Coastal Georgia communities will celebrate America’s 238th birthday this Friday with family fun, food and fireworks.
Although its Independence Day celebrations have been scaled back from years past, Fort Stewart and the 3rd Infantry Division will celebrate the nation’s birthday with a Salute to the Nation starting at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. on Cottrell Field.
According to Fort Stewart public-affairs officer Kevin Larson, the salute will include howitzer cannons firing a round for each state and U.S. territory, with a fireworks finale.
“The 3rd ID band will play ceremonial music at the Salute to the Nation,” Larson said. “Gates 1, 3 and 5 will be open for entrance and egress. All visitors without a Department of Defense identification (card) must go to Gate 1, unless they are in a car with someone who has a DoD ID.”
According to Georgia State Parks’ website, three of the state’s local historic sites will honor America’s beginnings with historic re-enactments, games and music.
Fort Morris’ Independence Day Faire and Fort King George’s Cannons Across the Marsh will include Colonial games, musket and cannon firings and soldiers’ life activities. Watermelon and lemonade will be served at the Fort King George event. The Fort Morris event is free with sponsorship by the city of Flemington, Friends of Fort Morris and the Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, call 912-884-5999 for Fort Morris or 912-437-4770 for Fort King George.
Fort McAllister’s celebrations, scheduled from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., will include Civil War drilling, musket and cannon firing. For children, there will be sack races, an egg toss, wheelbarrow races and a Civil War-era baseball game. Fresh watermelon will be available.
For more information, call 912-727-2339.
Richmond Hill will hold its celebration from 5-9 p.m. July 5 at J.F. Gregory Park. This public event will include fireworks, inflatable water rides, free fishing and food vendors. Live entertainment includes the Tams. For more information, go to www.richmondhill-ga.gov.
Savannah’s annual River Street Fourth of July Festival & Fireworks at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza is from 4-10 p.m. In addition to bombs bursting in air at 9 p.m., the free public event will feature regional arts and crafts and live entertainment. For more information, call the Savannah Waterfront Association at 912-234-0295.
Georgia’s Golden Isles — Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Brunswick and St. Simons Island — will celebrate July 4 with family activities with waterfront backdrops and a beach.
Sea Island’s celebrations will begin with a flag-raising ceremony on the beach and end with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at the Beach Club. Sea Island’s 14th annual July 4th Parade begins at 10 a.m. There’s also an Independence Day barbecue on the ocean from 6-9 p.m.
Jekyll Island guests can enjoy a day at the beach, at the pool or at Summer Waves Water Park, and then enjoy fireworks launched from Great Dunes Golf course at 9 p.m.
Brunswick will host an Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Mary Ross Waterfront Park at Bay and Oglethorpe streets, south of the intersection of Highway 17 and F.J. Torres Causeway. Starting at 7 p.m., there will be sack races, horseshoes, tug-of-wars, ball games and hula-hoop contests and lots of free watermelon. Hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be available for purchase. The Coastal Brass Choir will provide live patriotic music. Fireworks will begin at 9 a.m.
St. Simons Island’s Sunshine Festival starts at 7:30 a.m. with a 1-mile fun run, followed by a 5-K run at 8 a.m. Both races start and finish at Mallery Park, just north of Kings Way. The festival continues from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Pier Village. The fireworks display can be watched from Neptune Park starting at 9 p.m.
For more information about July 4 celebrations at the Golden Isles, go to www.goldenisles.com.