Independence Day Archives

Ellijay’s Fourth of July celebration

Community July 2, 2022 , by Lonnie Adams

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Events going on all weekend have set Ellijay, Georgia, as a prime North Georgia location for the 4th of July holiday as local wineries, organizations, churches, and the city itself have prepped for Sunday night and Monday to celebrate America’s Independence Day.

The main draw is the city celebrations lasting all evening on Monday, July 4, 2022. With partners in the City of Ellijay and the Gilmer Chamber, the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association (DEBCA) kicks off the day’s events at 3 p.m. with the patriotic program including music on the square and the annual parade at 6 p.m. After that, citizens will only have a few hours to shop, visit and then find a seat before the 9 p.m. fireworks display. DEBCA is still looking for Parade Participants, Vendors, and Volunteers to help direct the parade. To be a part of this Community Event come by Gilmer Arts, 207 Dalton St (across from ETC) or visit the event page online.

In addition to the main event, Buckley Vineyards will be having their 4th of July celebration on Sunday, July 3rd from 12:30pm-10:00pm. They will be having food, live music, and fireworks including an open mic event from 1 p.m. to 8:00pm, Robbie Litt Band will be performing. Fireworks will start after dark. Reece’s Cider Co. will be having live music performers and food trucks all weekend long. On the 4th, Hush Money will be performing form 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Smokehouse Grill will be catering. Cartecay Baptist Church will be hosting a food, fellowship, and fun event at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2022, with hamburgers and hot dogs and are asking attendees to bring dessert if you feel up to it. They will have “bouncy houses, kiddie train, and games” before hosting a movie. This comes in addition to other live music events on Sunday and Monday at other wineries and events that aren’t holding fireworks displays.

Citizens should also pay closer attention this weekend with increased traffic from both vehicles and foot traffic in the area as well as recent changes like the addition of the stop sign on North Main Street.

Ellijay celebrates downtown for Independence Day

Community, News July 7, 2021 , by Lonnie Adams

ELLIJAY, Ga. – Celebrations of Independence Day were in full swing this weekend with vendors, parades, and fireworks in Downtown Ellijay as the Downtown Ellijay Business and Community Association (DEBCA) hosted their 4th of July events.

Winner of the commercial category float contest, Moo-Bears Ice Cream is pictured here with the classic Pink Cadillac and trailer.

The celebration went all afternoon and evening as music flooded the streets, both live and recorded. On River Street, the Band Raven played during the day’s celebrations, the parade came down River Street, around the square, and along North Main just after 6 p.m. Other celebrations not connected to DEBCA or the city went on like live music at Mr. P’s Takeout where Rich Mountain Ramblers started playing just after the parade.

With police out in support of the celebration, the Ellijay Police Department offered help and guidance in the events and traffic control all day while also starring with their own representatives in the parade alongside Ellijay’s Fire Department and Gilmer Fire and Rescue. When asked just after the parade, local police said the day had gone very well with no real incidents or issues during the celebrations.

Georgia Speaker of the House, David Ralston joined in Ellijay’s Independence Day parade.

The parade was lead by cadets of Gilmer’s 507th Civil Air Patrol.

A huge turnout saw the mass of crowds returning to Downtown Ellijay that it hasn’t really seen since Christmas of 2019 as many events were cancelled or diminished after the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020.

The parade saw floats ranging from an antique GMC pickup for highlighting Shelter Dogs for Veterans to the Ellijay Jeepers to an appearance from Georgia House Speaker David Ralston.

Winner of the non-commercial category, Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter is pictured here with their “decked-out” patriotic Jeep.

Winners from the parade competition included Moo-Bears Ice Cream for the commercial category and Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter for the non-commercial category.

The city of Ellijay hosted their fireworks display just after dark in downtown Ellijay launching their show from behind the Ellijay Elementary School on McCutchen Street. Many people set up early in Harrison Park and along McCutchen Street along with more all over the Downtown area to view the display that saw some locals launching fireworks right up to and just after the city’s show.

To see more photos of the parade, the float contest winners, and fireworks from the Independence Day celebrations check out FYN’s Facebook Album.