Thursday:
- The Sand Gnats
Fireworks will be set off during Thursday’s game at Grayson Stadium. The team is playing an East/West Allstar game starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be a local band performing, thirsty Thursday specials and fireworks starting around 10 p.m. Call the office at 351-9150 or visit www.sandgnats.com. There are free advanced tickets at the Customer Service stand in the Savannah Mall.
- Fourth of July Sunshine Festival
The festival will be Thursday through Sunday at the Neptune Park at the Pier on St. Simons Island. Everyone is invited to check out the food and activities every day. Arts and crafts will be featured Friday through Sunday, and an amazing fireworks special will start at 9 p.m. on Friday. Bring a chair and meet your friends in the park to watch the show off the pier.
Friday:
- Fort McAllister
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the fort will have historical children’s games, musket firings and watermelon for everyone.
- Colonial Park Cemetery
From 10-10:30 a.m., the Daughters of the American Revolution invite everyone to come to this Savannah site for a commemoration of America’s independence. The cemetery is located at the corner of Abercorn and Oglethorpe Street. There will be light refreshments served.
- River Street
From 5 p.m.-dark, River Street offers festivities to celebrate the fourth. The event kicks off with live entertainment, an ice cream eating contest and much more. Bring along a radio, because when the fireworks start around 9:20 p.m., they will be choreographed to music simulcast on KIX 96.5.
- Fort Morris
Starting at 11 a.m., visit this historic Midway site for games, prizes, live colonial music, musket and cannon firing and a chance to meet the Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence. The event runs till 3 p.m., call 884-5999 for more information.
- More fireworks
The Shelter Cove Harbour fireworks and concert starts at 6:30 p.m. during this annual celebration on Hilton Head Island. Brunswick’s Old-fashioned Fourth of July starts at 7 p.m. at the Mary Ross Waterfront Park. The Jekyll Island Fireworks Extravaganza will happen all along the beaches of the island and Fourth of July Fireworks on Tybee Island starts around 9:15 on the beaches. Come early because the island fills up quickly.
Saturday:
- Fort McAllister
9 a.m. – canoe trip down Redbird Creek
10 a.m. – musket firing
11 a.m. – old-fashioned fun and games
Noon – cannon firings
1 p.m. – watermelon and a seed spitting contest
2 p.m. – wheelbarrow races and musket firing
3 p.m. – Civil War-style baseball, followed by an icecream social
4 p.m. – cannon firing
8 p.m. – campfire songs and marshmallow toasting
- Richmond Hill Family Festival
10 a.m. – Miss RHRA Pageant
Noon – Festival officially opens. BBQ lunches will be available; the rides and vendor booths will be open and there will be games starting
Noon-8 p.m. – silent auction
12:30 p.m. – dancing diggers
1 p.m. – seed spittin’ and VI-Pie throw, where you can toss a pie at local VIPs
1:45 p.m. – Paul Bunyan show
2-5 p.m. – greased pole, see if you can climb to the top and get the money prize
2:15 p.m. – rooster crowin’
2:30 p.m. – dancing diggers
2:45 p.m. – spirit sundae, where you can turn local officials into sundaes – decorate them with chocolate syrup, cool whip and sprinkles
3 p.m. – hog callin’
3:15 – Paul Bunyan show
4 p.m. – Richmond Hill AllStar teams will be announced on stage
5 p.m. – Richmond Hill Idol
6:30 p.m. – pageant winners
7:30 p.m. – Stephanie Edwards, American Idol top 24 contestant
9 p.m. – estimated time for fireworks to start
- River Street
The First Saturday on the River is from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. with arts and crafts, entertainment and fun for everyone in historic Savannah. The festivities are free and open to the public.
- Fort King George Historic Site
There will be lots of fun and learning for the whole family from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit the Garrison for the day and see artillery drills, musket firings and a day in the life of soldiers. There will be free lemonade and watermelon for everyone. Call 437-4770 for more information.
- Darien’s Red, White & Blues on the Bluff
From 6:30-10 p.m. at the Waterfront Park, come enjoy the beautiful historic downtown with great blues music by Vic Waters. A fireworks show starts at 9:30 p.m. over the Darien River. Advanced tickets are available, call 437-6684.
- Fort Pulaski’s July 4th Celebration
On Saturday and Sunday, celebrate the nation’s 232nd birthday at the Fort Pulaski National Monument with a Civil War baseball game using 1860s rules and equipment, cannon firings and soldier demonstrations.
-Compiled by Jessica Holthaus