Published: June 24, 2008 07:41 pm            

Holiday celebrations at Georgia parks

ATLANTA – One of America’s original 13 colonies offers 13 historic sites and 5 historic parks for families to experience this Fourth of July with sights and sounds from yesteryear. This holiday weekend, Georgia’s historic sites will celebrate the birth of our nations with festivities that include canon and musket firings, blacksmithing, historical games, arts, crafts, food, guided tours and more.

“Heading to a historic site for the Fourth gives families a chance to experience the day from a whole new perspective,” said Sally Winchester, marketing and communications manager for Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. “You can almost step back in time when you hear the cannons or muskets, when you visit a Victorian home, walk through a battlefield, or listen to the story of the country’s first Gold Rush. We’re thankful to be able to share our nation’s history, our history, through these amazing sites.”

Located throughout the state, Georgia’s Historic Sites are categorized into six themes for the celebration, each from a different time in the state’s history: Native American, Plantations, Civil War, Unique Homes, Coastal Forts & Colonial Georgia, and Gold Rush. Four of the historical site celebrations include:



4th of July Celebration

Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site

Dahlonega, Ga.

Activities include a formal flag raising, patriotic speeches, Appalachian music, arts and crafts, food, a patriotic parade, theatrical skits and a fireworks show at dark.



4th of July Celebration

Fort McAllister Historic Park

Richmond Hill, Ga.

Celebrate our nation's birthday with the troops of Fort McAllister. Cannon firings, musket firings, blacksmithing and historical games will run all day



Independence Day Colonial Fare

Fort Morris Historic Site

Midway, Ga.

Celebrate the 4th with colonial games, contests of skill, colonial music, musket firings, cannon firings and activities for all. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. The day is sponsored by the City of Flemington, Ga.



Ol’ Time 4th at Jarrell Plantation

Jarrell Plantation Historic Site

Juliette, Ga.

A noon reading of the Declaration of Independence is followed by 3-legged race, sack race, egg toss, tug-of-war and old fashioned Independence Day fun. Demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills are ongoing throughout the program.



Recently, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites launched Get Outdoors Georgia (GO Georgia) a multi-year initiative to help every Georgian rediscover the great outdoors. The program invites Georgians, especially families and children, to take part in family-friendly, nature-based, healthy outdoor recreation in the beautiful, secure surroundings of Georgia’s state parks and historic sites. More information can be found online at www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org or by calling 1 (800) 864-7275 .

        

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