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Dane Spilberg shows the golden ticket, that makes him an honorary grand marshal in Ellijay’s upcoming July Fourth parade.
July Fourth will be celebratory in downtown Ellijay with a parade at 6 p.m. and fireworks beginning at dark.
As in past years, the fireworks will be launched from the campus of Ellijay Elementary School. All festivities will take place Monday, July 4.
It was looking like fireworks wouldn’t be part of the festivities due to supply chain and vendor issues, but Mayor Al Hoyle announced at a recent Ellijay City Council meeting that the city has been able to retain its fireworks vendor, albeit at a higher price, this year. The Gilmer Chamber is contributing funding toward the cost of this year’s fireworks, Hoyle noted.
The parade will progress from its lineup point on Sailors Drive heading up River Street and around the downtown square, then heading toward Ellijay Elementary.
The parade’s grand marshal will be Seth Teegarden, one of the owners of downtown’s Gumdrop Fun Shop. Teegarden will be accompanied by honorary grand marshal Dane Spilberg, age 10, of Gilmer County.
Spilberg was among the first two winners of a Willy Wonka-style golden ticket contest the Gumdrop Shop has been doing in cooperation with Gilmer Arts. Finders of the hidden golden tickets are invited to ride in either the upcoming July Fourth or Light Up Ellijay parade.
“We’ve hidden five golden tickets inside the (Wonka) bars,” said Teegarden. “So far, we have had two winners, so three tickets remain. It’s been tremendous to see the excitement this has generated within our community!”
Vendors and a bouncy house for kids will be set up in the city parking lot at noon, noted Pam Burns, of July Fourth event organizers the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association.
Deejay Darren Wesley will also provide music in the same parking area starting at noon, and music will be played in front of the courthouse starting at 3 p.m.