The following July 4 events in and near East Cobb are free and open to the public:
- Kennesaw will have its annual Star Spangled Spectacular 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, at the Historic Train Depot, 2828 Cherokee Street. The event features two stages of live music, festive entertainment, food vendors, kids activities and a fireworks display. Admission is free. The fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Saturday, July 8. Click here for more information and here for temporary street closures;
- Marietta’s Fourth in the Park celebration begins 10 a.m. Thursday, July 4, and includes a parade, free live concerts, museum tours, arts and crafts show, food, carnival games, and a fireworks finale. Click here for more information;
- More on the Marietta Parade: The start is 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church and travels west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square past Glover Park and the Square, down Cherokee Street and ends at North Marietta Parkway. The end of the parade marks the start of the festival on the Marietta Square. Food concessions, arts and crafts and carnival will provide plenty to do for the whole family.
- Powder Springs will hold its SpringsFest on the 4th event 4-10 p.m. Thursday, July 4, at Powder Springs Park (3899 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs). There will be a food court, local vendors, artisans, entertainment, DJ, live performances, bounce houses, a game truck, face painters, kids games and a fireworks show. Click here for more information;
- At sundown on July 4 is the start of a fireworks show at the Indian Hills Country Club (4001 Clubland Drive). The event is dubbed Member Appreciation Night but the public is invited to the clubhouse area and enjoy the display;
- Acworth will present live music and fireworks at Cauble Park (4425 Beach Street, Acworth) Thursday, July 4. Live music will start at 5:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. (subject to change depending on weather). Admission to the event and concert is free. Click here for more information;
- The 5th Annual Barbecue & Bluegrass: A 4th of July Celebration on the Grounds of Barrington Hall (535 Barrington Drive, Roswell), takes place from 11-4. Free admission, no reservations required. Barbecue, beverages and desserts will be available for purchase from the Mill Kitchen Restaurant and Bar. The Smokerise Bluegrass Band will provide music, and the festivities include games on the lawn and hayrides in the front yard;
- The 20th Annual Roswell Fireworks Extravaganza will be held Thursday, July 4 at Roswell High School on the front lawn. The program includes live stage performances, a Kids Zone and great food! Picnic blankets, chairs, and the entire family are allowed, but dogs, tobacco and alcoholic beverages are not. Click here for more on the Roswell events;
- Also on July 4, the Stars and Stripes Celebration Fireworks display will take place in Sandy Springs, on the lawn of the Concourse Corporate Center (5 Concourse Parkway, Atlanta. The lawn opens at 7:30 p.m. with music from Bogey and the Viceroys, with the fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m. Picnic fare and blankets are allowed; pets, tents, outdoor cooking, drones, alcohol and personal-use sparklers will not be permitted.
Relaxing the Cobb noise ordinance
The county’s noise ordinance prohibits discharging consumer fireworks after 9 p.m., but the Independence Day holiday is among the exceptions.
Citizens may discharge fireworks until midnight on Wednesday, July 3, and Thursday, July 4.
More fireworks do’s and don’ts
From the Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department:
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks. Only those 18 and older can legally use fireworks in Georgia.
- Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and that they could pose a danger to consumers.
- Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don’t realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.
- Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
- Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
- After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose beforediscarding it to prevent a trash fire.
Fireworks can mean misery for pets. Thousands are sedated every year after being frightened by fireworks. Others are so distraught they bolt and get lost or injured.
Keep pets indoors, close the curtains and play music to drown out the noise. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and tag and is microchipped in case it bolts and becomes lost.
Fireworks can still be enjoyed if at the same time care and consideration are given to pets, livestock and animals living in the surrounding area.
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