Picnics,

parades and fireworks - they're all staples of the

Fourth of July.

But

Peachtree City's celebration will lack one of its classic

features this year. The annual water battle staged by the

Peachtree City Fire and Rescue Department has been

canceled due to the drought, the city has announced.

The

department will still demonstrate its equipment at Drake

Field as in the past, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

As always,

the day begins with the golf cart parade at 10 a.m.,

starting at Booth Middle School. During the lineup for

the event and throughout the parade, traffic on Peachtree

Parkway will be limited to one side of the road for

traffic heading both ways.

The city

predicts Ga. Highway 54 will experience significant

delays during the parade.

Also, there

will be no public parking available at Picnic Park or

City Hall, where the annual concert by the Peachtree Wind

Ensemble will be held. In fact, Willowbend Road will be

closed from Hip Pocket to Highway 54 at Flat Creek.

So if you

plan on being at the City Hall area for the fireworks

bonanza at 9:30 p.m., it would be best to find an

alternate form of transportation or find a good parking

space nearby.

Peachtree

City administrative offices will be closed Monday and

Tuesday along with the Library and Kedron Fieldhouse. But

all city pools will be open both days from 1-6 p.m.

Also, the

Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) urges residents to use

extreme caution with outdoor grilling and fireworks

displays due to the severe drought the state is

experiencing.

"The

ground and vegetation are so dry that rainfall is quickly

soaked up and the ground is just as dry as it was

before," said Roger Browning, a fire prevention

coordinator for GFC. "Georgia's woodlands are under

stress and the danger of fire is very high."

GFC

officials also pointed out that the use and possession of

fireworks in Georgia is illegal.

The Georgia

State Patrol is also urging motorists to exercise caution

during the holidays. The GSP predicts as many as 22

people may die in traffic accidents during the extended

July Fourth weekend.

Last year,

12 people died in traffic crashes on Georgia highways

during a shorter July Fourth holiday period.

Col. Bob

Hightower of the GSP said troopers will be concentrating

on impaired drivers, speeding motorists and violations of

the car seat and seat belt laws.