Fourth of July Archives

Fourth of July Festivities

June 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

Our nation’s birthday is celebrated coast to coast with fireworks, picnics and festivals. Metro Atlanta is no different. Several cities have Fourth of July events that offer a fun time for your family. Here are some great ways to celebrate Independence Day that are just a short drive away:

ACWORTH – July 4
Concert and fireworks sponsored by The City of Acworth and the Acworth Business Association. Live music will start at 4pm leading up to headliners “FLASHBACK” at 6pm. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30pm. Food vendors will be on site. Free admission. Tables for 6 are available for rent: $50 for Acworth residents and $70 for non-residents. Free shuttle service starting at 3pm available from the city hall and the post office parking lot. Located at Lake Acworth Beach at Cauble Park, 2293 Beach Street, Acworth. More info: 770- 917–1234 or visit www.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

ALPHARETTA- July 4
Celebrate Independence Day with family and friends at the City of Alpharetta’s annual fireworks show hosted by Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department. Food vendors open 4-9pm and children’s activities from 4-8pm at the Even Lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center. Live musical entertainment featuring local bands starts at 7pm. Spectacular fireworks display begins at dusk! Bring a lawn chair and blanket. No alcohol allowed. Located at Wills Park, 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta. More info: 678-297-6133 or wprcprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.

DUNWOODY– July 4
21st Annual Dunwoody Salutes America Fourth of July Parade hosted by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier Newspaper. Begins at 9:00am. Features marching bands, local personalities, and floats. Festival with live entertainment, activities, children’s area, and Dunwoody United Methodist Boy Scout barbeque follows at Dunwoody Village: 5483 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. This year’s theme: Service to Community and Nation.

KENNESAW – July 3
Salute to America, a pre-Independence Day celebration, will feature high-energy, live music performances and family entertainment from 6-11pm. Main stage performers include teen singing sensation Kaylin McClure, an electrifying Neil Diamond tribute show featuring the vocal talents of Conner Lorre, and The Stranger, who are undeniably the world’s most authentic tribute to the legendary Billy Joel. Fireworks will begin at 9:30pm. Free admission. Blankets, chairs and coolers allowed. Tables for 6 available for rent at $75. Food and beverages for sale. No alcohol. Concert begins at 8pm at The Depot, 2828 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw. More info: 770-422-9714 or www.kennesawjuly3.com.

MARIETTA – July 4
Fourth in the Park celebration presented by Marietta Parks and Recreation. Parade starts 10am at Roswell Street Baptist Church, 774 Roswell Street SE, Marietta, and ends at North Marietta Parkway. Followed by concerts, museum tours, arts and crafts show, food, carnival games, and fireworks finale at 9:30pm in Glover Park/Marietta Square. More info: 770-794-5601 or www.mariettaga.gov.

POWDER SPRINGS – July 4
Independence Day Celebration featuring live entertainment, children’s activities, food and fireworks at dark. Celebrate from 4pm until 10pm. Historic Town Square, 4488 Pineview Drive, Powder Springs. More info: 770-943-1666 or www.cityofpowdersprings.org.

ROSWELL – July 4
13th Annual Fireworks Extravaganza presented by City of Roswell. Live entertainment, children’s carnival, and food. Bring picnics, lawn chairs and blankets. Band performances at 6pm and 7:30pm featuring Back Trax and Banks & Shane. Fireworks begin at dark. Roswell High School, 11595 King Road, Roswell. More info: 770-641-3705 or www.roswellgov.com.

WOODSTOCK –July 4
Freedom Fest begins at 10am with a parade starting at Old WalMart/Furniture Express on Hwy. 92, traveling north on Main Street through the Olde Town merchant district to Woodstock Elementary School. Food vendors, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and crafts until 3pm at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, downtown Woodstock. Fireworks begin at dusk behind the Target shopping center at Hwy 92 and I-575. More info: 770-517-6788 or www.woodstockga.gov.

(Reprinted from the June/July 2012 issue of EAST COBBER.)

