Here's a list of Fourth of July holiday happenings in towns in the Chattanooga region in the days ahead.
ATHENS, TENNESSEE
Fun on the Fourth starts late this afternoon in Athens Regional Park, 2405 Decatur Pike, with demonstrations by the McMinn County Radio Control Club. A McMinn County history trivia contest is scheduled at 8:30 p.m. followed by a pie-eating contest at 9. A 20-minute fireworks show will cap off the night starting at 9:30 p.m.
CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE
Bradley Square Mall will close Thursday at 7 p.m. in preparation for the fireworks extravaganza shot from the T.L. Lowery lot at 9:15 p.m. AMC Theatre will be open its regular hours.
DALTON, GEORGIA
Swimming, softball and children's pageants are part of the fun in Dalton's Heritage Point Park, 1275 Cross Plains Trail, sponsored by Dalton Parks and Recreation.
The Old Timers Softball Game and Firecracker One-Pitch Tournament both get under way at 10 a.m. before the park's pool and splash pad open at noon for swimming until 5 p.m.
Afternoon contests will include a cornhole tournament at 3 p.m., disc golf tournament and Little Miss Rec and Junior Miss Rec pageants at 4 p.m., Krystal-eating and doughnut-eating contests at 5 p.m. Eight wrestling matches have the 6:30 p.m. time slot pinned down before fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
DECATUR, TENNESSEE
Meigs County Summer Nights downtown street party begins at 6 p.m. on North Main Street. Music, food and fun lead up to a fireworks finale.
Diamond Rio is the headliner Thursday at Dunlap's Fourth of July Music Festival. The band known for "One More Day" and "Beautiful Mess" takes the stage in Harris Park at 7:30 p.m. CDT. / Facebook.com PhotoDUNLAP, TENNESSEE
Everyone gets "one more day" with Diamond Rio when the country stars headline Dunlap's Fourth of July Music Festival Thursday.
Originally founded as an attraction at the old Opryland USA in 1982, Diamond Rio underwent several personnel changes before landing on its current lineup in 1989. The band's No. 1 hits have included "Meet in the Middle," "How Your Love Makes Me Feel," "Beautiful Mess," "I Believe" and the beautifully harmonized "One More Day."
Dunlap's Independence Day celebration will start off at 9 a.m. CDT with a parade down Rankin Avenue before the fun moves to Harris Park, where music will start at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
The music schedule is Colonel Mustard and The Revolvers, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Straight Up Band, 1-2:15 p.m.; Legacy, 3-5 p.m.; Cody McCarver, 5:30-7 p.m. leading up to Diamond Rio's show at 7:30 p.m.
The fireworks show is produced by Pyro Shows, the same company that works with Riverbend.
Everything is free, however there is a $20 donation accepted for VIP seating at the Diamond Rio concert.
ETOWAH, TENNESSEE
Etowah's L&N Depot, 727 Tennessee Ave., is the hub of activity at Thursday's Fourth of July celebration. There will be games from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. when musical acts start performing.
Headliner Pink Cadillac from Nashville will take the stage at 8 p.m., playing until the fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. After the last firework fizzles out, the band will return to the stage to play until 11 p.m.
HENAGAR, ALABAMA
The annual Sand Mountain Potato Festival not only celebrates Independence Day in Henagar, but this year doubles as a 200th birthday celebration of Alabama becoming a state.
Held at Henagar City Park, 18294 Highway 75, the festival begins with a parade at 10 a.m. CDT, includes a car show, children's games, food vendors and music by the Sharps Quartet all leading up to the fireworks finale at dark.
SEWANEE, TENNESSEE
If you're looking for a short getaway with a scenic drive, a day-trip up Monteagle Mountain to Sewanee and the beautiful campus of the University of the South might be in order. "Peace, Love and Fireworks" is the theme of Sewanee's annual Independence Day party Thursday.
The schedule of activities includes something to appeal to all ages and interests. All times given are Central.
9 a.m. Arts and Crafts Fair in Shoup Park, 489 University Ave., with 75 exhibitors.
10 a.m. String Blazers play in Shoup Park.
10 a.m. Mutt show in Manigault Park, intersection of University and Georgia avenues.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Children's games in Quadrangle 6 on University Avenue near All Saints Chapel.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Cornhole, craft beer and barbecue in downtown Village, 735 University Ave.; patriotic photo booth with free Polaroid pictures at 1866 Revival, 24 University Ave.
Noon. Performance of Breslin Tower Bells by the University of the South Guild of Change Ringers in quadrangle on Georgia Avenue near Guerry Hall.
1 p.m. Carillon concert by Charlene Williamson, Hannah True and Raymond Gotko at All Saints Chapel.
2 p.m. Parade down University Avenue from Sewanee Market through town to Texas Avenue.
3-6 p.m. Airplane rides, weather permitting, at Sewanee Airport. Parents must be present and give written permission for children ages 16 and younger; $20 donation benefits Animal Harbor.
3:30 p.m. Air show at Sewanee Airport
7 p.m. Quadrangle concert
Independence Day closes with fireworks finale at dark over Lake Cheston; $1 donation requested. Parking at lake limited to handicapped and special-needs only. Shuttle available for $3 at EQB monument in Sesquicentennial Park.
SODDY-DAISY
As is tradition, fireworks will be shot over Soddy Lake at dark Thursday after a day of fun in Soddy Kids Park on Dayton Pike. Events begin at 9 a.m. organized by the city and Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 942.
SOUTH PITTSBURG, TENNESSEE
The town's Independence Extravaganza begins at 7 o'clock Thursday at the community stage set up in the intersection of Fourth and Cedar. Music, hot dogs and drinks will be provided as folks wait for the fireworks finale.
SATURDAY, JULY 6
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA
The Old Timers Fourth of July parade is a Blue Ridge tradition since the 1950s. Dress in period attire, drive your antique vehicle or just show up wearing red, white and blue to cheer on the parade, which travels down East Main and back up West Main.
Out-of-town visitors can shop and dine in the scenic small town while waiting for fireworks sponsored by the Blue Ridge Civic Association. Lake Blue Ridge Marina, 335 Marina Drive, will have a large area roped off for viewing the fireworks display. No cars will be allowed to enter the marina area between 6 and 9 p.m.
POLK COUNTY, TENNESSEE
The 43rd Miner's Homecoming Festival is set for July 6, in Ducktown, Tennessee. After two early-morning breakfast fundraisers and a 5K, the remainder of the day will include a copper company workers reunion at 11 a.m., Copper Basin High School reunion at 1 p.m. and a soup/bean dinner sponsored by the local Eastern Star chapter at noon.
Other highlights include:
10:15 a.m. Patriotic walking parade.
11 a.m. Great American Rubber Duck Race on Spruce Street.
Noon. Beauty pageant on the W.R. Lee Stage.
3 p.m.-dusk. Kids activities in area behind Glenn Springs Holdings.
7 p.m. Southern rock and country music performances.
9:30 p.m. Fireworks.
SUMMERVIlLE, GEORGIA
Summerville residents continue their patriotic fun on Saturday with Stars and Stripes at the Depot.
Held in the historic Summerville train depot, 120 E. Washington St., between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., there will be all-American fun such as a fried apple pie-eating contest, free watermelon slices while supplies last and visitors can watch the arrival of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's steam engine about 1 p.m.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.