Celebrations this Independence Day weekend range from historical events to concerts and pyrotechnics with events starting July 1.
Augusta’s connection to the Declaration of Independence is indicated in two permanent attractions. Meadow Garden on Independence Drive is the home of George Walton, one of the three Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence.
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“The historic house was built in 1791 and has been a part of four centuries. Most importantly, Meadow Garden connects modern visitors to this man who played a vital role in the founding of our country. Meadow Garden has been open to the public since 1901 and is one of the oldest house museums in the United States,” according to the Meadow Garden website.
The museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. July 4 with live readings from the document, a children’s tent with Colonial-era toys, a Sons of the American Revolution traveling trunk of period artifacts and tours of the home.
The Garden City Strummers will play mountain dulcimers.
Another ceremony will be held at Walton’s burial place.
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The Signers’ Monument’s address is technically Monument Street, but it’s in the middle of Greene Street near the Municipal Building.
Dedicated July 4, 1848, the 50-foot-tall granite obelisk is dedicated to Walton, Button Gwinnett and Lyman Hall, the other Georgia Declaration of Independence signers, according to the historical marker at the site. Walton and Hall are buried beneath the market. The exact location of Gwinnett’s remains is unknown.
The 11th annual ceremony to honor the signers will be at 1 p.m., July 4, according to the Signers’ Monument Facebook page.
In North Augusta, another historical observance is set from noon to 3 p.m. July 4 at the Living History Park.
The park’s buildings will be open that day for people to tour, and the Declaration of Independence will be read at 1 p.m., according to the Living History Park’s website.
“Show your patriotic spirit and dress up. Pets are welcome as long as they are well-behaved and on a leash,” the website said.
Other events include Fort Gordon’s annual Independence Day celebration from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. July 1 at Barton Field.
“I am so excited that we have it back,” said Danielle Hayes, special events coordinator with Fort Gordon’s Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation in a news release.
More than 30 food and beverage vendors, a children’s carnival, rock-climbing wall, game concessions, face painting and crafts will be part of the event, the news release said. Also the bands Brothers Osborne, Lanco and Runaway June will perform beginning at 6:30 p.m. The evening will end with a fireworks display.
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The event is free and open to the public.
More fireworks are scheduled at the Augusta GreenJackets games on Saturday and Sunday.
The Augusta GreenJackets will play the Columbia Fireflies this weekend. The team will don its special Independence Day uniforms both nights. The uniforms will be auctioned to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the CSRA. Mega Booming Independence Day Celebration will be held after the July 3 game with a second dose of fireworks scheduled after the Sunday night game. Game times both July 3 and 4 are 6:35 p.m.
Multiple outdoor events have been held in Columbia County in weekends since April with positive response, said Janet Wheatley, programs and events manager with Columbia County Parks, Recreation and Events, and she’s expecting great crowds for July 4.
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“Boom in the Park will be at Evans Towne Center,” she said. “Last year, we did it at the fairgrounds and people stayed in their cars.”
Wheatley said there will be lots of food and music by Whiskey Run.
Gates will open at 5 p.m.
Augusta’s celebration is back this year at the Augusta Common. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. July 4 with live bands and vendors, according to a Facebook post at the Augusta-Richmond County Parks and Recreation page. Fireworks are set for 9:30 p.m.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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