1. Carnival at Smyrna Park - This year’s Smyrna-Clayton Independence Day celebration actually begins on July 1 with a carnival at Smyrna Municipal Park on North Main Street, provided by Sherwood Amusements, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The carnival will continue July 2 and 3 at the same times. On July 4, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Smyrna-Clayton July 4th Association, and a portion of the proceeds from ride tickets will benefit the association which organizes the annual community Independence Day festivities.
2. Parade July 4 in Clayton - The Fourth of July Parade will be held in Clayton at 9:30 a.m., starting at Clayton Elementary School to Main Street, then left on Reed Street, and dispersing at Eagle Group - Metal Masters. The Clayton Police will be posting no parking signs on Main Street in effect starting at 6 a.m. for the rest of the day.
3. Entertainment at Smyrna Park – The Fourth of July celebrations will feature Taekwon-Do demonstration, dog contest, baby contest and a variety of music. See the complete list of events below.
4. Fireworks – The fireworks display by Fireworks Productions will begin at dusk at the Smyrna-Clayton Little League Park on Duck Creek Parkway. No parking will be allowed at Smyrna High School this year due to construction, but parking will be allowed next door at Smyrna Middle School along with other nearby locations in Smyrna and Clayton. See parking details below.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Clayton
8 a.m. – Formation of parade begins at Clayton Elementary School
9:30 a.m. – Parade begins through Clayton on Main Street to Reed Street to Eagle Group – Metal Masters (If parade is canceled because of heavy rain, the Citizens’ Hose Company Band will present a concert at 10:30 a.m. at the Clayton Firehouse)
Smyrna Municipal Park
10 a.m. – Registration for baby contest at gazebo
11 a.m. – Carnival begins by Sherwood Amusements
11 a.m. – Registration for dog contest at tent
11 a.m. – Smyrna Wrestlers Demonstration behind bandstand
11:15 a.m. – Concert by Citizens’ Hose Company Band at bandstand 11:30 a.m. – Opening ceremonies at the bandstand featuring the introduction of July 4th Queens
11:30 a.m. – Magic show by “Snippy Doodles” at tent
11:45 a.m. – Flying Dragon Taekwon-Do demonstration bandstand
Noon – Gospel music by Jim Perry at tent
Noon – Dog contest begins at tent
Noon – Baby contest begins at gazebo
12:30 p.m. – Parade awards presentation at bandstand
12:45 p.m. – “The Next of Kin,” the Masseys at the basketball court.
Throughout the afternoon at the tent – Christian saxophonist Sharon Sibitzky with Betty Smith and Jody Mason; Jim Perry and the Full Gospel singers
Dusk – Fireworks display at Smyrna-Clayton Little League Park, with parking available at Smyrna Middle School, Smyrna Municipal Park, North Elementary, and Eagle Group-Metal Masters. No parking at Smyrna High due to construction.
Change in parking for Fourth of July fireworks
Due to construction, Smyrna High School will be closed to parking and pedestrians for the Fourth of July fireworks.
Parking will be available at Smyrna Middle School next to the high school on Duck Creek Parkway, North Elementary School on Main Street, and Eagle Group - Metal Masters in Clayton.
Those going to Smyrna Middle School should enter from North Main Street Extended onto Duck Creek Parkway.
Duck Creek Parkway between the Middle School entrance and the mini storage facility will be closed after 3 p.m. on July 4 to block access to Smyrna High School.
Foot traffic from Town and Country development, Greensbranch Lane, and Glenwood Avenue to Smyrna High will be prohibited due to the construction and drainage ponds.
Free shuttle service to Smyrna Park
Free park-and-ride shuttle service on the Fourth of July will be available to the Smyrna Park from the parking lots at Smyrna Middle School and Clayton Elementary from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and from Eagle Group – Metal Masters in Clayton and Market Street Plaza in Smyrna from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Smyrna-Clayton July 4th Association
The community Independence Day celebration is organized by the Smyrna-Clayton July 4th Association. Committee chairpersons for the events include:
• Parade, William R. Carrow II, (302) 632-2405.
• Concessions and Displays, Joanne Masten, 653-6235,
• Dunking Tank, Bruce Ennis, 653-7566,
• Fireworks, Robert H. Merrill, 653-6809,
• Transportation, John Lightcap, 653-6778.
• Chairman, Edward A. Hohman Jr., 653-9951.
