As Fourth of July nears, the Lake Country is gearing up for local Independence Day celebrations throughout the week, starting with Lake Oconee Community Church’s fourth annual Celebration of Freedom Sunday.

Beginning at 9 a.m., the celebration takes place at the Reynolds Plantation lakeside pavilion adjacent to the marina.

“We have the event so that the entire community can come from all over Greene County and surrounding areas,” Gary Arnold, who helps to organize the event each year, said. “This isn’t a church service, so people from all religions are encouraged to come.”  

Beginning with the presentation of the nation’s colors by the Greene County High School ROTC, special guest soprano Carmen Skaggs will sing patriotic songs highlighting the original states of the union.

“Last year we had our event based around American history. This year, we’ll be singing patriotic songs,” Arnold said.

Arnold also said he hopes the Jewish community comes out to support the event.

“We are hosting a shabbat service that following Friday, July 6, so we are making sure to invite the entire Jewish community to the event,” Arnold said.

Along with the singing, interns from church’s summer youth programs will present their memories and experiences from the camps in Greene and Putnam counties, which just finished up. The event is fee and open to the public. Attendees are urged to bring their own lawn chairs as well. More than 300 people attended the ceremony last summer.

Another Fourth of July event taking place, The Lake Country Freedom Festival, takes place on the morning of July 4 at the Crooked Creek Marina on Lake Sinclair.

The Freedom Festival is a nonprofit event that strives to raise money, awareness and support for Camp Kudzu and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. All in all, last year’s event raised in upward of $27,000 to help Type 1 kids attend Camp Kudzu.

The fun-filled event commences early with a 5K race starting at 8 a.m. at the Crooked Creak Marina. Named a “Run and See Georgia Race,” registration for the event can be filled out either online at active.com or at the event itself starting at 7:30 a.m. with all the proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Throughout the afternoon starting at 1 p.m. there will be live music, arts, crafts and multiple food vendors and other booths set up for attendees to shop and indulge.

While the arts, crafts and food will be available throughout the afternoon, bands and musicians will also showcase their talents starting with square dancing at 1 p.m. with the Lake Country Twirlers followed by 14-year-old Savannah Alday and her bluesy voice. Other musicians such as Matt Rogers and the band Not Quite Devils will also play throughout the day, but headlining the event during the evening is former Georgia College and University of Georgia student and upcoming musician Eric Dodd.

Eric Dodd Band headlines the event, starting at 8:45 p.m. before taking a break while the fireworks display show, performed by the famous Vitale family’s company, Pyrotecnico. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Dodd will return to the stage to finish out the concert as the fireworks come to a close around 10:30 p.m.

Parking for the festival is $5, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Camp Kudzu. Don’t forget to bring chairs and blankets to spend Independence Day on the lake.

For more information on the Lake Country Freedom Festival, visit lakecountryfreedomfestival.shutterfly.com/