Community Photos

Fantastic July 4th Fireworks

Share your best photos from Fourth of July celebrations for a chance to win our weekly giveaway.

How did you celebrate Independence Day this year?  Did you host a backyard barbecue, ride on a parade float, run in an organized race or join the fun at one of the many community celebrations? Share your best photos now by clicking on the "upload photos and video button" and you could be in the running for a prize pack! Thanks to Patch reader Dan McDaniel for sharing this photo! He's been entered into this week's contest. Each week we're giving away a Patch gear prize pack to one winner selected at random from the readers whose photos are featured Monday through Saturday. The winner will be announced Sunday. Photos uploaded to the Featured Photos articles or to one of our neighborhood galleries qualify.

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Fireworks for the Fourth

Here's a list of the Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks displays planned in Gwinnett County. Lawrenceville, Ga's Prelude to the 4th will take place Tuesday.

Many exciting, family-oriented Independence Day celebrations are taking place around Gwinnett County this year. See the list of events below to make your plans for the Fourth of July! Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Wednesday, July 4, 2012

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City’s Prelude to the 4th of July Celebration is Different from the Usual

Thousands turn out for a musical on the eve of July 4th, as the Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association and the Aurora Theatre partner to present something different.

This is no run of the mill 4th of July celebration. The city’s 8th Annual Prelude to the Fourth combines theatrical performances with orchestrated music in celebration of July 4th. “We started this event in 2005 with the Gwinnett Philharmonic at the time,” said Jay Markwalter, Executive Director Lawrenceville Tourism & Trade Association, “the Aurora Theatre approached us (LTTA) when they were moving from Duluth to Lawrenceville that they would like to do a July 2nd event, because the county was doing a July 4th event. We thought the Aurora Theatre would be a great production with an orchestra to hold an event on the 3rd(of July). So we partnered with the Aurora on July 3rd of 2006.” Markwalter said this event is one of eleven annual events…

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Keeping Your Pet Safe This 4th of July

Check out these tips to keep your pet safe and happy during the holiday.

While packing the sandwiches, soda and picnic blanket for an evening out to celebrate Independence Day be sure to make arrangements for the family pet. The Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve are the two holidays each year where the highest number of pets go astray. According to Gwinnett County Animal Shelter, at least 10 pets went missing in Gwinnett on July 4 last year. “The fireworks really just scare these poor animals to death “ said Lt. Mary Lou Respess, manager of the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter. With an increased capacity for hearing, some animals are especially sensitive to loud noises and are frightened by both the sound and the bursts of color of a huge firework display. In order to keep your pet safe on the Fourth of July, …

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Patch Picks: Fourth of July Recipes

Greay Fourth of July recipes.

Patch Picks highlights editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off, and more. You'll find useful lists to help you, your family, your friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year's Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriends night out, kids party places, parks, and more.  The List: Fourth of July recipes

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Georgia State Patrol Gearing Up for Holiday Weekend

Troopers will be watching for impaired drivers, speeders and other violators this long weekend.

The Georgia State Patrol has one primary goal this 4th of July weekend -- to keep the accident count as low as possible. Last year, over 1,800 accidents occurred over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Those accidents resulted in 834 injuries and 11 fatalities. Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said troopers will be watching for drivers under the influence, speeders and motorists not using seat belts. “Our Troopers and MCCD Officers will be concentrating on the most common violations identified as contributing factors in fatal traffic crashes," Hitchens said in a released statement. Operation Zero Tolerance is also continuing across Georgia this weekend. The focus of the program is to remove…

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4th Fireworks Around Gwinnett

Where to find fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July.

Celebrate Independence Day Although Gwinnett County no longer hosts Gwinnett Glows, its annual Independence Day event, there are many other celebrations with fireworks occurring around the county. See the list of events provided by Gwinnett County to plan your Fourth of July weekend. Because they are offered on different dates, you might even be able to catch more than one fireworks show. Saturday, July 2, 2011 Sunday, July 3, 2011 Monday, July 4, 2011

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