Your Guide to the 4th of July in Johns Creek

Just as sure as July is always HOT in Atlanta, our southern city always pulls out all the stops to celebrate the Fourth of July. There are plenty of fireworks displays and events to make it a family-friendly holiday that can be enjoyed by everyone. To spark your patriotic spirit, here are some fun facts and trivia about the Fourth of July, the best fireworks and displays close to Johns Creek and in the Atlanta area, plus terrific TV specials that celebrate America’s birthday.

Best Places To Watch Fireworks in Atlanta:

• Lenox Square Mall: The absolute biggest and best fireworks demonstration in the Southeast takes place every July 4 at Lenox Square Mall. The daylong celebration begins at noon with a family festival and live entertainment. At precisely 9:40 p.m., the night sky over Buckhead explodes with more than three tons of fireworks in a spectacular display of light, sound and color. The show lasts 15 minutes and is spectacular. The annual event is very popular with locals and visitors alike, so be sure to get there early to stake out your spot. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Activities begin at noon on July 4th. Fireworks go off at 9:40 p.m. Free.
• Stone Mountain Park: This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Fantastic Fourth Celebration at Stone Mountain Park. On Tuesday and Wednesday, July 3 and 4, the park comes alive at night with a patriotic lasershow in Mountainvision and is followed both nights by one of the Southeast’s best fireworks extravaganzas. Attractions open at 10:30 a.m. If you plan on just watching the lasershow and fireworks, expect to pay only the $10 parking fee. Stone Mountain Park draws exceptionally large crowds on the Fourth of July, so be sure to stake your spot on the lawn early. July 3 and 4 at 9:30 p.m. A $10 one-day parking permit required.
• Centennial Olympic Park: The fireworks shoot off at dark (around 9:30 p.m.), but there’s plenty of entertainment and activities to keep the whole family entertained throughout the day. Park gates open at 2 p.m. Visitors can relax on the great lawn and kids may play in the fountains to cool off on a hot summer day. Free musical entertainment begins at 4 p.m. The fireworks finale is the star performer, with a spectacular display that’s synchronized to patriotic and popular music. This family friendly event is open to the public, so get there early for a prime spot on the lawn. Festivities begin at 2 p.m. on July 4th. Free.
• Lake Lanier: The annual Fourth of July celebration at Lake Lanier Islands Resort is buckets of fun for the entire family. Get there early in the day to enjoy the Beach and Water Park, which offers endless fun for kids of all ages and adults too. Your admission ticket to the water park includes the fireworks display July 4. You may also choose to arrive later and pay a discounted price. Be sure to scope out a spot on the beach for the best place to view the fireworks, which will be presented at dark. Lake Lanier is located about 35 minutes north of downtown Atlanta and definitely worth the drive, especially on the 4th of July. Water park admission is $11.99-$34.99. Fireworks go off at 9:30 on July 4th.

4th of July Fireworks Close to Johns Creek:

If you don’t feel like fighting the traffic, there are some amazing Fourth of July fireworks displays closer to home. Here are a few of the best ones.

