Threat of rain change July 4th plans
The threat of heavy and prolonged rains on Independence Day has activated some inclement weather plans for celebrations around DeKalb County.
Here is a round-up:
Avondale Estates
The Avondale Estates parade will be held as scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday. The fireworks will be postponed until Aug. 31.
Continuing a longtime tradition, Avondale Estates this year is celebrating the Fourth of July with a parade and fireworks at the lake. Residents and friends are invited to be part of this year’s celebration. Here’s the schedule:
9:15 a.m. – Parade line-up at Avondale High School
10 a.m. – Parade begins up Clarendon Avenue
Chamblee
Chamblee Parks & Recreation has postponed its annual Fourth of July to Sunday, July 7, at Keswick Park, 5 – 10 p.m. With free admission, live music from local performers, contests, food and activities for the entire family. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to settle in for a day of fun and relaxation.
The evening’s events kick off with the annual Patriotic Bike Parade and close with a fireworks show. The schedule is as follows:
5 p.m. – Concessions and activity booths open; bike parade starts at Chamblee Middle School
5-8 p.m. – Train rides
6 p.m.- Corn Hole Tournaments, register online
6-9 p.m. – Live musical performance by Mike Veal Band
9:15 p.m. (approximately) Fireworks start. For more information, visit www.chambleega.com.
Decatur
The City of Decatur has decided to postpone its Independence Day events and celebrations in light of the unfavorable weather forecast for July 4th. A Faux Fourth Celebration will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 with a Pied Piper Parade, Concert on the Square and fireworks.
Dunwoody
“We will not cancel the night before,” states Dunwoody’s rain policy for its July 4 celebration.
“We will setup and be ready to go even though there might be some drizzle – or even some claps of thunder – by parade time it could be gone,” the policy states.
The Dunwoody Police will determine if a delay is required and will make the decision at 9 a.m. if it looks like an electrical storm and the parade cannot proceed safely.
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier Newspaper are hosting this year’s annual Fourth of July Parade featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, animal units and local celebrities. Last year the parade attracted more than 2,500 participants and 32,000 spectators.
The parade starts at All Saints Catholic Church and marches down Mt. Vernon Road to Dunwoody Village. The founding mothers of the Dunwoody Nature Center will be this year’s grand marshals.
More information at: http://www.dunwoodyga.org/Dunwoody-4th-of-July-Parade.
Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain Park’s fireworks celebration is still on.
USA Today declared Stone Mountain Parks Fantastic Fourth Celebration a “must-see fireworks show.” It was among Reader’s Digest’s picks for “America’s Most Spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks” and readers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution voted Stone Mountain Park the best place to see Fourth of July fireworks.
The popular patriotically themed laser show returns this year for the 46th annual Independence Day Celebration. The show ends with a several minutes of fireworks lighting up the sky above Stone Mountain’s Confederate heroes carving.
Before the sun goes down, there’s lots to do in the park. Visitors can bring a picnic or sample the offerings at a wide variety of restaurants and stands. They also may want to check out some of the park’s newest attractions, including Journey 2: The Mysterious Island – The 4-D Experience.
Geyser Towers is a two-story tall climbing attraction with periodic water eruptions. With a mixture of geysers, misters and sprayers, kids and parents never know what waits around the corner as they are challenged to play in the spray or stay high and dry. Multiple levels of suspended rope bridges and net tunnels connect a trio of towering platforms that overlook a 40-foot gushing geyser. The million-dollar attraction is the first of its kind in North America.
To learn about special family deals, visit www.Stonemountainpark.com. Stone Mountain Park typically experiences large crowds on the Fourth of July so visitors are urged to come early. Gates may close early if parking reached capacity.
