4th of July Celebrations
Atlanta, GA -If you can't find something to do in Atlanta for the Fourth of July you obviously aren't trying. This city energetically celebrates Independence and does it with Atlanta's signature sense of theater!
There have got to be few sights as visually awesome as fireworks exploding over Atlanta's Stone Mountain. Picture it - rising 400 feet into the blackened evening sky, the towering slab of granite suddenly, spectacularly illuminated by a pinwheeling kaleidoscope of color, just as your body vibrates from the pounding thunder of thousands of explosions and your ears ring with the delightful noise.
Now THAT'S a fireworks display! The best part is, the Fantastic Fourth Celebration runs from July 2-4, 2005. That means three days of stunning fireworks in an even more stunning environment.
The show is free with park admission, so take the whole family for a full day's fun at one of America's premier state parks, and, as it gets dark, be treated to a fantastic Lasershow (starts at 9:30 p.m.). Then watch out, as the fireworks explode above you!
But that's not the only way to celebrate July 4 in Atlanta. You can attend a re-creation of life at an eighteenth century frontier fort, or take part in a 10K road race, or watch any number of other fireworks displays in a half dozen locations.
For instance, Callaway Gardens (60 minutes southwest of Atlanta ) is hosting the July 4th Surf & Sand Spectacular, starting at 9 a.m. on the 4th.
This one's unique - there's even a circus performance! This all-day event has everything you associate with the Fourth of July - beach games, live music, miniature golf, picnicking, shuffleboard games and swimming. Then, as night falls, the Swinging Medallions start playing, and the beach becomes a dance floor. And then come the fireworks, reflected in Robin Lake...
Lenox Square is planning a couple of big-fun events for the Fourth. First, watch as 55,000 terribly in-shape runners compete in the Peachtree Road Race 10K.
This is the world's largest 10K road race, and will also host the PRRO Race of Champions. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. and heads down Peachtree in Buckhead, winding up in Midtown, across from Piedmont Park.
The Mall of Georgia (30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta) will have fireworks and entertainment. The show starts at 11am on the Fourth, with the fireworks at, you guessed it, 9:30 p.m.
Have you ever spent Thanksgiving with Native-Americans? I have, and let me tell you, it's quite an experience. To try something in the same vein, check out the Georgia Independence Day Festival at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. A re-created small frontier fort and village, it's a great way to introduce kids to American history. There'll be demonstrations of Colonial-era arts and crafts, live music and old-time games, and runs June 30 to July 4.
Atlanta is a world-class city, so you know that's not all of the events planned for the Fourth of July. Here's a quick run-down of a few more-
