CANTON — Cherokee County residents will have plenty of events to choose from this Fourth of July, with several fireworks, parades and festivals taking place across the county.

BALL GROUND

The city of Ball Ground will have its first-ever fireworks display in the Ball Ground Community Center parking lot tonight around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, City Clerk Karen Jordan said.

“We’re excited and hope a lot of people are able to come out for it,” Jordan said.

The fireworks will follow Faith and Freedom Fest, held by the Ball Ground United Methodist Church, from 1 to 10 p.m. today at the Lions Club Field in downtown Ball Ground.

The free event will have food vendors, games and live entertainment.

CANTON

In Canton, the July Fourth Parade will be held at the Riverstone Shopping Center rather than the downtown area due to construction, Main Street Director Ginger Garrard said.

Line-up for the parade will begin at 5 p.m. behind 7 Tequilas restaurant in the shopping center.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. from behind Publix and proceed down Riverstone Boulevard, then turn right onto Riverstone Parkway, right onto Reinhardt College Parkway and back to the Publix shopping center.

Garrard said fireworks sponsored by Canton Tourism will follow the parade at dark.

The dog costume contest and dog parade previously scheduled for Cannon Park have been cancelled due to construction, Garrard said.

WOODSTOCK

The city of Woodstock has a full day of events scheduled for Wednesday beginning at 7:30 a.m.

In its 16th year in Woodstock, the annual Freedom Run begins with a 5K and is followed by a one-mile race and a “tot trot.” Visit www.woodstockfreedomrun.com to register for the race.

Marybeth Stockdale, special events coordinator, said she expects an even larger crowd than last year, with 81 participants already registered for the Main Street Parade beginning at 10 a.m.

“Every year it gets bigger and bigger,” Stockdale said.

The gigantic parade starts at Furniture for Less on Highway 92 and goes north on Main Street through downtown Woodstock and ends at Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Road.

After the parade, head to the Park at City Center for a festival featuring the Block Party Band.

“They are so much fun,” Stockdale said of the band. “They do a lot of 80’s music and are very entertaining. We’re excited to have them again.”

The festival will also feature Adam the Juggler, Tim the Magician, musical entertainment, children’s games, cake walk, arts and crafts, and food vendors until 3 p.m..

The day concludes with fireworks at dusk behind the Target Shopping Center at Highway 92 near Interstate 575. Stockdale said about 10,000 people will likely show up, so get there early for a great viewing spot. For more information about Woodstock’s festivities, visit www.woodstockparksandrec.com.