Things to Do in and Near Greensboro for the 4th of July 2011

With the 4^th of July only a few weeks away, now is the time to plan your holiday celebration and activities. There are so many different events going on in and around Greensboro that it will not be hard to find something that the entire family will enjoy. Looking for a traditional barbecue or picnic? Or are do you want to check out the parades and yearly events? Or maybe this year you may want to try something a little different to celebrate Independence Day in Greensboro? Here is a calendar of events for the Independence Day activities and events for the 4^th of July in and near Greensboro.

Greensboro

The main event in Greensboro is the Fun Fourth Festival. The festivities will begin at 9:30am, with a parade that starts at the corner of Bellemeade and Greene Street and will end at Lindsay and Church Street in downtown Greensboro. After the parade, enjoy the activities at the Fun Fourth Street Festival. There will be free parking and admission for the entire family. Please beware that coolers and pets are not allowed at this event. From 9:30am to 6:30pm, enjoy arts, crafts, children's activities and live music.

Here is a list of some of the available activities to do all day long in Center City Park and the Cultural District. There will be seven stages that will offer a variety of entertainment and musical acts. The Craftscene will have more than 100 local craftsmen and artisans selling and showing off their crafts and artworks. Need to cool off from all that good fun? There will be several Cool Mist Tunnels to help you stay cool all day. In the Children's Village section there will be amusement rides, free balloons, stilted clowns, games and themed crafts. For the grown ups, check out Natty Greene's Beer Garden for entertainment and ice cold beer.

That's not all for the Greensboro area! The Greensboro News & Record has several activities going on at two different locations. Looking for fireworks? The News & Record will have their Annual Fireworks Spectacular at Grimsely High School located at 801 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408. The gates will open at 7:00pm and the fireworks extravaganza will begin promptly at 9:30pm. There will be free parking, but space is limited.

If fireworks are not your thing, then experience the sounds of the News & Record Pop Concert. The Greensboro Plilharmonia Orchestra will present "Stars and Stripes Forever," the concert begins at 7:30pm and does not end until 10:00pm. The event will be held at a new location, The White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The gates will open at 5:30pm, tailgating is allowed. Lawn chairs, outside food, and beverages are not allowed in the amphitheatre, so feel free to bring a blanket or cushion and enjoy the show.

High Point/Jamestown

If you live in High Point or Jamestown, you do not have to travel to Greensboro for the 4^th of July fun. There are several events going in your town. The city of Jamestown will hold the 1^st Annual Independence Day Parade and Celebration. The event was organized by the residents of Jamestown and several of the business owners in town. The parade will begin at the town hall, 301 East Main Street, Jamestown, NC 27282, promptly at 10:30am and will end at the Jamestown Public Library located on Main Street. After the parade, you will be able to enjoy locally baked goods and snacks from several stores on Main Street.

Later that evening, head over to the Oak Hollow Festival Park in High Point, NC, for the annual 4^th of July Celebration known as the Uncle Sam Jam. For more information, please call the High Point Parks and Recreation at 336-883-3469. There will be performances by Shaggy Maggy and the David Michael Band, vendors, food, and a fireworks display sponsored by North State Communications. The gates will open at 4:30pm and the fireworks will begin promptly at 9:45pm. There is a modest fee of $10.00 per vehicle load. There will also be inflatable rides for the children, novelties, food and beverages available for purchase. Notable restrictions: No bottles, cans, and/or alcoholic beverages allowed on the premises. Pets are not allowed either, except for service animals.

Burlington

For those that live in Burlington, NC, there are no events scheduled on July 4^th this year, all the festivities will be held on Saturday to accommodate those that may have to work on the holiday. The event is called July 2^nd in the Park '" Independence Day Celebration and will be located at the Burlington City Park. For the address, please visit the Parks and Recreation website. Activities begin at 6:00pm and will not end until 10:00pm. There will be games from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Thataways Youth Center and on Field 1. For the young and the young at heart there will be a watermelon eating contest, sack races, and many more. Come out and enjoy live music and a fireworks display that will begin at 9:30pm.

Winston-Salem

The Forsyth Parks and Recreation is having the Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration at Tanglewood Park located at 4201 Manor House Circle, Clemmons, NC 27012. The festivities will kick off at 5:30pm and will go through 11:00pm. The Tanglewood Park Fireworks Spectacular will have a variety of activities and entertainment to choose from. The cost of admission is $ 10.00 per bus or motor coach and $5.00 per car or truck load. The fireworks display will start at 9:30pm, until then enjoy picnicking on the Steeplechase Track. The entire family will be enjoy a wide variety of activities, including: swimming, golfing, fishing, paddleboats, horseback riding, tennis, and much more. You can find activities in your own area, or take a short drive to enjoy some spectacular celebration events.