Georgia Towns To Celebrate Independence Day

ATLANTA, June 29, 2011 – All over the state, hometowns and parks are bringing out the red, white and blue for the Fourth of July weekend as tourists and Georgians plan to celebrate Independence Day in Georgia.   Georgia's state parks have done their part to show patriotism by scheduling Fourth of July activities as diverse as the parks themselves. Visitors who want to enjoy the Fourth in the fresh mountain air should head up to north Georgia. Unicoi State Park in Helen will host a weekend of events during 'July 4th Mountain Style'. All weekend long visitors can participate in down-home fun including a watermelon seed spitting contest, sack races and a hoedown. Vogel State Park in Blairsville also has some mountain fun in store for the Fourth. Independence Day will kick off with a flag-raising ceremony and will continue throughout the day with activities ranging from egg tosses and greased pole climbing to pedal boat races and a bicycle parade. Visitors can head south from the mountains and enjoy an Old Time Independence Day at the Jarrell Plantation Historic Site in Juliette, near Forsyth. The site will have a reading of the Declaration of Independence before a day full of crafts and old time games. Southwest of Atlanta in Coweta County lies the Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Visitors can enjoy a picnic, fishing and paddling for the day during the park's inaugural weekend. After that, visitors can head towards Atlanta to view the city's fireworks from atop Panola Mountain in Stockbridge. Panola Mountain's Starlight and Fireworks provides spectators a chance to watch the fireworks over the Atlanta skyline while enjoying a natural setting. Visitors headed to the coast can enjoy the July 4th Celebration on Skidaway Island in Savannah. The celebration's patriotic decorating contest includes decorating anything from dogs, bikes or family members, and is sure to put everyone in a patriotic mood. The fun will continue with hayrides, crafts and a campfire. What Fourth of July is complete without a good, old-fashioned hometown parade? Towns all over the state will be hosting parades for the whole family. Cumming will host its annual steam engine parade. This unique Fourth of July parade is not limited to traditional floats, but also features classic steam engines, tractors and cars. The high-pitched whistle of the antique steam engines provides spectators with a one-of-a-kind parade experience. Sky Valley's Sparks in the Park parade gives everyone a chance to get in on the fun. Parade participation is open to everyone, including canine companions. Tallapoosa will host The Americana Fourth of July parade, preceded by a memorial service at the Veteran's Memorial and Medal of Honor Park, and followed by hometown fun in Helton Howland Park. Activities include a corn boil, cookout and fishing. Peachtree City's Annual Independence Day Parade is sure to be accompanied by the city's iconic golf carts in their patriotic best. The July 4th FreedomFest in Woodstock also features a lively hometown parade. The parade will run from Highway 92 through Main St. to Rope Mill Road. It concludes at the Park at City Center where there will be food, fun and games. If you want the holiday to hit a more musical note, you can visit several spots across the state that will feature music as part of their celebration. Alpharetta will host an All-American Celebration courtesy of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.  The orchestra will lead the crowd in dynamic performances of patriotic standards and will feature the U.S. Army Chorus. This night of patriotic musicality will be topped off with fireworks. For a full weekend of music, visitors can head on over to Athens for the Classic City 4th of July American Music Festival at The Melting Point. This two-day festival features distinctly American music on indoor and outdoor stages. Those ready to hit the coast can attend Red, White and Blues on the Bluff in Darien. The concert will be at the Waterfront Park on July 2 and will feature the Second Chance Band. This fun, coastal show will finish off with fireworks.   Those wanting to embark on less coastal waters can enjoy a weekend on the lake at the Fourth of July Celebration at Florence Marina in Omaha, south of Columbus. Visitors can participate in the marina's many activities, including watermelon eating contests and educational boat tours, or just enjoy recreation on the lake. Another aquatic Fourth can be enjoyed at Fireworks on the Flint in Cordele, at the Georgia Veterans State Park. The park will host fireworks along the Flint River's beautiful waters. The fireworks will take place on July 2 as a celebration of independence and a grand finale to the town's 62nd Annual Watermelon Days Festival. Other patriotic hometown celebrations can be found all over the state. Up north, visitors can enjoy all-day festivities and fireworks on the square in Dahlonega or barbecue, music and fireworks at the Dillard House Inn and Restaurant in Dillard. If visitors are closer to Atlanta they can visit the Fabulous 4th Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers. Heading south of Conyers, visitors can participate in the fireworks in Eastman or the old-fashioned Independence Day in Thomasville. The red, white and blue will be proudly represented all over the state Fourth of July weekend. To help get you started on your summer travel plans, Georgia Tourism launched 80 Days of Georgia Giveaways. Facebook fans and Twitter followers have access to more than 100 prizes through August 23, 2011. New prizes will be announced every weekday on www.facebook.com/exploregeorgia and @GeorgiaTourism on Twitter.   Visit www.exploregeorgia.org to plan your Georgia vacation. About GDEcD The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.