If high gas prices mean you’ll be sticking around in Bryan County for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, there are lots of events to bring the community together to celebrate all that is American right here inside county lines.

Today is the deadline for residents interested in participating in the third annual Miss RHRA Pageant, focused on the ‘All American Athletic Girl,’ which will be in J.F. Gregory Park before the start of the Ol’ Time Family Festival Saturday. The registration fee is $25, with all proceeds benefiting RHRA sports programs. For information and an application, visit www.rhrasports.org or call 756-4075.

The official kickoff to celebrating the nation’s birthday will start Friday at Fort McAllister, with a host of period games for children to participate in and watermelon for everyone. The community is invited to pack a lunch and stop by for the day.

"Friday we’ll have traditional Civil War games, such as potato sack races and all different kinds of historical games as well as musket firings," Park Director Danny Brown said. "And we’re offering a new program for the community Saturday morning, with a canoe trip."

Registration is required for the scenic canoe trip down Redbird Creek, call 727-2330 to sign up and plan to meet at the park Visitor Center by 9 a.m.

Saturday, the fort will offer cannon firings by fort troops, musket firings, blacksmithing and more historical games, topped off with a traditional campfire at night. Everyone is invited to bring a chair and join in campfire songs and marshmallow toasting.

Over at J.F. Gregory Park, the annual Richmond Hill Ol’ Time Family Festival has a full day of entertainment and events planned for the whole family.

"The RHRA Family Festival is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and have some fun," said RHRA Director Kay Green. "We are getting back to the ‘Ol time feel this year, with some great events. Our special event this year is the addition of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack show, which is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It will be a great family day and the proceeds will benefit the sports programs of Richmond Hill. I hope everyone will come out and visit with friends and neighbors and enjoy a good ol’ summer day in Georgia!"

For more information, call Shelly Sauls at 272-5295.