Fourth of July events in Addison, Double Springs and Lynn

WINSTON COUNTY - Anyone hoping to see a good fireworks show this Independence Day should look no further than Winston County, with several municipalities planning activities around the holiday.

Addison’s festival grows each year

The saying, ‘Everybody loves a parade’ will apply to the Addison’s Independence Day parade Friday, July 4, the county’s only patriotic-themed parade for the holiday.

The town also hosts a July 4 festival in Alexander Park, complete with vendors and live entertainment onstage, all leading up to what has been described as one of the largest fireworks shows in the area.

The July 4 festivities begin with parade line-up at 9 a.m. at Addison First Baptist Church, located behind Addison Discount Pharmacy, according to organizer Brianna Jones.

Those needing to have an entry in the parade are urged to be there by the 9 a.m. line-up time, Jones said.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m., traveling down Highway 278,  by Jack’s Family Restaurant, then will travel directly in front of Hyatt’s market, down McHann Road, and Elm Street, then turn and go back to 278, where it will end at the church where it started, Jones explained.

New Addison Police Officer Ava Jo Talley stressed safety is a top priority during the parade, and police will be looking for those in violation of safety practices that have proven to be a problem in the past.

“I would just say, if there is any candy close to the vehicles that are driving  by, don’t let your kids run out and grab it,” Talley pointed out.

“You need to be watching for everybody else,” Talley added, “and be courteous. Stop and let people go and not let things line up,” Talley added.

Police Chief Mitchell Woodard warned that persons should not leave in their vehicles until the parade has made its complete route.

In the past, people who watch the parade make its first pass get into their vehicles and try leaving before the parade is finished and roads are still blocked, police pointed out.
“If you pull out into the roadway to leave early,  you will be getting tickets,” Woodard emphasized.

“I have talked about this before,” he added. “Motorcycle and four-wheeler riders must have helmets on.

“You always have some of them that show up with helmets, and they don’t get to ride in the parade either,” Woodard added.

“If they ride in the back of a side-by-side, they need to have (a helmet) on too,” Jones added.

Festival kicks off at Alexander Park

The next activities of the day will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Alexander Park. Vendors can set up at the park free of charge, but should keep in mind they can donate funds from their day’s proceeds to the Addison volunteer fire department, which conducts the fireworks show each year, organizers said.

Vendors needing to reserve a space can call Jones at (205) 627-1195.

“I would like to know before July 1,” Jones said.

Inflatable games and activities will also be set up at the park for the children to enjoy, as well as hot air balloons scheduled to be there, Jones stated.

There will be live entertainment on the main stage with the County Road 26 band, followed by the headliner County Line Band at 7:30 p.m., organizers said.

One of the biggest fireworks shows in area

After the headline band, the fireworks show will be held from the softball field behind Addison High School, in a show that is expected to last at least 30 minutes, stressed Addison Mayor Marsha Pigg.

“The fireworks show costs $16,300,” Pigg emphasized. “It is one of the biggest shows in our area.

“We have people from the (Smith) Lake and other counties come just to watch,” Pigg added. “We have also had people come from Tennessee.”

The mayor encouraged people to come to town early, if they want a good viewing location for the fireworks show.

The public is urged to keep in mind some of the town’s best locations to view the fireworks, Jones added.

These areas include the gym off County Road 41, as well as Hyatt’s, Jack’s and the Texaco.

“You can even sit at the park and see it, if you don’t want to drive in all of that traffic,” Jones stated.

Law enforcement and first responders will be out and about  to keep the public safe and to help know which areas are open and which areas are restricted in being able to view the fireworks show, according to organizers.

Double Springs activities expanded

The Town of Double Springs, Community Unity and Winston County High School have partnered for an even bigger experience to celebrate Independence Day in the town of Double Springs on Saturday, July 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Crystal Till, of Community Unity, that has sponsored the fireworks show in the past, was contacted by WCHS Head Football Coach Caleb Simmons about a way they could reach a partnership and expand the holiday activities.

The idea was to change the location of the fireworks show, from the town’s ball fields between highways 195 and 278, over to the football stadium at WCHS, and have various booths set up at the school to benefit different sports programs, Till further explained.

Football players, for instance, will be selling squares on a cow patty drop that will take place before the fireworks show later that day, Coach Simmons stated.

Other activities set up at the school that day include band members selling concessions, cheerleaders operating a dunking booth, just to name as a few fundraisers that will benefit various sports and other  programs, Simmons stated.

“Ever since I have been fortunate enough to be hired, I have tried to get everybody working together, not just football, not just basketball, but everybody working together, because we are all one community unit, so we try to help out with band and softball and basketball,” Simmons stated.

The grand finale of the of the July 5 event will be the fireworks show, which will this year be near the stadium at 9 p.m., with the public invited free of charge to come and sit inside the stadium to have the best view of the show, organizers said.

The fireworks will be shot from a hillside located behind the visitor’s side of the stadium, according to organizers.

“Safety first has always been our motto,” said Till.

“The biggest thing is, we want as many people in the stadium as we can get in the stadium,” Simmons stated.

The town of Double Springs is sponsoring the fireworks show, having purchased around $5,000 worth of fireworks, organizers said. The fireworks show will actually be conducted by the Double Springs Fire Department, they added.

Justin Guin, known as the voice of the Winston County Yellow Jackets the past 20 years, will be playing patriotic music from the stadium press box during the fireworks show, Till said.

“It’s just a good natural transition,” added Till. “The town of Double Springs has always been supportive of the school system. We as Community Unity would do everything we could to help the kids, so it is just a natural thing to combine it all.

“It just creates even more of a community spirit,” Till continued. “I love for our kids to see that we are supporting them, not just during school but year round.”

Lynn planning fireworks for July 4

The Town of Lynn Fourth of July Celebration has been planned for Friday, July 4, starting at 4 p.m. at the Lynn ball fields located on County Road 59, noted Town Clerk Marcia Manasco.

Inflatable games and activities will be available for the kids, and concessions will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going back to the town of Lynn in covering costs for the show, Manasco explained. The town of Lynn has invested about $5,000 for the fireworks show later that evening, she noted.

That fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. on an elevated area across County Road 59 from the ball fields, Manasco said.

The public can watch the fireworks show, estimated to last about 30 minutes, from their vehicles.