Demorest’s Glorious 4th of July celebration will begin earlier than usual, to beat the heat of the July sun. The day is filled with activities, ending with a fireworks spectacular at night.
Beginning at 7 a.m., the 5K Run for Glory, hosted by The Torch, will take runners sporting red, white and blue around the city. Fourteen age categories, ranging from 10 and younger to 70 and older, will have awards available for the top finishers in each class. T-shirts will be given to registered runners while supplies last.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. with the kids’ parade, followed by the grand parade. Old Highway 441 in Demorest will be closed for the duration of the parade, with detours available. After the parade concludes, the road will be reopened.
This year’s parade is gearing up to be one of the biggest ever, with more than 70 floats and vehicles vying for the top spot in their respective categories.
This year’s Grand Marshals will be Dr. Ed and Nancy Hendricks. Demorest residents for 42 years out of their 56-year marriage, the pair has proudly served the community and the nation in the medical and military fields for decades.
Beginning at noon, local musical acts, including cover artists, entertainers and singer-songwriters like Jake Hicks, Bryant Tench, Hey Y’all Cloggers, and Matt Fried, will entertain in the newly renovated downtown pavilion throughout the day.
The Glorious 4th celebration is set to continue the traditions of a cornhole and horseshoe
tournament, starting at 1 p.m. The cake walk will begin at 5 p.m., continuing a 25-year tradition that was canceled in 2019.
Craft and specialty vendors, among the variety of festival food vendors, will total 23 for this year’s celebration, allowing patrons to peruse the tables while enjoying funnel cakes, tacos, barbecue and Kona Ice, among other festival foods.
The music will kick off on the main stage with Chad Bowmar at 6 p.m., followed by The Troubadour Project at 7:15 p.m. The Troubadour Project will entertain with 70s and 80s southern rock roots throughout the evening.
At about 9:15 p.m., the Demorest Police Department will assist in escorting people across 441 to head to the fireworks show, which is scheduled to begin around 9:45 p.m.
This year’s fireworks show will be no slouch, as sparks will fly high above the trees near city hall, allowing for a wider viewing experience.
Some great spots to watch the fireworks are on the front lawn of city hall, along Florida Street, Hazel Street and Alabama Street.
Demorest Police and Habersham County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be directing traffic after the fireworks show to ensure a safe and efficient exit from the day of fun.
The city will have numerous tents serving as cooling stations, as well as air conditioning at the Demorest Post Office, to keep folks from overheating throughout the day of celebration. The City of Demorest is expecting more than 2,000 people to attend the festival throughout the day.
On Saturday, Baldwin will host its “Pit”nic celebration at 6 p.m. Baldwin leaders and residents affectionately call it the “Pit”nic due to its location in The Pit, the park area next to the Stew N Que Restaurant at 110 Airport Road.
Residents and guests can expect the all-American fixings of hamburgers, hotdogs and watermelons, as well as fireworks, an Independence Day staple. There may also be games and inflatables, as there have been in past years.
And the best part: the event is completely free to attend.
Folks should plan to arrive early, as food will be first come first serve, and the city has seen attendance numbers upward of 800 people in past years.
The following weekend, the fun will be in Clarkesville for Red, White and Tunes in Pitts Park.
The festival is from 5-10 p.m. on July 12, and includes a traditional fireworks show.
Headlining the event is the Dylan Armour Band.
For the little ones, there will be plenty of activities to enjoy, including bounce houses and face painting.
Food vendors will be on site with a variety of treats and desserts, and beer and wine will be available for purchase.
Families are asked to bring their own chairs to relax on the lawn while enjoying the concert and fireworks.
-Staff reports