COBB COUNTY - Here's a look at upcoming Fourth of July celebrations across Cobb County. Remember that the Marietta Freedom Parade will be held on Saturday, July 3 beginning at 10 a.m., and not on Sunday, as the parade travels through church properties. City and county offices will be closed Monday, July 5, to commemorate the holiday.

Marietta Square:

* "Fourth in the Park" will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the Marietta Square. The Marietta Freedom Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church and head toward the Square. The end of the parade marks the start of the festival. Food concessions, arts and crafts will provide plenty to do for the whole family. Roswell Street and all streets it crosses will be closed for the parade from 9:15 a.m. until the parade concludes around 12:15 p.m. North, South, East and West Park Square around the Marietta Square will be closed the entire day for the festival. You can watch the fireworks from several locations around town including the Square, the Earl Smith Strand Theatre's rooftop terrace, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel & Conference Center or one of Marietta's parks, city Parks and Recreation director Rich Buss said. Rain date for fireworks is July 5 at 9:30 p.m. The Marietta Welcome Center will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art will be closed. Historic walking tours will be available. Unique shops located around the Square will have special July 4 hours. For details, call the Marietta Welcome Center at 770-429-1115. The Historic Marietta Trolley Company will provide free shuttle service to the public from Roswell Street Baptist Church and the Center for Family Resources parking lots to the Square from 3-10 p.m.

Marietta Freedom Parade, 10 a.m.

Colgate Country Showdown, 12 p.m.

National Bell Ringing, 2 p.m.

Parade Awards Ceremony, 2:15 p.m.

Blugrass band Peachtree Station, 8 p.m.

Fireworks, shot from Marietta First United Methodist Church, 9:30 p.m.

Note: Marietta Square Farmers Market will not be held on this weekend due to other events and activities.



* The Earl Smith Strand Theatre presents a three-day celebration of America's birth this July. Patrons will enjoy "I Hear America Singing," a live variety show, on the evenings of July 1, 2, and 3; a parade viewing breakfast on July 3; and "Red Wine & Brew," a VIP BBQ dinner on the roof top terrace during the city's spectacular fireworks show. Tickets prices vary, and are available at www.EarlSmithStrand.org or 770-293-0080 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 4 PM or two hours before the event/show.

* "July 4th Celebration at the Marlow House" Reserve a seat for the fireworks show at $15 per adult, $5 per child. Bring your food, beverages & table decor for a "Chastain Style Dinner" or just come and enjoy the fireworks and live music! 2 blocks from "Fourth in the Park" festivities at Marietta Square Iced Tea, Lemonade and Cokes will be provided. Call 770 426-1887 or email info@marlowhouse.com to RSVP.

Marietta:

Herb Butler Independence Day Picnic (July 3rd) - The Cobb County Democratic Party is hosting its annual family picnic commemorating a driving force behind the county party, Herb Butler. The event kicks off at noon following the Marietta Freedom Parade at the Marietta Conference Center at 500 Powder Springs Street SW in Marietta (30064) and usually lasts a few hours. Come out and be with family and friends and meet your candidates at this historic annual gathering. The cost is $15 per person at the door, covering lunch.

The Marietta First United Methodist Church will host The Great American Family Picnic (GAFP) on the grounds of our new "Park on Polk" on Saturday, July 3, 2010 from 5 - 10:30 pm. The picnic will be an old-fashioned celebration of Independence Day with meals from Williamson Brothers BBQ for $10 a person or peanut butter and jelly sandwich meals for $3 per child; organized picnic games and face painting; July 4th novelty items for sale and a star-spangled Independence Day fireworks finale by the City of Marietta. Proceeds from funds raised will go to MUST Ministries and youth mission projects at MFUMC. The GAFP is open to the public. Lawn spaces and tables for groups are available for pre-reservation for $50 and $100. This convenience allows participants to arrive at their designated location for prime fireworks viewing on event day instead of searching for an open spot. Those who choose not to reserve a space may join the fun on that day in a separate area on a first come-first serve basis. A donation to MUST Ministries will be encouraged. Attendees are welcome to bring their own coolers of food, but please, no alcohol. MFUMC youths will be available at the designated drop off area on Polk Street to assist picnic participants (at no charge) in unloading and carrying their belongings into the park. Free picnic-style games for all ages will be a part of the evening with sack races, tug-of-war and horseshoes as part of the lineup. Items available for purchase that day will be glowing novelty items like neon necklaces; and concession items such as bottled water, sodas and cookies. For more information about The Great American Family Picnic at Marietta First United Methodist Church or to download your reservation form, please visit: www.MariettaFUMC.org. Other ways to learn more: send an email to marykoronkowski@comast.net or call 404-932-8071.

Powder Springs:

The Powder Springs Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, July 4th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. will feature over 15 food booths, an entertainment stage, and a variety of children's activities. The celebration, held at the Powder Springs Town Square, will feature inflatables for kids, a patriotic program delivered by Mayor Pat Vaughn, an acoustic set delivered by performer Scott Thompson, and headliners The Mustangs, with covers from Santana to Brooks & Dunn. If you are interested in purchasing reserved seating, there are tables available for rent. City staff said they expect 15,000 people to attend. A variety of food and frozen treats will be available for purchase. For more information, call 770-423-1330 or visit www.cityofpowdersprings.org.

Acworth:

The City of Acworth and the Acworth Business Association will once again be hosting the "July 4 Concert and Fireworks" at Cauble Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. Local bands will take the stage beginning at 2:00 p.m. leading up to headliners "FLASHBACK" at 8:00 p.m. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Tables are available for the concert for $50.00 each for City of Acworth residents and $60 for non-residents. With the table you get 6 chairs and one parking pass. This parking pass will allow you to park at Cauble Park if there is parking available. Parking at Cauble Park is by pass-only on July 4 but you are not guaranteed a parking spot at Cauble Park with this pass so please plan on arriving early.

If you do not have a parking pass or if the parking is full, you will need to park downtown and take a shuttle down to the park. This is a free shuttle service. If you choose to park downtown, shuttles will pick you up at the city hall parking lot and the post office parking lot. Shuttles will begin running at 3:00 p.m.

Admission is free. Please call (770) 917 - 1234 or visit www.acworth.org/aprd for more information.

Kennesaw:

The City of Kennesaw presents Bruce In The USA (and Fireworks) with special guests, Georgia Blues Brothers, at The Depot in downtown Kennesaw on Cherokee Street Saturday, July 3rd at 8 p.m. Matt Ryan played the Bruce Springsteen character for eight years in the full-scale Las Vegas show Legends In Concert. The great success of the show evolved his character into Bruce In The USA. Concertgoers will also be treated to a patriotic fireworks show after sundown as the City of Kennesaw presents its annual pre-Independence Day celebration in the sky. The Georgia Blues Brothers will perform blues and rock hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s when their concert starts at 6:00 p.m.