Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday in Sandy Springs: Your Guide to 4th of July Weekend

This year’s Independence Day carries a little extra weight. On July 4, 2026, our nation turns 250 years old, and the City of Sandy Springs is marking the occasion with one of the biggest celebrations City Springs has ever hosted. Whether you’re a longtime resident or visiting family for the holiday, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of the weekend.

Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration: Saturday, July 4

The centerpiece of the weekend is the City’s annual Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration, held at the City Springs District. This free, family-friendly event draws more than 13,000 people each year, and the 250th anniversary edition promises to be the biggest yet.

Here’s the full schedule for Saturday, July 4:

• 4:00 p.m. – City Green opens
• 6:00 p.m. – Food trucks open
• 8:00–9:30 p.m. – Concert by Don McLean
• 9:30 p.m. – Fireworks begin

Live music from an American icon. In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, the City has booked a truly special headliner: Don McLean, the legendary singer-songwriter behind “American Pie.” It’s a once-in-a-generation pairing of song and occasion, and the concert runs from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. on the City Green stage before fireworks take over the sky.

Twenty minutes of pyrotechnics. Once the concert wraps, turn your chairs around and face the sky. The fireworks show runs a full 20 minutes starting at 9:30 p.m., with a vibrant mix of patriotic favorites. If you’re set up facing the City Green stage for the concert, just remember to rotate your seating once the music ends so you don’t miss the show.

Food trucks and a backyard cookout feel. Starting at 6:00 p.m., more than a dozen food trucks will line the district, offering everything from street eats to summer treats. This year’s lineup includes 6packsubs Vietnamese Cuisine, with more vendors to be added closer to the date. Families are also welcome to bring their own picnic. Note that outside alcohol isn’t permitted, but CityBar and other on-site concessions will be serving.

Know Before You Go

A crowd of this size takes a little planning, so keep these details in mind:

Arrive early and set up smart. The City Green opens at 4:00 p.m., and organizers ask that guests not set up beforehand. Blankets and low-back lawn chairs are welcome, but pop-up tents, canopy tents, and outside tables aren’t allowed, and please don’t relocate the plaza’s bistro furniture. Umbrellas are fine for shade during the day, but they’ll need to come down once the concert begins. Personal sparklers and drones are prohibited for everyone’s safety, and with July heat in full swing, plan to drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen.

Getting there is easiest by shuttle. Because of heavy traffic and road closures around the event, the City strongly recommends the free shuttle running between Lake Forest Elementary School (5920 Sandy Springs Circle) and City Springs from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. Parking at the elementary school is free, though the shuttle will pause briefly during the fireworks display itself. Rideshare drop-off is designated at 215 Johnson Ferry Road.

If you’d rather drive and walk in, the City Springs Underground Garage is free and accessible from two entrances — 1 Galambos Way on the east side and 6300 Blue Stone Road on the west — with ADA parking and elevators available. A handful of nearby lots, including Century Springs Office Park and the Sandy Springs Commerce Building, also offer walkable access, though tree canopy in some areas means fireworks visibility isn’t guaranteed from every spot. For the smoothest experience, the City recommends entering your chosen parking address directly into your GPS and checking the interactive road closure map closer to the event, since routes and closures are still being finalized.

More Than Just Fireworks: A Full Weekend at City Springs

City Springs is Sandy Springs’ downtown cultural hub, and the celebration doesn’t have to start and end on the Fourth. If you’re making a weekend of it, a few other City Springs staples are worth building into your plans.

The Sandy Springs Farmers Market runs every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to noon, rain or shine, right at City Springs. It’s a great way to start July 4 before the evening’s festivities, with fresh produce and local vendors filling the plaza just steps from where the fireworks will light up the sky that night.

City Green itself is worth a visit any day of the weekend. The four-acre park features a splash pad and water features that are a welcome relief from the summer heat, free Wi-Fi, rotating public art installations, and plenty of open lawn for a family afternoon. Just note that pets aren’t permitted on the lawn or plaza during events.

And if the family is sticking around Sandy Springs beyond the holiday, City Springs’ summer calendar keeps rolling with City Green Live concerts, the Movies by Moonlight series at the Heritage Amphitheatre starting in August, and Sundown Social evenings featuring music, games, and an outdoor bar. It’s a reminder that this community’s calendar stays full well past the Fourth.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating Together

Turning 250 is not something that happens twice. It’s a moment to gather with neighbors, sing along to “American Pie” under a summer sky, and watch fireworks paint the same stars that have watched over two and a half centuries of this country’s story. Sandy Springs has built a celebration worthy of the occasion, and the best part is simple: bring your family, bring a blanket, and show up.

For the latest updates on parking, road closures, and event details as July 4 approaches, visit sandyspringsga.gov/fireworks or citysprings.com. See you on the City Green.

Sources: City of Sandy Springs – Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration, Concert & Fireworks details, Food Trucks, Getting Here – By Car/Shuttle, City Springs