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment Blog, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Fourth of July

Food, FUN and fireworks! It’s the Fourth of July! Community Events June 29 – July 5

June 28, 2012 Leave a Comment

The Fourth of July holiday is here with plenty of food, fun and fireworks to go around! Keep the fun going all week long with these events. For more local event ideas and activities, check out our online calendar HERE.

Every Saturday and Sunday, Marietta Square Farmers Market featuring products that are grown and produced in Georgia, including produce, plants, honey, breads, and cheese. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Sunday: 12-3pm. Glover Park-Marietta Square. More info: 770-499-9393 or www.mariettasquarefarmersmarket.net.

Every Tuesday and Saturday, Feeding Time at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Join a naturalist for an in-depth look at one of their resident animals as they are being fed. 4pm. Admission: $8/adults. $6/seniors. $5/ages 3-12. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. More info: 770-992-2055.

Trail Hikes, Every Saturday and Sunday. A docent guides you on a journey through the Chattahoochee Nature Center trails using biofacts and activities to spark you “natural” curiosity. 1pm. Admission: $8/adults. $6/seniors. $5/ages 3-12. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. More info: 770-992-2055.

Explore Passages, through June 30. Passages, a worldwide traveling exhibition, allows people of all interests to experience the creation of the book that has altered history, shaped cultures, inspired minds and changed lives. The 23,203-square-foot, interactive, non-sectarian traveling exhibition uncovers the rarely revealed saga and diverse personalities of those who lived and died to capture, preserve, translate and study the Bible. On view now through June 30, 2012. Buy your tickets now at ExplorePassages.com.

Roswell Summer Puppet Series, through July 21. Nationally-renowned puppeteers bring all varieties of puppets and marionettes to the stage for a collection of whimsical and captivating performances. Monday-Saturday: 10am. Additional shows Wednesday and Friday: 10am & 1pm. $6/adults. $5/ages 2-12. Puppet-making kits specifically tailored to each show available for purchase for $4 per kit. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell. More info/tickets: 770-594-6232 or www.roswellpuppets.com.

June 29

Y Business Network. Local business networking and referrals. Open to everyone – Y membership not required. 7:30-8:45am. Northeast Cobb YMCA, 3010 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. More info: ybusinessnetwork.webs.com or Michelle Hutchinson, 770-518-0010 or michelle.hutchinson@wordhelper.com.

Glover Park Concert Series: China Grove/Doobie Brothers Tribute Band. Bring a blanket and picnic dinner or dine in one of the many fine restaurants on the square and enjoy a free concert. Blankets and lawn chairs allowed after 4pm. Tables available for rent. Concert at 8pm. Marietta Square. More info: 770-794-5601 or www.mariettaga.gov.

The Roswell UMC Patriotic Celebration-Sounds of the Spirit Concert Series: Patriotic Celebration. The 120-voice Roswell United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir and Atlanta Wind Symphony join forces to raise this inspiring musical tribute to our great nation. Free but ticket required for seating. Friday: 7:30pm. Sunday: 4pm. Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Boulevard, Roswell. More info: 770-594-0512.

June 30

Free Arts and Crafts at Lakeshore Learning Store. 11am-3pm. Ages 3 and up. In June, make a Flip Flop Notepad, Key Keeper, Summertime Door Hanger, and Star Spangled Shaker. In July, make a Sunny Day Visor, Pet Fish, Olympic Torch, and a Keep Cool Summer Fan. Door Lakeshore Learning Store, 4287 Roswell Road, Marietta. More info: 770-578-3100 orwww.lakeshorelearning.com.

Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square is hosting Superhero Night from 4-7pm. Visit Chick-fil-A Woodlawn Square at 1201 Johnson Ferry Road or call (770) 565-4653 for more information on each event. Families who come dressed up will receive a free ice dream. Face painting, pictures with the cow, kids crafts and an ice cream bar stocked with toppings for the free ice dream will also be available.

Unity North Atlanta Fun Fest, a community-wide festival with food, games, farmers market, Kidz Korner, and Classy Re-runs, a high-end flea market. 10am-4pm. Free. Unity North Atlanta Church, 4255 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. More info: www.unitynorth.org.

