A week from

now you'll most likely be enjoying a day off from work as you celebrate

the Fourth of July. For many local residents this means taking in all

of the Peachtree City activities which include the parade, Fire Department

demonstrations, a concert from the Peachtree Wind Ensemble and the fireworks.

There are some new wrinkles to this year's events though, including a

new parade route and some new parade rules.

The main wrinkle

is, of course, the new ruling that all drivers of golf carts must be licensed

drivers. This means that each golf cart driver in the parade must have

his or her driver's license.

The new parade

route will start on Peachtree Parkway South near the Village on the Green

neighborhood and will continue north on the parkway to the McIntosh Trail

Recreation Complex and Huddleston Elementary School. The parade starts

at 9 a.m. but judging of the entries begins at 8 a.m. There will be awards

given in the categories of Most Patriotic, Most Creative, Most Original,

The Mayor's Trophy, a Grand Marshal's trophy and first, second and third

place for best decorated golf cart.

Residents can

access Braelinn Shopping Center from entrances on Crosstown Road and from

Ga. Highway 74. The Braelinn Golf Course has also worked out a modified

entrance plan for its patrons.

This year,

the Grand Marshals will be military personnel representing all five services

who recently served in Iraq. The HumVee's leading the parade will carry

a representative from each branch of military service. There will be an

opportunity for the public to meet the Grand Marshals after the parade

at the Shakerag Knoll picnic pavilion.

As for new

rules for safety, all large to small entries are strongly urged to gave

spooters on all four corners and alongside of their entry. The Peachtrree

City recreation department is providing fre orange vests for these spotters

to wear. They can be picked up at the office Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5

p.m. and vests will also be available at the parade.

Large entries

are required to have safety rails 36 inches tall where any person will

be standing or sitting on their float. Also they must have handholds for

all standing participants. Candy or other giveaway items may be thrown

but these items should be tossed to the back of the crowd. If these items

are left in the street, viewers are prone to go into the street to retrieve

them.

There will

be a few free hours between the end of the parade and the beginning of

the next activity, which will be demonstrations of the fire departments

equipment at 1:30 and 3 p.m. at Drake Field. The Peachtree Wind Ensemble

and Community Band will perform at City Hall Plaza at 7 p.m. The fireworks

will start at 9:30 p.m. over Lake Peachtree and will be visible from City

Hall Plaza.