Family fun and fireworks abound on both sides of the river as July 4th approaches. Plenty of events, activities and festivities are planned for Independence Day throughout the CSRA, alongside annual staple events.
Both City of Augusta Independence Celebration at the Augusta Common and Columbia County’s BOOM! in the Park at Evans Towne Center Park will kick off at 5 p.m., complete with live music, food vendors and fireworks starting in both places at about 9:15 p.m.
SRP Park will host its own yearly fireworks show on July 4th after the Augusta GreenJackets take on the Myrtle Peach Pelicans, starting at 6:05 p.m.
That morning, pedaling patriots can decorate their bicycles or golf carts and join the Patriotic Bicycle, Golf Cart and Pet Parade in Appling’s Mistletoe State Park, 3725 Mistletoe Road. Starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m., participants can ride about the campground for prizes, or vote for their favorite bikes and carts.
History buffs can start their observances in the morning. The Meadow Garden will host its Independence Day Celebration at the home of George Walton, at 1320 Independence Drive, starting at 10 a.m., and will feature live music, offer tours of the historic Walton house, and live readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Across the river, 4th of July at Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave. in North Augusta, will also begin at 10 a.m. and go until 2 p.m. Here guests can take tours of historic buildings, enjoy hot dogs while watching the parade (a new addition), or participate in a patriotic costume contest.
For $80 a person, kayakers can enjoy fireworks along the river from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Red, White & Dudes Dockside BBQ & Fireworks Over Augusta, presented by Two Dudes & a Boat Kayak Tours, located at 1 Fifth St. in Augusta.
Those looking to kick off observances early can visit the Fort Gordon Independence Day Celebration 2023 at Barton Field on Friday, June 30 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event will feature its own fireworks show, a kiddie carnival and performances by bands Bowling for Soup and Vertical Horizon.
The Hephzibah Agricultural Center, 4245 Peach Orchard Road, will host its first Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday, July 1 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., featuring country band 20 Wide.
If you’re itching for fireworks the night before, on Monday, July 3, the Mad Anthony Wayne’s Big Boom Fireworks Extravaganza will launch for those in Burke County. The annual fireworks show will go from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Jonathan Braxton Park, 465 Burke Veterans Pkwy.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
