LOCAL

Celebrations for the Fourth

Benjamin Nunnally Times Staff Writer
Independence Day celebrations will begin locally June 29 in Sardis and conclude July 6 in Gadsden. [File/The Gadsden Times]

Finding a fireworks show isn’t as easy as staring at the sky and waiting.

Sure, that’ll pay off once or twice on a long enough timeline. But it’s generally better to have a list of places and times where the family can gather to enjoy bright lights, loud booms and, if all is well with the world, some good food.

Here is just such a list for your perusal, starting with Friday’s show in Sardis City:

June 29

Sardis Celebration

1310 Church St., Sardis City

5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The annual summer celebration in Sardis City includes food, vendors and live music throughout the evening, with a fireworks show to cap off the night. Admission is free. For more info, call 256-593-6492.

Sunday

Freedom Celebration 2018

North Glencoe Baptist Church — 1119 Chastain Blvd., Glencoe

5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

There’s a little of something for everyone at the Freedom Celebration: water slides, bounce-houses and free food, along with an outdoor screening of “I Can Only Imagine,” which is rated PG for some violent elements — but it’s based on a Christian tune by MercyMe’s Bart Millard, so it’s probably big on uplifting content, too. The movie starts at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks will close the night at 9:30. Visit northglencoe.org/events/freedom-celebration for a breakdown of events and more information.

Ninth annual Community-wide Independence Day Celebration

Bellevue Baptist Church

150 Noccalula Drive, Gadsden

6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

There will be free food, fun, music fellowship — and, after dark, fireworks.

Wednesday

Gadsden Fireworks Show

200 Lake St., Gadsden

9 p.m.

The Gadsden-Etowah Patriots Association host this year’s fireworks event, held along the banks of the Coosa River in Gadsden. The best spots to park are at Convention Hall, the Mort Glosser Amphitheatre or at Coosa Landing across the river. The event is free.

July 6

Fifth annual Blue Jeans, Apple Pie, Elvis and Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza

Back Forty Beer Company — 200 N. Sixth St., Gadsden

To create a more patriotic-sounding event would surely be folly, and so the fifth annual BJAPEIDFE can rest easily on the Mount Olympus of long, perfect names. The event includes food and drink specials at the bar, and a fireworks show at “dark:30 p.m.,” which should be about 7 p.m. or so.