Thermal Belt residents and guests can celebrate the nation’s birthday close to home, complete with patriotic ceremonies, live entertainment, edible treats of all types and fireworks.

Columbus Fabulous Fourth
The Fabulous Fourth Celebration will be held in downtown Columbus on Monday, July 4.
The day will kick off with the Firecracker 5K run starting at 8 a.m. near the courthouse. For more information, check www.firecracker5k.org.
Other fun sports events will include a three-on-three basketball tournament at Stearns Gym. Contact Coach Ruth at jrth@polkschools.org for an application to play.
Opening ceremonies for the celebration will be held at 10 a.m. Throughout the day, a farmers market will offer fresh produce and other local items, and the Great Smoky Mountains Car Club Show will be held in Stearns School.
Families can take part in a variety of games beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the Stearns School lawn. Rides for the children will also be available on the lawn at Stearns.
The House of Flags’ new building in Columbus will be open during the festival so visitors can see the remodeling progress. Volunteers will also sell American flags in front of the building at 33 Gibson Street.
Vendors at the festival will offer everything from ice cream and other frozen treats, barbecue and drinks to decorative items for the home.
Many local organizations will have booths offering information about their services. See the box on the right for a complete list of vendors and organizations participating in the festival.
The festival will also feature a wide range of entertainment, including Ride with Daddy, Red Dog and Silver Travis. For a complete schedule of entertainers, see page 8.
At 9:45 p.m., Susie Kocher and Anita Williamson will sing the national anthem as a duet. After that, the celebration will wrap up with a fireworks display.

Lake Lanier boat parade
Lake Lanier residents will celebrate the Fourth with a parade of decorated boats at 2 p.m. Prizes for the best decorated boats will be awarded. Participants will gather at the Lake Lanier Tea House. Residents and businesses around the lake traditionally end the evening with private fireworks displays.