EAST POINT, Ga. — On July 4, the United States of America celebrated its 243rd birthday. And nobody did a better job of celebrating than East Point, but then I guess you had to be there. An estimated figure of over 25,000 people descended on the Downtown Commons to partake of the street vendors, pop-up carnival, live bands, and other festivities.
The event was appropriately dubbed, Salute to the Red White and Blue: A Hometown Celebration, and is reportedly one of the largest as well as oldest Fourth of July events in South Fulton County. The festivities ran from 3 p.m. until roughly 11 p.m.
East Point itself was lined with about four dozen vendor booths which served as a combination food court, bar and retail space. Attendees roamed the selections that included items such as funnel cakes, grilled meats, fried fish, Italian ice, beer, and margaritas.
It was certainly all-hands-on-deck as members from several city agencies, including Parks & Recreation, Police, Fire, and Sanitation, were present to attendees with whatever they could to ensure the integrity of their experience.
East Point Main Street Association treasurer, Fitzgerald Smith, Jr has been a member of the organization since 2011, and a board member since 2012. He stated that he was "delighted" by the outcome of the event.
“Since 2011, I can tell you that there have only have had two incidents during any of these events,” emphasized Smith, “That’s a fact I that I wish was highlighted a little more.
“There are so many awesome people here. So much diversity, age, nationality,” said Smith, “It’s just an amazing place to live.”
Local live bands were on hand to provide yet another form of entertainment that provided musical performances throughout the entire evening. While the carnival packed a childhood’s worth of rides and thrills into the adjoining lot. Of course, the highlight of the evening was the impressive nearly fifteen fireworks display that kicked off at 9:30 pm.
To learn more information about the East Point Main Street Association visit them online. For more information and coverage of the event, you can go to our website.
Want more East Point news? Like us on Facebook.