Fireworks and history mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding with multiple events planned across the area.
But there are changes to several annual events such as Columbia County’s Boom in the Park. If you don’t live in Columbia County, check it off your list; also if you don’t already have an entry ticket, there are none left. County officials warn about getting tickets from resellers; they are scams.
Also if you typically get your barbecue from the drive-thru event in Grovetown, you need to find an alternate source.
“As a result of ongoing expansion and construction at Liberty Park, the City is unfortunately unable to host this year’s 4th of July Drive-Thru BBQ event. While we are disappointed in being unable to throw this year’s event, we are excited to return next year at a new and improved Liberty Park,” according to a Facebook post at the city of Grovetown.
Fort Gordon kicks things off this week on July 1 with fireworks, live music from DJ Kris Fisher, and a variety of food trucks serving crowd favorites at Barton Field.
If you plan to go, there’s one big change.
“This year’s celebration is not an open post event. This means, all individuals 18 years and older must present a DoD ID, AIE credential, or a pre-approved gate pass to access the installation. Passes will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Put your pass request in early to ensure it’s processed in time for the event. The Visitor Control Center will close at 5 p.m. the day of the event,” according to a news release.
The link for passes is https://home.army.mil/gordon/des/visitor-information.
Celebrate 250 years of American independence at this free, family-friendly event hosted by the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce beginning at 6 p.m. July 2.
There will be food vendors, a Kids’ Zone with bounce houses and water slides, a fire truck water spray and a fireworks finale to end the night.
New this year is a joint celebration between the cities of Augusta and North Augusta.
Meet Us at the River will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. Live entertainment, vendors, food, crafts, kid zones, and more will take place along the riverfront between Fifth and Ninth Streets in downtown Augusta. The evening will end with a fireworks show around 9:30 p.m.
While event activities will be located on the Georgia side of the river, the fireworks can be viewed from both the Augusta and North Augusta riverfronts. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, according to a news release from the city of Augusta.
Firework seating will be available between Fifth Street and Ninth Street on the Georgia side and at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River.
Reynolds Street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 10 p.m. for the event. In addition, the upper and lower portions of the Riverwalk will be closed between Eighth and Ninth streets.
The upper portion will close at 8 a.m. for fireworks setup, and the lower portion will close beginning at 5 p.m. Portable restrooms and hand-washing stations will be available on site.
The Augusta Common remains under construction and will not be fully accessible during the event.
Parking will be available in downtown Augusta at nearby public parking areas, including the Depot area near Fifth and Reynolds streets, the Ninth and Reynolds parking deck, and public lots, the news release continued.
People attending on the Georgia side should enter the event area from Reynolds Street near Fifth Street to access vendors, the stage area, the kid zone, and other activities. Ninth Street will be used as the stage location, but will not serve as an event access point.
Following the event, traffic will be directed southbound only until the festivities traffic has cleared. Northbound traffic will resume once the area is clear.
Another new happening will be at the Augusta GreenJackets game at 6:35 p.m. July 4 as history steps onto the baseball diamond as Historic Augusta, Inc. and Historic Meadow Garden blends America’ history with America’s pastime.
Historic Augusta operates the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson, and as a boy growing up in Augusta, “Tommy” Wilson loved baseball and organized his own neighborhood team, the Lightfoots.
Rylen Peek, a member of the Augusta Jr. Players, will portray “Tommy” and Carlton Powers will portray George Walton, whose home is Meadow Garden. Read an Augusta Good News article about Meadow Garden here.
The pregame ceremony will feature a symbolic connection between Augusta’s Revolutionary and presidential history. A commemorative baseball will be signed by George Walton and Tommy who will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
A few annual events return at their regular slots.
The annual Yankee Doodle Dash 5K-10K will begin at Mill Village Trailhead – 109 Eve St. Friday. The 10K starts at 7 a.m. followed by the 5K at 7:10 a.m.
And there are three history events highlighting the Founding Fathers.
The National Sojourners and Heroes of ’76 will present the 16th Annual Signers Monument Ceremony, honoring Georgia’s signers of the Declaration of Independence – George Walton, Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett – at 9 a.m. at the Signers Monument on Greene Street. Walton and Hall are buried beneath the 50-foot monolith.
Historic Meadow Garden, the home of George Walton, one of three Georgia Signers of the Declaration of Independence, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 4.
Carlton Powell will represent a young George Walton who was only 26 when he signed the Declaration of Independence for the state of Georgia.
“He will be reading the Declaration for us,” said Ransom Schwerzler, Meadow Garden director.
The Sweet Adelaides will sing the National Anthem; the Garden City Strummers will play dulcimers; there will be a cannon salute. Children’s activities will include quill pen writing and making cornhusk dolls. There will be opportunities to take photos with George and a chance to see inside the 235-year-old Meadow Garden where George Walton once lived.
Across the Savannah River, North Augusta’s Living History Park will be the site of an event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will read from the Declaration of Independence, and there will be Colonial Era reenactors. Visitors are encouraged to show their spirit and dress up.
Enjoy an Independence Day event with small town charm at The Hephzibah Agricultural Center, 4245 Peach Orchard Road, Saturday. The Fourth Annual Fireworks Extravaganza will begin around 9:15 p.m.
“Come early for food, fun, and entertainment before the sky lights up in celebration of America’s birthday!” according to a Facebook post.
Take a break from the heat at the Augusta Museum of History which has its annual Great Building Showdown.
Sunday, July 5 is the annual Friends of Clarks Hill Lake fireworks show at “Dark30” shot from the point of Amity Recreation Area in Lincolnton.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