• Wills Park: Located in Alpharetta, off of Old Milton Parkway, Wills Park is a good choice for Fourth of July festivities and fireworks. Entertainment from local bands takes place from 6-9 p.m. behind the Community Center. There will be free games for kids and food and drinks available for purchase. Grills and tents are allowed in the park, but not on the athletic fields. It all takes place on Wednesday, July 4, and culminates with a fireworks display at dusk. Free.
• Roswell High School: Roswell celebrates the Fourth with live entertainment by Back Trax and Banks & Shane, plus concessions by Shane’s Rib Shack. A children’s carnival and inflatable activities are available for a nominal fee. It all begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4, at Roswell High School.
• Downtown Norcross: If you want a Fourth of July celebration that has a small town vibe, look no further than Norcross, located about 15 minutes from Johns Creek. The nicest thing about this small-town celebration is that it takes place every year the day before the Fourth of July. That means the crowds aren’t as crazy as those at some of the downtown fireworks shows. For families arriving early, enjoy inflatables, face painting, train rides and games for kids. Live concerts kick off at 4:30 p.m. Sparks begin to fly around 9:30 p.m. when the first firework is set off in the Norcross sky. They can be viewed from anywhere in downtown Norcross, but Lillian Webb Park is a good choice to set up camp. If you’d like to avoid huge crowds, then this small town celebration may be just your ticket to old-fashioned 4th of July fun. Activities begin at 4:30 on July 3 with fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m. Free.
• Sugar Hill: This fantastic Fourth celebration takes place on the third of July, rather than on the fourth and is billed as “Sparks in the Park.” Family-friendly activities include live music, rides, concessions and a free fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Afterwards, stay and watch “Kung Fu Panda II.” It all begins at 6:30 p.m. at E.E. Robinson Park at 850 Lower Creek Road in Sugar Hill.
• Cumming: The City of Cumming is set to celebrate the Fourth of July on Tuesday, July 3. There will be inflatables for kids, food and drink vendors, a live band and a fireworks extravaganza. It all takes place beginning at 6:00 p.m. on July 3 at Cumming Fairgrounds. Free. Families can come back on July 4 for the annual 10 a.m. Fourth of July parade.
• Duluth: Celebrate the Fourth of July a day early at Scott Hudgens Park in Duluth. Enjoy family-friendly activities, live music, great food and beverages, plus a fabulous fireworks display at dusk. It all begins at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Free.
• Mall of Georgia: For family-friendly fun and festivities on the Fourth of July, the Mall of Georgia is a good choice. Live music begins at 2:00 p.m. and runs through 9 p.m. on the Fourth of July. There’s a kids’ area with rides and slides and food/drink vendors. The fireworks shoot off at 9:15 p.m. from the Nordstrom overflow lot. If you don’t want to get into the middle of exiting traffic, stick around for a free showing of “Sherlock Holmes 2” after the fireworks. Then, leave at your leisure.

Fourth of July Fun Facts and Trivia:

• More than 150 million hot dogs will be consumed on the Fourth of July. That's roughly one dog for every two people in the United States.
• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but was outvoted when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson chose the bald eagle.
• The first Fourth of July party held at the White House was in 1801.
• The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.
• John Hancock was the only person to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The other 55 signers did not sign it until Aug. 2 or even later.
• When the United States became a country, there were approximately 2.5 million people living in the country. Today the population is around 310 million.
• Bristol, Rhode Island has the oldest, continuous Fourth of July celebration dating back to 1785.
• The majority of our nation’s flags and patriotic paraphernalia is actually produced in China. Close to $350 million is spent every year to import flags, banners and decorations.

Fourth of July TV Specials:

If crowds aren’t your thing or you have to get up early the next day for work, then be sure to tune into one of the nationally televised Fourth of July TV specials. Here are a two of the better ones in 2012 worth checking out.

• A Capitol Fourth. This annual PBS tradition airs live from Washington DC and includes performances by Phillip Phillips from “American Idol,” Javier Colon from “The Voice,” Matthew Broderick, Megan Hilty from “Smash,” Kool & the Gang, former “American Idol” contestant Jennifer Hudson, and Michael Chiklis from “The Shield.” Tom Bergeron from “Dancing with the Stars” hosts the powerful patriotic fest from the nation's capitol. Wednesday, July 4, at 8 p.m. on PBS.
• Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. This is the country’s biggest Fourth of July fireworks show. For 2012, Macy’s is set to shoot off an amazing 40,000 shells over New York City in a 25-minute show. In addition, a brand new shape called the “Blue Octopus” will be introduced. Regis Philbin hosts the extravaganza and Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney will each perform two songs. Wednesday, July 4, at 9 p.m. on NBC.

See also:

Fourth of July on Johns Creek Patch