Below is a selection of July events at Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites. For more programs, visit www.GaStateParks.org/events and the parks’ web pages. More information on accommodations and recreation can be found at GeorgiaStateParks.org or 1-800-864-7275. Thank you for helping promote Georgia’s natural and historic resources!
Coastal Georgia
Cannons Across the Marsh
Saturday, July 4, 10 AM to 4 PM
Fort King George Historic Site – Darien, GA
Join the garrison for a day of artillery drills, musket firings, and soldier’s life activities to honor Independence Day. Free watermelon and lemonade will be served. $4.50- $7.50 912-437-4770.
Independence Day at Fort McAllister
Saturday, July 4, 10 AM to 4 PM
Fort McAllister State Park – Richmond Hill, GA
Celebrate Independence Day like it’s 1864. Games, food and fun for all. Living history demonstrations, cannon firings, and musket demonstrations. $5-$8 plus $5 parking. 912-727-2339.
Independence Day Colonial Faire
Saturday, July 4, 11 AM to 3 PM
Fort Morris Historic Site – Midway, GA
Celebrate the 4th with colonial games, contests of skill, colonial music, musket firings, cannon firings and activities. Prizes will be awarded to all participants. Free admission sponsored by the City of Flemington, Friends of Fort Morris and Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 912-884-5999.
Independence Day in Waycross
Saturday, July 4, 9 AM to 12 PM
Laura S. Walker State Park – Waycross, GA
Children can participate in three-legged races, sack races, football toss, watermelon football, relay races, egg carry, and other fun games. Bring the whole family for a ranger-led hike on Big Creek Nature Trail at 9:30 a.m. Free watermelon and hot dogs will be available for children while supplies last. $5 parking. 912-287-4900.
Metro Atlanta
Full Moon Kayak Tour
Thursday, July 2, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Friday, July 31, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Hard Labor Creek State Park – Rutledge, GA
Join a guided tour of Lake Rutledge and enjoy a peaceful paddle under a bright moon. Listen for night sounds, enjoy the night sky, and learn about the history of Hard Labor Creek State Park. Register in advance. The program will proceed if it is cloudy or if there is light drizzle. $15 plus $5 parking. 706-557-3001.
Native American Games
Saturday, July 11, 10 AM to 4 PM
Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site – Cartersville, GA
Learn about games that early Native Americans played and how they have influenced modern games and sports. $2 – $6. 770-387-3747.
New Moon Kayak Tour
Friday, July 17, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, July 18, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Hard Labor Creek State Park – Rutledge, GA
Lake Rutledge is a great place to enjoy the night sky. Join this ranger-led tour of the lake and enjoy night sounds, star-gazing, and a relaxing time on the water. A new moon means that many stars will be visible on the night-time paddle. The program will proceed if it is cloudy or lightly drizzling. Register in advance. Meet at Beach. $15 plus $5 parking. 706-557-3001.
“Get Outdoors” Star Gazing Kayak Tour
Friday, July 17, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Saturday, July 18, 8:30 PM to 10 PM
Hard Labor Creek State Park – Rutledge, GA
Hard Labor Creek State Park is just far enough from Atlanta to have a really dark sky – perfect for stargazers. Join this guided paddle and enjoy the stars, and night sounds on this after dark kayak tour. Space is limited, pre-registration is required. $15 plus $5 parking. 706-557-3001.
Middle & South Georgia
Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration
Saturday, July 4, 10 AM to 1 PM
A.H. Stephens State Park – Crawfordville, GA
Events will begin with our 10 a.m. bicycle parade. Old-time games will start in the field behind the office, at 11 a.m. include sack races, three-legged races, relays, egg and water balloon tosses, and a paddle boat race. $2 plus $5 parking. 706-456-2602.
Liberty Bell Pool Party
Saturday, July 4, 1 PM to 3 PM
F.D. Roosevelt State Park – Pine Mountain, GA
Come splash with us! Music, food, and activities for the whole family. Play Beach Blanket Bingo and enjoy fab music from our sand and surf DJ. Fees plus $5 parking. 706-663-4858.
Fourth of July Celebration
Saturday, July 4, 10 AM to 4 PM
Florence Marina State Park – Omaha, GA
Arts and crafts for the whole family. Pontoon boat rides offered all day. $1 – $5 plus $5 parking. 229-838-4706.
