Oglethorpe County residents will have a variety of options to celebrate the Fourth of July and the country’s 250th birthday the next two weekends.
Rec Department
The main attraction is the annual Oglethorpe County Recreation Department and American Legion’s Fourth of July fireworks at Bryan Park in Crawford.
This year’s event begins at 5:30 p.m., with at least 35 vendors on the football field.
The event will also feature inflatables and other activities for children.
Visitors may park by the gym or up near the tennis courts and softball fields.
The fireworks display will follow at dark, or approximately 9:15 p.m. Attendees are invited to watch the fireworks from the grassy area near the lake.
Personal fireworks, alcohol and tobacco products are prohibited.
The event is free.
Grove Chapel Church
Grove Chapel Church in Winterville will host its sixth annual fireworks display on Saturday, June 27.
Festivities start at 7 p.m., and include live music from the Nuthin’ Nu Band, snap pops and sparklers for kids, boiled peanuts and other concessions.
The fireworks show will begin between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
The event is free.
Sandy Cross Baptist
With a freshly renovated sanctuary, Sandy Cross Baptist Church will host two events for the Fourth of July weekend.
The first is Sandy Cross’ seventh annual fireworks display on Friday, July 3. The display will take place at the church’s ballground, at 35 Billy White Road.
Live music, vendors, and kid games and activities will start at 7 p.m., with the display following after dark.
The event is free.
The church also will host a Friends and Family Day on Sunday, July 5.
The day begins with the 11 a.m. service, followed by a community potluck in the fellowship hall, marking the congregation’s first service inside the sanctuary since early April.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park
Watson Mill Bridge State Park will celebrate with a variety of family activities.
Visitors will be able to participate in eight “classic Americana” games at the Day Use area from noon to 4 p.m on July 4.
The games include: cornhole, three-legged racing, tug-of-war, stickball, watermelon spitting, egg-and-spoon races, horseshoe and face the cookie.
Refreshments will be served at the visitors center. Further events and information, including evening activities, have not been confirmed.