The Glorious Fourth kicks off this morning in Demorest. The city will host a day full of activities to mark America’s 247th birthday.
5K race and park activities
At 8 a.m., The Torch Worship Center will hold a 5K Run for Glory downtown. Check-in and same-day registration begin at 7 a.m. outside the Demorest Police Department on Georgia Street. The city will close down Georgia Street between the police station and Central Avenue/Hwy. 441 for the race.
Children’s activities will begin at 2 p.m. in Demorest Springs Park. There will be bouncy houses, a petting zoo, pony rides, and train rides for kids to enjoy free in the park.
Vendors will be set up along both sides of the park and near the Demorest Post Office.
Food vendors will offer a variety of menus, including BBQ, mini-donuts, ice cream, hamburgers and hotdogs, funnel cakes, and Kona Ice.
There will also be arts and crafts vendors.
Parade, concert, and fireworks
Demorest will host an afternoon parade highlighting community youth. The lineup begins at 2:30 p.m. on Florida Street near Blue Willow Floral. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. and wind its way down Central Avenue through the center of town past Piedmont University.
Shortly before the parade starts, the city will close Central Avenue between Florida Avenue and Demorest Mt. Airy Highway. The road will remain closed through the end of the parade.
Demorest will host a concert from 6 to 9 p.m. in Demorest Springs Park. This year’s headliner is the Fly Betty Band out of Gainesville.
Fireworks will cap off the evening beginning shortly after 9 p.m. Organizers have timed it to give concertgoers time to move away from the park for better viewing.
The fireworks will be shot from the ballfield behind the new city hall at 250 Alabama Street. The best views of the fireworks will be around the city hall (Old Demorest Elementary School).
