Everybody loves a parade.

At least, that's what staffers

at the Peachtree City Leisure Services Department are telling themselves

over and over this week as final plans are put into place for the city's

biggest event of the year.

The Independence Day parade

is relocating to an entirely different part of town this year, and that's

stressful enough. But then came word of a legal opinion that put serious

restrictions on who can operate golf carts, the parade's greatest feature.

And then Gov. Sonny Perdue

made the surprise announcement he's coming down to ride in the parade,

too, sharing grand marshal honors with a group of local military veterans.

It was enough to make parade

coordinator Susan Taylor laugh or cry, or both.

But remember, everybody loves

a parade.

Taylor and Leisure Services

Director Randy Gaddo especially hope they love a parade in its new location,

Peachtree Parkway South between Robinson Road and McIntosh Trail.

The move from the traditional

parade route, which always began at J.C. Booth Middle School and proceeded

up Peachtree Parkway to Flat Creek Trail and ended at City Hall, is no

longer feasible due to DOT restrictions on crossing Ga. Highway 54.

The new route for this year,

nearly a straight two-mile shot, offers wide, flat vistas, if not a lot

of shade, Gaddo admitted.

City recreation workers will

be out in force, as will police officers, making sure things go smoothly.

And come Monday, comments, suggestions, and hopefully, few complaints,

will gladly be heard, Gaddo said.

Here's what you need to know

about Peachtree City's big July 4th tradition.

THE TIME: The first

unit steps off at 9 a.m. Friday; Lineup begins much earlier; police will

begin closing off the affected sections of Peachtree Parkway around 8:15

a.m.

THE ROUTE: It begins

on Peachtree Parkway South near the Braelinn Golf Club, and travels north

in the northbound lanes of Peachtree Parkway, turning west onto McIntosh

Trail and ending at the amphitheater complex. Total length from start

to finish: About two miles. Time it will take the marchers to complete:

Uncertain, but Gaddo predicts about 2 hours, 15 minutes. Crowds can gather

on either side of the northbound lanes, including the median, and can

bring lawn chairs or, of course, golf carts, to sit on.

THE HURRY-UP-AND-WAIT: The

stand-and-wait portion of the parade will line up from about the Braelinn

Golf Club entrance, extending south beyond Robinson Road and to the city

limits, but is not expected to extend as far south as Redwine Road. The

lineup alone is one mile in length; it will take more than a hour after

the first units step off before the marchers in the rear begin moving

forward.

THE PARTICIPANTS: Gov.

Sonny Perdue is a last-minute addition, named co-grand marshal with local

members of the military back home from active duty.

"This day is a celebration

of American independence and freedom, and who better to represent that

freedom than members of the military services who stand ready to defend

it with their lives," said Gaddo.

Representing the U.S. Army

will be Major Mike Huth, a Peachtree City resident who recently returned

from duty in Iraq.

Lieutenant Matthew Hough will

represent the U.S. Navy. He lives in Lithonia and is assigned to a unit

in Marietta.

Representing the United States

Marine Corps will be Lieutenant Colonel Paul Deluca, a Peachtree City

resident who returned from duties as a Harrier pilot just a week ago.

The U.S. Air Force will be

represented by Lt. Col. Creg Paulk. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Coincidentally, Gov. Perdue served in the Air Force from 1971-74 and left

at the rank of captain.

Chief Petty Officer John Dunn

will represent the U.S. Coast Guard. City officials could not locate a

local Coast Guard member who was involved in recent operations. Dunn is

recently retired from the Coast Guard and lives in Gwinnett County.

There will be an opportunity

after the parade for the public to meet the grand marshals at the picnic

pavilion at Shakerag Knoll, across the parking lot from the Gathering

Place.

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL:

Sticking with recent tradition, the marching bands from Starr's Mill and

McIntosh high schools will combine Friday into one large unit. It's no

small feat getting more than 200 high school kids together during summer

vacation to march in a long, hot parade, but the goodwill it fosters seems

to last through the year. The combined band will be flanked by each school's

football team and cheerleading squad. Meanwhile, members of the Peachtree

City Youth Council will ride in the back of a fire-engine red, $120,000

Humvee convertible.

THE PRIZES: Entries

will compete for awards in the categories of Most Patriotic, Most Creative,

Most Original, the Mayor's Trophy, a Grand Marshal's trophy as well as

first, second, and third place for best decorated golf carts. Winners

will be recognized and receive their trophy at the July 17 City Council

meeting.

THE TRAFFIC: City staffers

advise everyone to charge up that golf cart and use it to get to the parade,

if possible. Auto parking will be limited. Some spaces will be available

at Braelinn Shopping Center from entrances on Crosstown Road and from

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

plan for its patrons. However, parade parking for the general public is

prohibited in the golf course parking lot. Oak Grove Elementary will also

have spaces, but it will still be a walk to the parade route. Huddleston

Elementary and the recreation department parking areas are being used

for post-parade parking.

THE WEATHER: Cross your

fingers. Advanced forecasts for Friday call for more of the same, cloudy

with a chance of heavy rain. But just because Peachtree City is home to

the National Weather Service regional forecasting center, that doesn't

mean they're always right about Peachtree City weather.

The parade and the afternoon

fire department demonstrations will go on, rain or shine, according to

Gaddo in a news release Tuesday. "Only lightning or intense, sustained

torrential downpours will cause cancellation of either event," Gaddo

said.

The decision whether or not

to hold the fire works will be made late Friday afternoon or evening.

If severe weather prohibits the fireworks display, it will be rescheduled

for Saturday, July 5, at 9:30 p.m. If it can't be held on the 5th, it

will be rescheduled for Labor Day.

THE REST: The day continues

after the parade with the annual Fire Department Field Games at Drake

Field, and the fireworks display over Lake Peachtree at dusk. Gaddo said

the same company as years past, Melrose Pyrotecnics, was designing the

show. The cost to the city, budgeted each year, is $26,000.

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