This year, the Fourth of July is set to go off with a bang in Northeast Georgia from the southern city of Buford to the northern Alpine village of Helen.

HALL COUNTY

Launching the weekend full of events will be Lanier Islands. The resort is hosting a four-day affair to honor the nation’s birthday with the celebration starting July 1 and ending July 4.

All weekend long, special patriotic-style food and drink specials will be available to day and overnight guests.

LanierWorld, the part of the park with the water rides, slides and lakeside access, will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, July 1, at 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford.

A DJ will be in Sunset Cove from 3-7 p.m. July 1 and then the Haywire Band will take over the stage from 7-11 p.m.

The next day, KICKS 101.5 will provide live entertainment, including  Paris Luna, Laura Ashley and the Train Wreckers.

Wrapping up will be a fireworks show set to start after dark Monday, July 4, depending on the weather. A special feature will appear at 9:30 p.m. on the spectacular screen.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on the Lanier Islands website, www.lanierislands.com.

Sterling on the Lake will host a family-friendly celebration from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at 7004 Lake Sterling Blvd., in Flowery Branch.

The evening will offer food and beverage options, made fresh to order. No outside food or drink is permitted.

Nationally touring Topper/Voices Of Rock will entertain guests with its music.

But the festivities’ main feature is a grand-scale fireworks display at dark.

Free offsite parking and bus shuttles will be available with drop off directly to the event grounds and festivities.

Paid entry is $5 per car.

For more information, visit the Sterling on the Lake Facebook page.

In Gainesville, Laurel Park is the venue for the Saturday, July 2, fireworks display, sponsored by the American Legion and Hall County Parks and Leisure.

The sports facilities, playground, sprayground and dog park will be open from 10 a.m. until dark. The fireworks will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at 3100 Old Cleveland Highway in Gainesville.

The cost is $10 per car.

For more information, call 770-297-5504.

The next day, the Northwinds Symphonic Band will perform its show called “Patriotic Pops.”

The collection of musical educators and band directors will play at 8 p.m. July 3, at The Arts Council, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville.

Ticket range from $15 to $194.

For more information, call 770-534-2787 or visit www.theartscouncil.net.

LUMPKIN COUNTY

In Dahlonega, the Fourth  of July is a pretty big deal.

The festivities begin early Monday, July 4, with the fifth annual Firecracker 5- and 10-kilometer races. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. and the race begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Dahlonega-Lumpkin Chamber of Commerce, 13 S. Park St., Dahlonega.

Participants will run from the Dahlonega Gold Museum through the square and past Hancock Park, among other places.

Interested runners should visit www.active.com for more information.

More Fourth of July festivities will follow throughout the day, including a parade down Dahlonega’s main streets at 5 p.m. Each float and participant will be clad in Independence Day gear.

A $5 shuttle ride will be available for those who cannot find parking near the square.

The fireworks show is set to explode after dark. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to the University of North Georgia drill field to watch.

For more information, visit www.dahlonega4thofjuly.com.

JACKSON COUNTY

Downtown Braselton will host a festival and celebration Monday, July 4.

The festival will feature live music from 4-9 p.m. at Braselton Park, 115 Harrison St., Braselton. Music will be provided by the Great American Rock & Roll Revival.

Visitors may play cornhole on Frances Street, meet local artists or grab snacks for Rowe’s food truck, according to the Braselton Facebook page.

A parade through downtown along Ga. 53 will follow at 6 p.m. Fireworks will start after dark and appear above Braselton Town Hall.

Visitors may line up in front of the Old Grist Mill on Frances Street, Braselton Gallery or NGBank. They may also watch from behind the Braselton Brothers Store complex on Davis Street or at the Hoschton track.

The fireworks cannot be seen at Braselton Park because of the trees, the Facebook event page said.

For more information, visit www.downtownbraselton.com or visit the Braselton Facebook page.

DAWSON COUNTY

Organizers are asking Independence Day revelers to RSVP to Monday’s fireworks extravaganza at Atlanta Motorsports Park in western Dawson County.

“Parking is on a first-come, first-serve basis,” said Seanie Zappendorf, spokeswoman for the Dawsonville Downtown Development Authority.

Sparks in the Motorsports Park has a Facebook event page and promises to be one of the best fireworks shows in North Georgia.

Mayor James Grogan said Dawsonville’s fireworks can be seen for miles around because of the topography at the racetrack.

“The way the park is set up ... it gives the best view to see the fireworks,” he said.

In addition to a roaring and colorful display of thunder in the sky just after 9 p.m., lots of fun activities for the entire family are planned at the racetrack through the afternoon and evening. Gates open at 4 p.m. for general parking and Fourth of July festivities, including a super cross stunt show, the most patriotic bike contest, cake decorating competition, live band, a dunk tank, bounce houses and a 4-kilometer sprint where runners should cross the finish line as fireworks soar overhead.

Food trucks and vendors will have snacks and treats to purchase. Outside food is not allowed.

Atlanta Motorsports Park is at 20 Duck Thurmond Road in Dawsonville.

FORSYTH COUNTY

Cumming will celebrate the nation’s birthday during a two-day period.

Starting on Sunday, July 3, will be a dance contest and children’s activities from 6-11 p.m. at the Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming. The dance contest will be at 8:30 p.m. and the fireworks display will follow at 9:30 p.m.

Vendors will supply the food and beverages.

Admission and parking are free.

The next day, the city will host the Steam Engine Parade at 10 a.m. and last for two hours.

The parade starts at the intersection of Tribble Gap and Woodland Drive and ends at the fairgrounds.

Parade entries other than the dignitaries and steam engines line up at Forsyth Central and can be seen coming down Tribble Gap from the high school.

For more information, visit www.cummingfair.net.

WHITE COUNTY

Helen will host its annual display of fireworks at dusk or between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, behind the Alpine Helen Shoppes.

The array of colorful explosives can be viewed from almost anywhere in the downtown area.

For more information, call 706-878-2181 or visit www.cityofhelen.org.

GWINNETT COUNTY

The Mall of Georgia in Buford is set to host the 14th annual Star Spangled Fourth event.

Activities will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, July 4, and include children’s rides and inflatables, live music, food and beverage concessions and a fireworks display.

Two concerts are scheduled. Ants Trippin’ will perform from 5-7 p.m. and the Woody’s will play from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

After the fireworks, the mall is screening “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2”.

Wristbands for the kid’s zone are $20 for a bounce house pass for all day, plus one Ninja Wall Ticket. Ninja Wall tickets cost $5 each. Cash only.

Parking will be allowed anywhere except the Von Maur parking lot.

For more information, visit www.simon.com/mall/mall-of-georgia.

Reporter Michele Hester contributed to this report.