Star Spangled Spectacular & Fireworks presented by Kennesaw State University featuring the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Rain date: July 1. 8pm. Admission opens 6:30pm. Bring chairs, blankets and picnics. Free. Campus Green, Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw. More info: 7770-423-6000 or www.kennesaw.edu.

Celebrate America with the GSO! Free concert, fun for the whole family! A fabulous evening of pops at Kennesaw State University. Sing along with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a medley of patriotic favorites. Complete a perfect evening by cheering to a sensational fireworks display. For more information, visit http://georgiasymphony.org .

July 1

Concerts by the Springs: Smokey’s Farmland Band presented by City of Sandy Springs. 7-8:30pm. Lawn opens at 5pm. Free. Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs. More info: www.heritagesandysprings.org/concerts-by-the-springs/.

July 2

An American Celebration 2012 featuring the Johnson Ferry Choir and Orchestra. 7:30pm. Ice cream social following the concert in the Fellowship Hall. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. More info: 770-973-6561 orwww.johnsonferry.org.

Celebrate America with the GSO! Free concert, fun for the whole family! Celebrate a spectacular evening of pops, and sing along with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a medley of patriotic favorites at the beautiful Marietta 1st United Methodist Church amphitheatre! It’s a perfect evening for the whole family! For more information, visit http://georgiasymphony.org

July 3

Salute to America, a pre-Independence Day celebration, featuring high-energy, live music performances and family entertainment plus one of the biggest and brightest firework displays in North Georgia. Free. 6-11pm. Fireworks at 9:30pm. Near the Depot, 2828 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw. More info: www.kennesawjuly3.com.

City of Kennesaw Summer Concert Series: Hotel Californiawith opening act “Destination” at 6pm. Lawn seating. Limited number of tables available for rent. 8pm. Free. Fireworks follow at 9:30pm. The Depot, 2828 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw. More info: 770-422-9714 or www.kennesaw-ga.gov/pkrec.

Celebrate America with the GSO! Free concert, fun for the whole family! Another spectacular evening of pops! Sing along with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and the Mount Paran North Choir in a medley of patriotic favorites. Complete a perfect evening by cheering to a sensational fireworks display, all at Mount Paran North Church in Marietta. For more information, visit http://georgiasymphony.org

July 4

The Flag Project was conceived by Kiwanis Past President David Miller in 1995 as a way to raise funds for the Marietta Kiwanis Scholarship fund. The flags are displayed by Marietta Kiwanians and their friends and family who place the flags around Cobb County on six nationally recognized holidays each year – Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4^th, Labor Day, September 11 and Veteran’s Day. The proceeds from this project now fund Kiwanis Scholarships and other Club programs, projects, and grants of the Marietta Kiwanis Foundation. $25/year/flag. More info: 770-432-1760, pathuey@comcast.net, or www.mariettakiwanis.org.

The Earl Smith Strand Theatre is bringing “Hitsville, USA” back to the Marietta Square this Fourth of July with a fresh line-up of show stopping, finger snapping, toe tapping, true American music in Mo’ Motown! Mo’ Motown will take place at The Strand Theatre on July 4^th at 7 PM, July 5^th–7^th at 8 PM, and July 8^th at 3 PM. Tickets are $20 and assigned seating. The Strand is offering a special Fourth of July bundle—$30 for a combination ticket to Mo’ Motown and a view of the Marietta City fireworks from The Strand rooftop terrace and bar.

Fourth in the Park. The Marietta Freedom Parade will begin at 10am at Roswell Street Baptist Church and head towards the Square for the start of the Festival. Enjoy food, concerts at 12pm and 8pm, arts and crafts, and watch fireworks at dark. Marietta Square. More info: www.mariettaga.gov.

Cobb County Republican Picnic. 11:30am-3:30pm. $15. Jim Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. More info: 770-272-0458.

Concert and fireworks sponsored by The City of Acworth and the Acworth Business Association. Live music will start at 4pm leading up to headliners “FLASHBACK” at 6pm. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30pm. Food vendors will be on site. Free admission. Tables for 6 are available for rent: $50 for Acworth residents and $70 for non-residents. Free shuttle service starting at 3pm available from the city hall and the post office parking lot. Located at Lake Acworth Beach at Cauble Park, 2293 Beach Street, Acworth. More info: 770- 917–1234 or visitwww.acworthparksandrecreation.org.

