Cobb’s Fourth of July events go virtual amid COVID-19 pandemic

Spectators wave their flags as the Marietta Freedom Parade makes its way down Roswell Street on Tuesday, July 4, 2016, In Marietta, GA. An estimated 30,000 spectators turned out for the parade. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Spectators wave their flags as the Marietta Freedom Parade makes its way down Roswell Street on Tuesday, July 4, 2016, In Marietta, GA. An estimated 30,000 spectators turned out for the parade. STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC

Cobb County residents who want to safely celebrate Independence Day will have a few virtual options at their disposal.

The pandemic has changed how cities will celebrate the Fourth of July, with some canceling or rescheduling their festivities. Marietta, Powder Springs and Acworth called off their traditional parades and fireworks shows, while Kennesaw rescheduled its celebration to Sept. 12.

Because there will be no Atlanta Braves game on Independence Day, Truist Park will not have a fireworks show to commemorate the holiday, team spokeswoman Beth Marshall said.

But it won’t be an all or nothing affair for Marietta and Powder Springs residents. Both cities will honor the holiday with decorating contests and virtual parades.

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Marietta residents, businesses and neighborhoods are encouraged to decorate their yards, windows and streets for the holiday. Displays of patriotism should be captured with a photo and submitted, along with resident contact information, to the city’s website.

The deadline to enter the contest is Tuesday, June 30. A committee will meet July 1 to determine the winners, and those lucky contestants will be unveiled July 2.

Marietta is also hosting an online patriotic pets contest. A judging committee will choose some of the top entries, and the public will vote for the Best in Show winner. Voting runs through June 26. Check the city's Facebook page for updates.

To the south in Powder Springs, that city’s Fourth of July Virtual Celebration and Drive-By Parade will begin with a patriotic video that will be posted on the city’s social media accounts around 8 a.m. Subsequent videos will be posted around noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and include Mayor Al Thurman and City Council members talking about what freedom means to them and their favorite memories of the holiday.

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The city’s videos will also include pictures of veterans and active service members, as well as those who died while serving or after completing their military careers.

At 10 a.m., elected officials, police officers and other city employees will take part in the drive-by parade that will wind through neighborhoods. This patriotic procession will end by 11:30 a.m., and highlights of the parade will be included in the final video Powder Springs will share on social media for that day.

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