How are your holiday weekend plans coming along?
Many of Hamilton County’s Fourth of July traditions fell through due to coronavirus concerns, but there are plenty of ways to party like a patriot – beyond whatever grill specialties and bottle rockets you may have planned for your own backyard.
* Fireworks: July 2-4. If fireworks are on the to-do list, we’ve tracked down multiple places where you can see a show. They range from Athens, Tennessee, to Dalton, Georgia, for fireworks only. For fireworks and festivals, consider Dunlap, Tennessee, and Ringgold, Georgia. Most events are planned for Saturday, but at least one is scheduled Thursday (in Fort Payne, Alabama), and at least three are happening Friday (in Guild, Tennessee, LaFayette, Georgia, and the border towns of Copperhill, Tennessee, and McCaysville, Georgia). You can find the full list at www.timesfreepress.com.
* Red, White and Blue Days: July 3-4. Also notable this week is the reopening of the Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St. On Friday and Saturday, the children’s museum will roll out several patriotic-themed crafts and activities that teach why the Fourth of July is celebrated each year. Kids also will enjoy rocket stomps in the atrium and “fireworks” accomplished with Bubble Wrap. Food trucks on the plaza will include Off the Cart and Poppytons Patisserie.
New “Play It Safe” policies include limiting capacity, social distancing, no-contact health screenings and timed tickets for entry. The museum is open 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. daily. Face masks are mandatory for ages 5 and up and encouraged for children ages 2-4. Timed tickets can be reserved or purchased at cdmfun.org/tickets.