Break out the red, white and blue, America�s birthday is fast approaching and Atlanta is gearing up for the festivities. Festivities, fireworks, parades and races open the door for family fun. Jump into the patriotic spirit with Thursday Thunder as Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts the �first great fireworks show in the Southeast� for the Independence Day weekend on Thursday, July 1. For just $5 per person ($1 for children and free for children 6 and under) the whole family can enjoy racing, games and prizes. Test physical prowess on the rock wall and enter to win tickets to the fall NASCAR race and other exciting events. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the first 500 fans will receive goody bags filled with great coupons and merchandise. Race fans won�t want to miss the chance to see up-and-coming drivers � and possibly the next Dale, Jr. The day will conclude with the Red, White and Blue Fireworks Spectacular around 10 p.m.

Stone Mountain Park observes Fourth of July with the Fantastic Fourth Celebration, a three-day Independence Day salute. Evenings begin with the LaserShow Spectacular and follow with a traditional, awe-inspiring fireworks display. On the Fourth of July, bursts of light will illuminate the sky as fireworks are shot from both the base and the top of Stone Mountain. The show will include traditional musical favorites that bring out the patriot in everyone. Make a day of it and check out the new Treehouse Challenge, the park�s new family attraction that pits boys against girls in friendly competition.

What could be a more fitting way to spend the All-American holiday than rooting for the home team at the All-American game? Take the family to Turner Field on July 3 for an exciting baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Boston Red Sox. The United States Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, The Leap Frogs, will parachute into Turner Field to deliver the first ball prior to the National Anthem and four Navy F/A-18 Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron 201 (VFA-201) will perform a fly-by at the conclusion of the National Anthem. A special promotion, Jerseys Off Their Backs, will give fans the chance to win autographed jerseys straight off the backs of their favorite players after the game. Stick around for an extraordinary fireworks celebration. Schedule is subject to change. For latest information visit the community calendar on www.atlantabraves.com.

Fourth of July begins early on June 27 at the free concert series Celebrate in the Galleria Gardens behind the Cobb Galleria Centre. The Jubilee Cultural Arts Alliance is pleased to feature the Callanwolde Band, performing patriotic favorites. The first 500 concert-goers will receive American flags. Bring a picnic basket or purchase refreshments and enjoy free music for a truly relaxing, enjoyable and affordable time.

The festivities don�t end there. The south�s largest display of fireworks takes place in the parking lot of Lenox Square Mall. The early birds will want to catch the Peachtree Road Race, a 10K footrace that sees more than 50,000 entrants each year, making it the largest 10K race in the world. The Peachtree Road Race is the last leg of the "Triple Crown of Road Racing," beginning with the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler in Washington D.C., followed by Lilac Bloomsday Run 12k in Spokane, Washington.

The incumbent champion of �Best Fireworks,� according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Centennial Olympic Park returns in 2004 to defend its title. The WSB Salute 2 America Parade will kick off the day-long celebration at 1 p.m. and will feature dozens of bands, floats, clowns and military units. It will begin on Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta and continue south to Marietta Street, concluding at Centennial Olympic Park. The park festivities begin at 4:30 p.m. The whole family will enjoy a musical performance by legendary performer Don McLean at 8 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.atlanta.net.

Established in 1913, the ACVB is a private, non-profit organization created exclusively to market metro Atlanta and Georgia as the premier conventions, meetings and leisure destination in the regional, national and international marketplace, and favorably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism.

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Media Contact: Brandy Humphries +1 404-521-6645 bhumphries@atlanta.net