Cumming Fourth Of July 2017: Fireworks, Parade

CUMMING, GA — The Cumming Fairgrounds will be the epicenter of Independence Day activities in Forsyth County, with a tw0-day celebration planned for July 3-4.

On Monday, July 3, the fairgrounds will be the site of activities beginning at 6 p.m. There will be children's activities and food vendors at the celebration, which lasts until 11 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m., the fairgrounds will host a dance contest. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

Admission and parking for the event are free.

On the Fourth of July, the fairgrounds will be home base for Cumming's annual Steam Engine Parade.

The July 4 parade steps off at 10 a.m. Led by Cumming's mayor and city council, the parade features local veterans and a host of historical steam engines.

The engines represent the role that agriculture has historically played in the area. Local residents A.G. Thomas, Dr. Jim Mashburn and Dr. Marcus Mashburn all were avid collectors of steam engines and their families and friends have maintained and added to their unique collections.

Cumming's Steam Engine Association parades their antique engines every Fourth of July to carry on a tradition Thomas began more than 50 years ago.

The parade, which is expected to last about two hours, begins at the intersection of Tribble Gap and Woodland Drive. It ends at the fairgrounds.

While there's a 30 percent chance of rain Tuesday evening, the latest weather forecast for metro Atlanta looks promising for Cumming's fireworks show. According to the National Weather Service, the best chance for thunderstorms will be over by 7 p.m.

By 9 p.m., a half-hour before Cumming's fireworks are set to go off, the chance of rain should be down to about 18 percent, the forecast says.

Cumming Fairgrounds is located at 235 Castleberry Rd. in Cumming. For more information, contact the fairgrounds at 770-781-3491.

Photos courtesy Cumming Fairgrounds