FROM EARNING the venerable Peachtree Road Race T-shirt to the epic fireworks viewed from a steamy Lenox Square parking deck, Atlanta's Fourth of July traditions are not only fun and distinctly regional, they are also rites of passage.

Mall of Georgia Fabulous Fourth

JOHNNY CRAWFORD / jcrawford@ajc.com (ENLARGE)
Families seeking to include fireworks displays as part of the July 4 observances will find crackling options in virtually every corner of metro Atlanta.
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The outdoor Village and parking areas surrounding the Mall of Georgia will be transformed into a grand family-friendly festival with free concerts in the Village Amphitheatre throughout the day. July 4 activities include a Kids Zone with inflatables and carnival games, an onstage performance by Georgia Force cheerleaders and mascot at 3 p.m., fireworks at dusk and a post-fireworks movie, "Open Season," on a large screen at the Village Stage. Kids Zone activities continue July 5, ending with a concert by Stone Echo at 6:30

p.m. Chairs and coolers are permitted on both days. Food and Coca-Cola products, but no alcohol, will be available for purchase.

• THE 411: 2 p.m. July 4; noon.-9 p.m. July 5. Mall of Georgia. 3333 Buford Drive, Buford. 678-482-8788, www.mallofgeorgia.com.

Lenox Square's Salute 2 America

This is the 49th year of patriotic partying at Lenox Square, culminating in the largest pyrotechnics display in the Southeast when more than 4,000 fireworks will be ignited. The Kid Zone opens at 5 p.m. and features a giant slide, obstacle course, face painters, balloon artists and more. Live entertainment begins at 6 p.m. at the main stage with Jimmy Buffett tribute act the AIA Band. At 7:30 p.m. Party on the Moon performs classic rock, R&B, Motown and country. At 9 p.m. Miss America, Kirsten Haglund, sings patriotic songs. And at 9:05 p.m. this year's headliner, Ashton Shepherd, takes the stage, performing songs from her debut album, including the Top-20 single "Takin' Off This Pain." Fireworks begin at 9:40. For

those who can't attend, WSB-TV Channel 2 will telecast the fireworks in high definition; 90.1 WABE will broadcast the same recorded music played at Lenox. Organizers urge attendees to use MARTA. Parking is free, but Premier Parking with priority departure assisted by Atlanta Police Department is available for $15. Food, Coca-Cola products and alcoholic drinks will be sold. Chairs and coolers permitted.

• THE 411: Free. Kid Zone opens at 5 p.m. Live entertainment begins at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9:40. July 4. Lenox Square. 3393 Peachtree Road N.E., Buckhead. 404-233-6767, www.lenoxsquare.com.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race

Some 55,000 runners, elite and otherwise, will take part in the world's largest 10-kilometer race. Runners assemble around Lenox Square Mall and are cheered on by thousands of spectators and volunteers. Drought restrictions prevent the race from ending in Piedmont Park this year, so it culminates at Juniper Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown.

• THE 411: 7:30 a.m. July 4. Registration closed. 404-231-9064, www.atlantatrackclub.org.

Centennial Olympic Park's 4th of July Celebration

Venture downtown for another Atlanta July 4 tradition at Centennial Olympic Park. Children can bring swimsuits to splash in the Fountain of Rings and enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, stilt walkers and inflatables. The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra performs a program of music by Francis Scott Key, Sousa, Copland and Tchaikovsky that also includes solo performances by actor Ric Reitz, vocalist Wendy Bennett and string trio True Dixon. The 911 Band and Stokeswood also perform.

The AirTran Airways Fireworks Spectacular begins at 9:30 p.m. accompanied by patriotic music. The party continues after the fireworks with live entertainment and drink specials with 790 the Zone at STATS sports bar (300 Marietta St. N.W.), a short walk from the park. No glass containers, pets or alcohol may be brought into the park, but food and alcoholic drinks will be sold. Fireworks will be telecast live in high definition on 11Alive WXIA-TV and the music will be broadcast on radio station Star 94FM

• THE 411: Free. Children's activities from noon-5 p.m. Music begins at 5 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30. Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. West N.W. 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com.

City of Decatur Pied Piper Parade, Concert & Fireworks

A colorful parade of locals and local politicians winds through Decatur and ends at the community bandstand in the downtown Decatur Square with a concert featuring the Callanwolde Concert Band followed by fireworks. Everyone is invited to decorate wagons, skateboards and bicycles and participate in the parade. Those with vehicles must register by completing a form on the City of Decatur Web site. Fireworks rain date is Aug. 31.

• THE 411: Free. 6 p.m. parade, 7 p.m. concert. Fireworks at dusk. July 4. Decatur Square, West Ponce de Leon Avenue and Clairmont Avenue, Decatur. 404-371-8262, www.decaturga.com.

Fantastic Fourth at Stone Mountain

Enjoy Stone Mountain Park during the day — including Sky Hike, the park's height-defying adventure ropes course — then head over to Memorial Lawn for the 25th anniversary Lasershow Spectacular and fireworks launched from both the top and the base of the mountain on three days. Coolers and alcohol are permitted, but glass containers are not. No alcohol may be consumed on the Memorial Lawn.

• THE 411: Park admission is $10 per vehicle. 9:30 p.m. laser show followed by fireworks. July 3-5. Second laser show follows July 4 fireworks. Daytime park hours 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Stone Mountain Park, U.S. 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.

Dunwoody Salutes America Parade & Festival

More than 125 parade units and thousands of spectators make for one big parade. Grand Marshals are State Rep. Fran Millar and State Sen. Dan Weber. Marching bands include the 116th Army Band, the Douglass High School Marching Band and the Dunwoody High School Band. The parade ends in the Dunwoody Village parking lot, where a family festival starts at 10 a.m.

Festival highlights include music by the Blue Notes and a patriotic concert by the Army Ground Forces Band. Hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue will be for sale.

• THE 411: Free. July 4. Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at 2480 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody. Festival begins at 10 a.m. in the Dunwoody Village parking lot. 5511 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 770-817-8100, www.dunwoodyga.org.

Marietta's Fourth in the Park Festival

Beauty queens, Boy Scouts and politicians will march around the Marietta Square in the Independence Day parade, followed by daylong festival featuring carnival games, arts and crafts, food vendors and concerts. In the evening, country artists Scott Thompson and Jason Michael Carroll perform at 7 and 8 p.m., respectively, and festivities end with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Rain date for fireworks is July 5 at 9:30 p.m.

• THE 411: Free. July 4. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at Roswell Street Baptist Church. Festival begins at 10 a.m. Marietta Square. 770-794-5601, www.mariettaga.gov.