If you’re looking for 2018’s 4th of July celebrations, you’ve got quite a few options in the ATL.
A quick reminder: Lenox no longer puts on a fireworks display. But you’ve got lots of other ways to celebrate the holiday with a bang. Don’t know where to go? Here are a few ideas to get you started (FYI–You should subscribe to receive email updates from Atlanta on the Cheap because it’s awesome & keeps you in the know):
- Star-Spangled Spectacular. Saturday, June 30. From 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., there’ll be family activities, live music by the KSU Big Band and KSU Summer Orchestra, & more at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium KSU Sports + Entertainment Park, plus be sure to stick around for the fireworks finale.
- Prelude to the 4th. On Tuesday, July 3, there’ll be live music by The Swingin’ Medallions on the Lawrenceville Lawn (210 Luckie St), food trucks, & more. The celebration starts at 5:00 p.m., and a fireworks display will take place at dusk.
- Sandy Springs Stars and Stripes Fireworks Celebration. On Wednesday, July 4, there’ll be live music by Shiloh starting at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:45 p.m. on the Concourse Lawn (5 Concourse Pkwy) in Sandy Springs.
- 4th of July Celebration at International Plaza. Wednesday, July 4. Since Centennial Park is in the midst of a renovation project, this year’s event will take place at International Plaza, the greenspace near the Georgia World Congress Center, Philips Arena, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. There’ll be live music by After 7, performing with J-Fly and other artists, followed by a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. Parking is $5 in advance & $10 day-of.
- Fourth of July Celebration at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Wednesday, July 4. This could be a good pre-fireworks activity if you’ve got little ones & you’re planning to head to International Plaza for fireworks. There’ll be Independence Day parades, 4th of July sing-a-longs, & more; activities included with admission.
- Fireworks in Fourth Ward. Wednesday, July 4. Starting at 5:00 p.m., there’ll be family-friendly activities from cornhole to face painting, food trucks, beer & wine tents, & more at Historic Fourth Ward Park, across the street from Ponce City Market. The fireworks show starts at sunset.
- Pied Piper Parade, Concert & Fireworks on the 4th. Wednesday, July 4. Decatur’s 4th of July Pied Piper parade sounds like fun. The parade starts at 6:00 p.m. and winds its way through downtown Decatur. Participants include you and anyone else who chooses to follow along with their decorated bicycles, skateboards, wagons, etc, as it passes by. The Callanwolde Concert Band performs at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Bandstand, and the fireworks display starts at approximately 9:00 p.m.
- Mall of Georgia’s Star-Spangled Fourth on Wednesday, July 4. Starting at 5:00 p.m., there’ll be live music with performances by The Throwback Experience and Mike Veal Band, plus the kids can burn off energy in the Kid Zone. The fireworks show starts at 9:35 p.m., and there’ll be a post-fireworks screening of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
- July 4th Festivities and Fireworks at Wills Park in Alpharetta. Wednesday, July 4. From 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., there’ll be children’s activities on the lawn behind Alpharetta Community Center, live music by the Alpharetta City Band & others, plus a fireworks display at dusk.
- July 4th on the Marietta Square. Wednesday, July 4. The Marietta Freedom Parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church, heads west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square past Glover Park, down Cherokee Street & ends at North Marietta Parkway. Following the parade, stick around for a Fourth of July Festival, featuring an arts & crafts show, live music by Departure (Journey Tribute Band) and Jon Byrd, & a fireworks display at dark.
- Dunwoody 4th of July Parade. The parade steps off at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Jett Ferry Road and marches down Mount Vernon Road to Dunwoody Village. After the parade, stick around for the festival, complete with a concert, Kids Zone, & more.
Now for the rest of the ‘burbs…. By some accounts, our metro area extends to Chattanooga (Chatlanta), Alabama (AtlantaBama), & every other direction until it’s no longer feasible to drive into the city for work. There are countless celebrations taking place around the metro area. Translation: I cannot possibly list them all. To find one near you, just Google your city’s name and look for the events page on the website. If you want to plug your area, please post a comment, preferably with a link.
–Jennifer Maciejewski
