Countdown to Fireworks

This Saturday is the fourth of July, just in case you haven’t been paying attention. It’s always kind of agonizing trying to decide where to go to watch the fireworks, especially if you are like me and can’t decide whether or not you should subject your toddler to a way late bed time and possibly terrifying experience in the name of tradition. While weighing the pros and cons of picking the perfect spot to set up a blanket, eat some watermelon and see whether or not an 18 month old is really of the fireworks age, I have been trying to at least decide where we should go if we do go. When I was in high school and still living off my parents, we would get a hotel room in the Embassy Suites in Centennial Park, and you could see the Lenox and Centennial fireworks from the roof. Too bad I was too embarrassed by my parents and my suburban-ness to really appreciate those trips. Now I’m way too broke to stay in the Embassy Suites. Some of our other spots have included random parking lots of random shops on Peachtree near Lenox Mall where other fireworks-watchers have created their own tailgating parties. Fun, but a little bit of a bummer when you watch people peeing in bushes right before climbing behind the wheel to drive home. Most recently, I went to the Decatur Square display, but watched from one of the church lawns. I was pregnant and all of the children running around with glow sticks warmed my heart. In my research, I found (of course) the Access Atlanta “Best of the Big A!” official fireworks venue winner. Apparently Stone Mountain won by a slight margin.  Lenox Mall’s fireworks were a close second.  They also list their top 5 picks for best venues, as well as reader picks.  My favorite aspect of the review is all of the creative ways that the author picked to say “watch fireworks.”  Seriously.  My favorite phrase is in reference to the “pyrotechnical treat” at Lenox Mall.  Well played Shane Harrison.  Well played.  BUT, I do seriously wonder if they really think that the ASO 4th of July All-American Celebration is the fifth best place to go, or if they were just trying to seem fancy.

For more good times, make sure you check the reader comments on the winner announcement page.  There are some golden responses, like this one from David, who is clearly right off of the Straight Talk Express:

Roswell High School, no music, no pre show. Bring some Popeye’s … enjoy your family and friends … then it gets dark and there’s fireworks. Simple.

I’m sold.  Thanks David.  But just in case some other readers aren’t, does anyone else have any good suggestions?

Tags: centennial park, decatur square, fireworks, fourth of july, lenox mall, stone mountain park