Thousands gather at City Springs for Fourth of July celebration

The splash pad fountain at City Springs was popular with kids on a hot afternoon as they waited hours for a fireworks show. (Photo by Bob Pepalis) Hours before the Sandy Springs Stars and Stripes Fourth of July celebration began, residents and out-of-town visitors flocked to the City Green to find the best spot to watch live music and the fireworks show. By the time fireworks soared overhead, approximately 11,000 people had made their way to City Springs for the annual event, according to Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. Related story:• Thousands celebrate Independence Day at Dunwoody 4th of July parade Icy treats were very popular as another way to beat the heat, as Stars and Stripes attendees started arriving more than five hours before the fireworks show. (Photo by Bob Pepalis) The heat index of 95 degrees didn’t stop the visitors from flowing into City Springs. Many families set up their lawn chairs to hold their spots before retreating to shady areas around the City Green. Some people even stepped into the City Hall lobby to enjoy a brief break from the heat inside. Food trucks lined Mount Vernon Highway, which was closed for the event. The official start of the event was 6 p.m. That didn’t stop many of the food trucks from opening early, with shaved ice treats being early crowd favorites. Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center members enjoyed a vantage point from the City Terrace several stories above the City Green to get a better view of the fireworks after dusk. More than two hours before live music was set to begin, many families had arrived and set up their lawn chairs, but retreated to the shade to stay cool. (Photo by Bob Pepalis) The post Thousands gather at City Springs for Fourth of July celebration appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.