Marietta readies for a booming July 4th celebration

Marietta Square will light it up for July 4th with a day’s worth of events, beginning with a parade and ending with a massive fireworks display.

The event draws thousands of onlookers each year and is one of the largest in metro Atlanta. 

Last year, officials estimate that 30,000 people watched the parade and more than 70,000 were on hand for the fireworks display. The city is encouraging people to bring their flags and wear red, white and blue.

The parade will feature more than 115 entries with more than 40 floats, according to the city’s website. 

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The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church and travels west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square past Glover Park and the Square, down Cherokee Street and ends at North Marietta Parkway.

Activities will include free concerts, arts and crafts, food and games.

Entertainment will include the Sons of Sailors, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, and Caryn Womack. 

 That includes people who watched from other parts of the city including along Whitlock Avenues, Tumlin Park, Henry Memorial  Park and WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Tyler Pearson, a spokesman for the WellStar Health System, said people can view the fireworks from the hospital’s green parking deck, 55 Whitcher St.  There is a parking fee.

There will also be a Kid’s Zone .  Tickets for games available at booths located throughout the park.

Fireworks start around 9:30 p.m., depending on weather.

The fireworks show usually last between 21 and 23 minutes, consisting of 757 shells(fireworks). 

This is the largest one day event that the city  produces and  brings close to 80,000 people throughout the day to Marietta.