The Fourth of July weekend is an exciting weekend of summer that involves family and friends coming together with great food, fun outdoor activities, and celebrating America's independence. While traditions change with the times, some things remain the same: a desire to have a great time spent with family and friends! Keep reading to see some of our favorite and unique ways to spend this holiday.
5 ways to celebrate the Fourth of July this year:
1. Watch Your Local Fireworks Show
Attending a local fireworks show is a fun tradition for many to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Dalton Parks and Recreation Department is planning a full day of fun on Sunday at Heritage Point Park as well as at the John Davis Recreation Center and the Mack Gaston Community Center. The day kicks off at 10 a.m. when the old-timer's softball game starts at Heritage Point East Field 3 and the Firecracker Adult Softball Tournament starts at Heritage Point East fields 1,2,4 and 5. At noon, the pool at the rec center and the splash pad at the community center open. In the afternoon, at Heritage Point Park there will be a corn hole tournament. There will also be Little Miss Rec (ages 2 to 5) and Junior Miss Rec (ages 6 to 12) pageants. Both pageants are limited to 25 contestants. The popular Krystal eating (ages 16 and up), doughnut hole eating (12 and up) and doughnut-eating (13 and up) contests will also be held at Heritage Point Park. All are limited to 10 contestants. A disc golf tournament starts at 4 p.m., and there will be professional wrestling matches from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.The fireworks are expected to start around 9:45 p.m. The display will fire approximately 1,000 rounds and will last about 20 minutes.
Murray County Rec Department plans a full day of events on Saturday at the Murray County Recreation Center at 745 Chestnut St. in Chatsworth. There will be live music, several vendors selling food and other items, and inflatables for children starting at 4 p.m. Fireworks are expected to start around 10 p.m.
The city of Eton has its annual Fireworks Festival in the old Eton Park on Friday. There will be food and games and inflatables for children. The park opens at 5 p.m. Fireworks are expected to start around 9:45 p.m.
The city of Varnell and Highland Forest subdivision host a fireworks show on Saturday at about 9:30 p.m. The show is for residents of the subdivision and the city of Varnell.
Cohutta will also host its Independence Day celebration on Saturday at Shugart Park, next to Cohutta Elementary School. The festivities start at 4 p.m and include live music, food vendors, and antique cars and tractors. Fireworks will start around 9:30 p.m.
2. Host a Backyard Cookout
There’s nothing better than the smell of burgers on the grill. A backyard cookout is a perfect activity for the long weekend, so throw some hot dogs, hamburgers, or whatever your go-to cookout food is on the grill and have a feast!
3. Let the Kids Plan the Day
Have kids? Let them plan what you're going to do.
Set a budget, give them some guidance if they need it, and let them plan a fun Fourth of July for you and your family.
4. Host Backyard Olympics
Divide small groups into couples, and set up an array of outdoor games. Think - lawn dice, giant Jenga, darts, corn hole, and more. Rotate through each game, making sure to keep score along the way. The couple with the most wins at the end takes home a prize.
5. Give Back to Your Community
This is a great opportunity to reach out to United Way of Northwest Georgia to find out about any needs their Community Partners may have. Find a volunteer opportunity that's meaningful to you, your friends, and your family, and make this a memorable holiday because you did something for others! Throughout the month of July, United Way of Northwest Georgia will be handing out books at Whitfield County’s #PowerLunch sites on Thursdays. Come out and volunteer with us! Click here to read more about this volunteer opportunity.
The Fourth of July calls for festive, patriotic ways to honor the United States. Start summer the right way with one of these fun ways to celebrate.
Have a great holiday and make some unforgettable memories with your loved ones!
Be sure to check out our volunteer page for upcoming volunteer projects that are sure to be fun for the whole family!