July Fourth events include morning parade, fireworks at dark

Ellijay’s Fourth of July festivities will start ringing in Independence Day a few hours earlier this year.

The festivities, previously held in the afternoon and evening hours, will get going at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with a parade through downtown Ellijay. The parade theme is “Star-Spangled Summer.”

Lineup for all parade participants starts at 9 a.m. on Sailors Drive. All vehicles must be in place by 9:30 a.m. The parade route will start on River Street, then head through the roundabout and down North Main Street, ending at Ellijay Elementary School on McCutchen Street.

The Gilmer Chamber is handling the parade this year, and there’s still a little time left to turn in applications, confirmed event organizer Rebecca Harrell. The deadline for that is June 30.

Parade applications are available on the Gilmer Chamber website (gilmerchamber.com/event/4th-of-july-parade). Printed applications are also available at the main chamber location and the Downtown Ellijay Welcome Center.

“There is no cost to be in the parade this year. We have around 20 applications so far but we need more,” said Harrell.

There will be two grand marshals for the parade — Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King and Gilmer Sheriff’s Office K-9 Arlo, who will be riding with his handler, Sgt. Blue Patterson.

There will not be any vendor tents or activities in the city parking lot this year.

“We hope (folks) will enjoy many of the local area shops and restaurants instead,” Harrell said.

The City of Ellijay’s fireworks display will cap off the day. The fireworks will be launched near the Ellijay Elementary School parking lot at dark.