Memorial Park Funeral Home will be holding its annual cookout to honor area public safety officers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at 2030 Memorial Park Drive.

Organizers will offer free food — hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue served along with coleslaw and potato chips — and beverages. In addition, a live band will be providing entertainment. The public is invited to the free event.

A program at noon will honor public safety officers, as well as noting any people seeking public office who are in attendance. Expected to attend are Hall County Sheriff Steve Chronic, Gainesville Police Chief Frank Hooper, Gainesville Fire Chief Jon Canada And Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell, among others.

This year marks the 15th year the Gainesville funeral home has held the July Fourth cookout. Though attendance was only about 350 the first year of the event, attendance has grown to about 3,000 last year.