Town of Marshall to host its 1st Independence Day parade; 4 towns to host fireworks

MARSHALL - For the first time in its history, the town of Marshall will host an Independence Day parade throughout the town.

The parade will take place on July 2 and is hosted by Downtown Marshall Association. The parade will begin at Blannahassett Island, and will start at 5:30 p.m.

Town Administrator Forrest Gilliam said there will be music on Blannahassett Island following the parade. Starting at around 9:30 p.m., residents will be able to watch fireworks on the island as well.

According to Gilliam, the music and fireworks will be covered by grant funding.

"We already had received a $5,000 grant from the Madison County Tourism Development Authority, and they provided another $750 last week to offset the music and a banner that DMA is making for the parade," Gilliam said.

In its April 17 meeting at Town Hall, the board heard ideas from DMA Director Alexandra Arden and board members Hollie West and John Davis about potential plans for the parade, including hanging a 30-by-60-foot flag that was gifted to the town by Arden's mother.

Though the board initially discussed potentially hanging the flag from the Blannahassett Island bridge, Alderman Thomas Jablonski asked Gilliam whether he and DMA found somewhere to hang the flag.

"Probably," Gilliam said. "We're figuring it out."

Other plans that were initially floated included a chili cookoff with multiple food and craft vendors, too, but those plans have been scrapped, according to Gilliam.

"It's probably not going to be a huge parade, but it will be the first one we've tried, that I know of," Gilliam said.

More: Downtown Marshall Association planning Independence Day parade to honor former Mayor Wallin

Hot Springs fireworks

While Marshall's fireworks display will take place July 2, it will not be the first Independence Day celebration in the county.

The town of Hot Springs will get the party started with a fireworks display July 1. According to Mayor Abby Norton, residents will gather in the downtown area and at Hot Springs Elementary School, while other residents will be able to view the show from their homes.

The firework show will be hosted by the Hot Springs Fire Department, according to the mayor.

Laurel Community Center

The Laurel Community Center will host its third annual Freedom Festival on July 1.

The festival will feature a 5K road race, volleyball, a duck race, corn hole and food and drinks, including snow cones.

There will be live music featuring Charley Brophey and Miles Perry. The festival starts at 4 p.m. It will be hosted by the community center, which is located at 4100 N.C. 212 Highway in Marshall.

Mars Hill 4th of July Celebration

While the town of Marshall's Independence Day festivities will feature a change in its programming, so too will the town of Mars Hill's festivities.

In the past, Mars Hill Recreation Park has served as the primary viewing area for the fireworks, but this year, residents will gather at a viewing area behind the Mars Hill University athletic complex, according to Town Manager Nathan Bennett.

"We'll now be doing those from a location behind the university's tennis courts," Bennett said in the Mars Hill Town Board's June 5 meeting at Town Hall.

"There's a little area back there that will have a viewing area from the university tennis courts, football stadium and quad, all the way back up this way."

According to Bennett, the town will also host a Fourth of July Celebration.

"We're going to have inflatables there, a trackless train, food trucks, live music and DJ music," Bennett said. "The ax throwing trailer is supposed to be coming from up at the original place, and I'm told that's completely self enclosed. So, if you're game for doing any ax throwing, get yourself there."

The Mars Hill festivities will begin at 3 p.m.

Bennett said he thinks the new fireworks hosting location will make for a more convenient experience for attendees.

"That is a big difference," the town manager said. "At the recreation park, there were lots of cars, and lots of people getting jammed up in traffic. So this gives us an opportunity to expand and do a little bit better of an event."

Spring Creek July 4 festivities

The Spring Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Dave's 209 will host an Independence Day gathering on July 4 beginning at 5 p.m.

The celebration will take place at Dave's 209/Spring Creek Community Center.

Musical guest Christina Chandler will return for the third year in a row.

The Spring Creek Community Center is locate at 13075 N.C. 209 in Hot Springs.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 4 Madison towns to host firework displays; Marshall to host parade