Celebrate Independence Day with family and friends at the City of Alpharetta’s annual fireworks show hosted by Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department. Food vendors open 4-9pm and children’s activities from 4-8pm at the Even Lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center. Live musical entertainment featuring local bands starts at 7pm. Spectacular fireworks display begins at dusk! Bring a lawn chair and blanket. No alcohol allowed. Located at Wills Park, 11925 Wills Road, Alpharetta. More info: 678-297-6133 or wprcprograms@alpharetta.ga.us.

21st Annual Dunwoody Salutes America Fourth of July Parade hosted by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier Newspaper. Begins at 9:00am. Features marching bands, local personalities, and floats. Festival with live entertainment, activities, children’s area, and Dunwoody United Methodist Boy Scout barbeque follows at Dunwoody Village: 5483 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. This year’s theme: Service to Community and Nation.

Independence Day Celebration in Powder Springs, featuring live entertainment, children’s activities, food and fireworks at dark. Celebrate from 4pm until 10pm. Historic Town Square, 4488 Pineview Drive, Powder Springs. More info: 770-943-1666 or www.cityofpowdersprings.org.

13th Annual Fireworks Extravaganza presented by City of Roswell. Live entertainment, children’s carnival, and food. Bring picnics, lawn chairs and blankets. Band performances at 6pm and 7:30pm featuring Back Trax and Banks & Shane. Fireworks begin at dark. Roswell High School, 11595 King Road, Roswell. More info: 770-641-3705 or www.roswellgov.com.

Freedom Fest Woodstock begins at 10am with a parade starting at Old WalMart/Furniture Express on Hwy. 92, traveling north on Main Street through the Olde Town merchant district to Woodstock Elementary School. Food vendors, children’s activities, musical entertainment, and crafts until 3pm at The Park at City Center, 101 Arnold Mill Road, downtown Woodstock. Fireworks begin at dusk behind the Target shopping center at Hwy 92 and I-575. More info: 770-517-6788 or www.woodstockga.gov.

Do you know of an event happening around East Cobb? Email the details to events@eastcobber.com. Include “Event Listing” in the subject line. Stay on top of all the local fun and festivities when you “Like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/EASTCOBBER.

Filed Under: Kids & Family, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Community Events, Fourth of July

Marietta Lions Club still leading the charge at July 4th parade

June 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

Courtesy http://www.mariettaga.gov/city/fire/museum/chevrolet

The Marietta Lions Club will once again promote patriotism at the 2012 Marietta July Fourth parade. Leading the Parade will be Members riding in a 1949 Chevy panel fire truck will distribute thousands of miniature American Flags for spectators to wave during the parade.

The truck, which was donated by the Marietta Lions to the Marietta Fire Department in 1950, will be driven by 68-year-old John Beale, a director with the club. Riding along will be 87-year-old member Gary Holcombe, who is responsible for handing out up to 13,000 flags to eager parade-goers. The procession will begin at 10 am at Roswell Street Baptist Church and will make its way past the Marietta Square before ending at North Marietta Parkway.

The Marietta Lions Club orders the flags from a Tennessee company. Order sizes have gone up in recent years in response to growing demand along the parade route.

During the festivities, the Lions Club will also have a booth on the Square next to Glover Park where they will accept eyeglass donations for ongoing charitable efforts. The group donates the used eyewear to those in need around the state and overseas. Local beneficiaries include The Extension, a shelter and drug and alcohol recovery center in Marietta.

The Marietta Lions Club is celebrating their 70th year of service to the community and always welcomes new members and volunteers. The organization is a chapter of the National and International Lions Clubs and is heavily involved with the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind, an annual camp for blind children, teens and adults held every summer on 62 acres in Waycross. The Marietta Lions also support Boy Scout and Eagle Scout programs, Meals on Wheels and the Wounded Warrior Project.

For more information, contact Marietta club president Marianne Reida at 770-565-8230.

(Written by Alex Ewalt.)

How will you celebrate the Fourth this year? Does your family attend the annual Marietta Parade? Click “Chime In” to comment on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you!

Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment Blog, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Fourth of July

What to Eat and What to Avoid at Your Fourth of July Barbecue

July 4, 2011 Leave a Comment

http://www.flickr.com/photos/subinev/

It seems harmless enough. A scoop here, a nibble there, a handful of this and a few of those.

But if you’re trying to stay healthy this Fourth of July weekend, the average summer barbecue can leave you feeling less than celebratory. With an estimated 76 million Americans who say they participated in a barbecue during the last year, that’s a lot of potentially calorie-laden eating.

However, barbecues don’t have to be unhealthy. There is hope for healthy outdoor meals, especially if you watch the sauces and side dishes and stay away from the chips and dips. Simple steps can make a difference whether you’re grilling for a crowd or bringing a side dish this Independence Day.

“Swapping simple alternatives to traditional classic dishes can mean the difference between enjoying yourself all weekend long or feeling lousy after overdoing it on one day,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN, a nutrition expert for the national, nonprofit organization HealthyWomen.

With millions of Americans enjoying a three-day weekend and many extending vacation into the following week, Taub-Dix says moderation is key.

Here are HealthyWomen’s top five foods to avoid and suggested alternatives:

1. If you can hold it in your hand, it might stick to your hips.
Summer barbecues don’t have to be about sausage, ribs and chicken drumsticks. Go for foods that require a knife and fork. Generally speaking if your meat is considered “portable,” it’s probably not good for you! Grilling fish and lean cuts of meat like chicken breasts, pork loin and even filet mignon gives diners the delicious, smoky, char-grilled taste synonymous with cooking outdoors—just be sure to skip the heavy sauces and sugary marinades.

2. Leave the “white” out of your red, white and blue.
Side salads that are “white” from mayonnaise are best avoided. A combination of sweet and red bliss potatoes and macaroni salad made with whole-grain pasta and crunchy vegetables like shredded carrots, colorful bell peppers and fresh parsley add more color and flavor than traditional side salads. Dress with light or olive oil mayo instead of the regular, full-fat counterpart or hold the mayo altogether and substitute nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt or a dressing of diluted vinegar, fresh herbs and a taste of honey.

3. Watch your buns.
Hamburger buns, that is. If you must serve burgers and dogs, whole-grain buns pack more nutritional punch than the overly processed and refined white-flour buns. White-flour products have been stripped of beneficial nutrients like fiber which help regulate our digestive system and keep us feeling full longer. Slip in a turkey burger or a chicken sausage and your taste buds won’t know what hit them.

4. Keep the cooler light.
Skip sugary sodas, punches and sports drinks, and be mindful of regular beer, wine and cocktails. You’ll be a healthy hero and impressive host if you take the time to make and serve unsweetened iced tea or homemade lemonade. Too plain or too tart? Add a splash of fruit juice or mint for a fresh taste. Serve white or red wine sangria with fresh fruit for a light and refreshing alternative to plain wine or to sugary mixed drinks; adding carbonated water and ice helps keep the calories down and the fresh fruit adds some nutritional benefits. And, no matter what he says, a light beer is not only lighter in calories but is often a welcomed alternative to a lager on hot, humid days. Last but not least, keep a pitcher or dispenser filled with ice water and topped with lemon slices or fresh mint. It will surely be a hit with all ages, and those who are drinking alcoholic beverages can alternate with water.

5. Spice up your dessert.
Almost everyone loves a bowl of fresh berries at barbecues, but how about grilling some fresh pineapple or other tropical fruit and serving it with a dash of nutmeg? This exotic treat is simple to make, guaranteed not to melt and will be a welcome and refreshing treat that’s easy on the waistline.
Choice is everything, says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director for HealthyWomen, the nation’s leading independent health information source for women, which has been providing trusted health and wellness advice for over 20 years.

“Knowing healthy alternatives to traditional favorites is the key to staying healthy during any holiday season. If those choices are not available to you or the meal is out of your control, try small portions or a taste of everything so your entire plate equals one complete portion, not multiple portions of everything on the menu,” says Battaglino Cahill.

For more tips on living healthy, visit HealthyWomen.org.

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, [Featured], [PostToSocial] Tagged With: Fourth of July