebration styles.

Whether you prefer to participate in a road race, sit along the sidelines of a parade, eat enormous quantities of bar-b-cue or picnic under the colors of the rainbow while watching fireworks, Fayette County and the Atlanta metro area offers a wide variety of activities.

Tyrone

Red, white, and blue and yellow ribbons line Senoia Road and Shamrock Park for Tyrone's Fourth of July celebration which will be held at Shamrock Park on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. The theme of the celebration is “Freedom is not Free.”

Volunteers will be placing confederate flags on the graves at the confederate cemetery as well as an array of American Flags placed in Shamrock Park. Veterans from the various wars will be speaking with keynote speaker Master Sergeant Pennington Walker of the 81st Regional Readiness Command commenting on the current war.

Games will be on hand for children. Residents are urged to bring a picnic lunch to the festivities although hot dogs and watermelon will be available for purchase. Live entertainment will be provided with a bluegrass band performing for those in attendance.

The highlight of the evening will be Master Sergeant Walker lighting the red, white and blue water fountain in honor of all veterans and 9/11 victims. Everyone is invited to attend and honor the nation’s war heros.

Fayetteville

The LaFayette Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will hold its annual celebration at the old Fayette County Courthouse on July 4 at 2 p.m. Thirteen bells will be rung for the 13 original colonies. The signing of the Declaration of Independence will be reenacted with Jim Robinson playing the part of Thomas Jefferson.

Peachtree City

Peachtree City is rolling out four days of events to celebrate Independence Day this year. Although the annual parade and fireworks will be held on Tuesday, July 4, the Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department and the Peachtree City Tourism Association have teamed up to ensure that there is an entire weekend of fun planned for the community.

Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon said, “Peachtree City is known for it’s wonderful July 4 celebration. Many of our residents have out-of-town guests during the holiday, and we see a lot of south metro Atlanta spectators for the parade and fireworks.” Logsdon continued, “With so many businesses closed on Monday, July 3, this is a great opportunity to showcase the community and host an entire weekend of events.”

The holiday kicks off on Saturday, July 1, with the Peachtree City Running Club’s Firecracker Fun Run at 8 a.m. The 5K run will begin at City Hall plaza and will follow a course along Peachtree City’s multi-use paths. Registration forms are available on the city’s web site at www.peachtree-city.org and at city facilities. The cost for participants is $5 for advance registration, and $10 for registration the morning of the race. Race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. Race participants will receive one of the new Peachtree City t-shirts.

Residents who enjoy watching local sporting events can spend the afternoon watching the BMX race at the Recreation Complex on McIntosh Trail, a little league baseball tournament at the South 74 Baseball Soccer Complex, or a softball tournament at Meade Fields on Highway 74 S. at Rockaway Road.

Adults wishing to continue the fun into the evening hours can stop by the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater for an 8 p.m. comedy night. Nationally known comedians David Alan Grier and Henry Cho will perform.

Family fun is also on the agenda Sunday afternoon with a picnic in the plaza at City Hall and the library from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy live entertainment and an afternoon of games and events for children of all ages.

Cool off on Monday, July 3, with a free Family Movie Night at the Fred, featuring “Ice Age: The Meltdown,” sponsored by Webb, Lindsey & Wade and Comcast. The movie will begin at 9 p.m. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted at this event.

Tuesday, July 4, will feature the traditional events Peachtree City residents and visitors have come to love. The parade begins at 9 a.m. on Peachtree Parkway South at Village on the Green, proceeding north to McIntosh Trail, and ending at the Recreation Complex.

Registration to participate in the parade is ongoing until full. There is no charge to enter as a Peachtree City resident. Registration for all other Fayette County entries began on June 8. A $25 fee will be charged for non-Peachtree City/Fayette County residents, churches and service organizations. A $50 fee will be charged for county/non-Peachtree City commercial businesses. Awards will be given in the categories of Most Patriotic, Most Creative, Most Original, the Mayor’s Trophy, a Grand Marshal’s trophy as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for best decorated golf carts. Entries will be judged from 8 a.m. until the start of the parade.

This year the Grand Marshals will be the Peachtree City Fire Department’s original firefighters. Among this group are Tommy Broderick, Tommy Matthews, Wendell Waggoner, Al Hogg, Chip Conner, Melvin Brown, Ralph Ellis and Jack Walls.

The Fire Department will have their annual expo at 3 p.m. at Drake Field, next to City Hall. Bring the kids to check out the array of equipment, and enjoy the department’s traditional water battle.

If you are looking for a more laid-back afternoon, enjoy the doo-wop stylings of the Del-Vikings at the Fred, with such hits as “Come Go With Me” and “Whispering Bells.” The opening act begins at 3 p.m., with the Del-Vikings taking the stage at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, and the event is sponsored by Webb, Lindsey & Wade.

The Fred won’t have the only music in town on July 4. There will also be the traditional concerts in the plaza at City Hall, with patriotic music by the Community Band at 5:30 p.m. and Cedar Hill at 7 p.m.

Finally, Peachtree City’s lavish annual Fireworks over Lake Peachtree display will light up the night beginning at 9:30 p.m. Local radio station J93.3 FM will broadcast live from the plaza at City Hall, airing a soundtrack to the fireworks that listeners can enjoy from any location.

The new Peachtree City t-shirts, which are not specifically themed for the July 4 holiday this year, are also available for purchase at City Hall, the Frederick Brown, Jr. Amphitheater, Kedron Fieldhouse and Aquatic Center, the Peachtree City Library, the Peachtree City Tennis Center, and the Recreation Administration offices.

For more information call Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department at 770-631-2542.

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