Ol’ Time Independence Day at Jarrell Plantation
Saturday, July 4, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Jarrell Plantation Historic Site – Juliette, GA
Put on your red, white and blue, pack a picnic, and spend a day on the farm. Hear the Declaration of Independence at noon and compete in sack race, three-legged race, egg toss, and other events. Watch blacksmiths, steam engineers, quilters, and other skills of the past. $4.00-$6.50 478-986-5172.
Independence Day Fishing Rodeo
Saturday, July 4, 9 AM to 11 AM
Reed Bingham State Park – Adel, GA
Land of the free and home of the brave, so what better to do than go fishing? Friends of Reed Bingham will host a kids fishing rodeo for kids 12 and under at the rodeo ponds. Prizes will be awarded. $5 parking. 229-896-3551.
Astronomy Night
Saturday, July 18, 7 PM
Providence Canyon State Outdoor Recreation Area – Lumpkin, GA
Columbus State University and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center will present an evening of star gazing and slides. Visitors may bring their own telescopes, but some will be provided. The park offers excellent sky viewing without light pollution. $5 parking. 229-838-6202.
Gators and the Galaxy
Saturday, July 18, 8 PM to 10 PM
Reed Bingham State Park – Adel, GA
I spy a gator. I spy a constellation. I spy a pontoon boat. Those three things together mean one thing. I night pontoon ride to see some gators and galaxies all around us. Preregistration is required. There will be two tours, 8 pm and 9 pm. Maximum of 15 people per tour. $8/adult and $5/child $5 parking. 229-896-3551.
Northern Georgia
Wild Cave Tours
Wednesdays and Saturdays in July
Cloudland Canyon State Park – Rising Fawn, GA
You will get muddy and wet on a family friendly underground adventure. Our guides will educate you on cave formations, bats, and geology while you have crawling your way through a wild cave. www.GeorgiaGirlGuides.com. Reservations required. $30-$60 plus $5 parking. 800-979-3370.
Full-Moon Suspension Bridge Hike
Wednesday, July 1, 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Thursday, July 30, 8 PM to 10 PM
Tallulah Gorge State Park – Tallulah Falls, GA
Enjoy a 1-mile hike that takes you down the stairs across, the suspension bridge and on the rim of the gorge under the full moon. Register in advance. $5 plus $5 parking. 706-754-7981.
July 4th at Vogel
Saturday, July 4, 8 AM to 5 PM
Vogel State Park – Blairsville, GA
Celebrate July 4th at one of the nation’s oldest state parks. We will start the day with a flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m. at the Visitors Center, followed by a day of games for the whole family. There will be a bicycle parade, pedal boat races, sandcastle competition, watermelon eating contest, sack races, egg toss and greased pole climbing. $2 pedal boat race. $5 parking. 706-745-2628.
Holiday Gorge Floor Hike
Saturday, July 4, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Sunday, July 5, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Monday, July 6, 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Tallulah Gorge State Park – Tallulah Falls, GA
This is a strenuous trek, include hiking down 531 stairs, a river crossing jumping from rock to rock, and climbing boulders along the side of the river to Bridal Veil Falls where you can swim. Total miles are 3.5. No pets; wear appropriate footwear; children must be 10 or older; bring food and water. Register in advance. $10 plus $5 parking. 706-754-7981.
Tightrope Lessons
Saturday, July 4, 1 PM to 2:30 PM
Sunday, July 5, 1 PM to 2:30 PM
Saturday, July 25, 1 PM to 2:30 PM
Tallulah Gorge State Park – Tallulah Falls, GA
A .25 mile hike will take us to the site of Karl Wallenda’s 1970 walk across the gorge on a tightrope. There we will learn about the history of the tight rope walkers at Tallulah Gorge and teach the basics of walking on a slackline. Ages 8 and up. Reservations required, limit 20 spaces $5 plus $5 parking. 706-754-7981.
Chief Vann House Days
Saturday, July 25, 10 AM to 4 PM
Sunday, July 26, 10 AM to 4 PM
Chief Vann House Historic Site – Chatsworth, GA
Craftsmen will demonstrate 19th century weaving, basket making, quilting, spinning, rug making, blacksmithing, soap making, woodcarving, chair caning, and much more. Several activities will be set up for children including shooting a Cherokee blowgun and making their own butter. $5.50 – $6.50 706-695-2598.
