Fireworks, barbecue, music and history will be celebrated over the long holiday weekend. Here’s a roundup of some of the events scheduled.
Fort Gordon’s Independence Day
The celebrations kick off Thursday at Fort Gordon.
From 5 to 11 p.m., Barton Field will be alive with the sounds of singers Chris Janson, Chris Lane and Julia Cole taking the stage. Also on tap is a kids’ carnival, more than 30 food vendors and an evening-ending fireworks extravaganza.
Admission is free, but food and carnival activities will be available for a fee.
According to a news release from Fort Gordon, tickets are “the only currency” accepted on the day. Tickets will be available for purchase on Barton Field.
Gates 5 and 6 will open to the general public at 5 p.m.
Yankee Doodle Dash
The annual Yankee Doodle Dash 5K/10K is scheduled for Saturday at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
Runners can wear their red, white and blue for the race. The 10K begins at 7 a.m. with the 5K starting at 7:10 a.m.
Registration is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Overlook Pavilion.
Grovetown BBQ plates
Grovetown’s Independence Day tradition of free barbecue will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Liberty Park.
Drive-thru service will be available for plates from Fish Eye Grill and will continue while supplies last.
Friends of Clarks Hill Lake annual fireworks show
The Friends of Clarks Hill Lake’s annual fireworks show on the lake will be at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Raysville Marina, Thomson.
The fireworks will be shot over the water.
People take in the event on land and in boats on the water.
Thomson Freedom Blast
A picnic on the lawn, food and a fireworks extravaganza are part of Thomson’s Freedom Blast beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Thomson-McDuffie Government Complex.
The Thomson-McDuffie Fire Department will have a fire truck on site to spray water; there will be bounce houses and games, plus food and craft vendors.
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets will have two nights of fireworks after games Saturday and Sunday.
The GreenJackets take on the Columbia Fireflies at SRP Park. The games begins at 6:05 p.m. both nights.
As part of Sunday Funday, there will be child-friendly activities such as face painting and a “kids run the bases” event. The band Guns For Hire will play a pre-game concert beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Once the games are finished, the fireworks will begin.
Fireworks Paddle
Want a special view of the Augusta GreenJackets’ fireworks?
Two Dudes and a Boat Kayak Rentals will present fireworks’ paddles from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“Paddle with us up the Savannah River directly into our breathtaking Georgialina sunsets! When day turns to night, we pull out the headlamps and glow sticks to light up the river ‘Two Dudes’ style,” according to the Facebook event. “As we paddle under the 13th Street Bridge and come to SRP Park, we throw the anchor out, tie up to one another and wait for the countdown to start.”
The event is $55 for single kayak and gear; $110 for tandem kayak and gear or $10 if you have your own kayak.
For more information, visit twodudesandaboat.com.
Signers Monument
The annual Signers Monument Independence Day observance will be at 9 a.m. Monday at the monument on Greene Street in downtown Augusta.
George Walton and Lyman Hall, two of Georgia’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence. are buried beneath the monument.
Meadow Garden
Meadow Garden, the home of George Walton who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, July 4.
Built in 1791, the historic home has been open to the public since 1901, making it one of the oldest house museums in the nation, according to the Meadow Garden websi
The annual open house will feature children’s activities, live music and readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Admission is free on Independence Day.
Living History Park
Step back into Colonial Times from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 4 at North Augusta’s Living History Park.
There will be a patriotic parade with prizes for most patriotic dog, stroller and children, a reading of the Declaration of Independence and free hot dogs and watermelon.
July 4 at the Augusta Common
The City of Augusta’s Fourth of July events begin at 5 p.m. at the Augusta Common.
Live music, food trucks, vendors, a kids-zone will lead up to the fireworks show that starts at 9:15 p.m. The pyrotechnics will be launched on the top levee at Riverwalk.
BOOM! In the Park
Columbia County’s BOOM! In the Park will begin at 5 p.m. Monday at Evans Towne Center Park.
Live music with Savannah Sunday and Ryan Trotti, food trucks and fireworks are scheduled for the day.
Admission is free.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
