With expansion construction now complete, Centennial Olympic Park welcomes the return of the Southeast’s largest pyrotechnic display—considered one of the country’s best—back within its gates. The park now offers more green space and new features to enhance this Atlanta tradition.

Gates open at 7 p.m. Thursday with an evening of food trucks and a special set by DJ Yvonne Monet at 7:30, followed by sky-high explosions at 9:45 p.m. Check here for a full know-before-you-go guide.

After a successful launch (despite a downpour) last year by the Old Fourth Ward Business Association and Ponce City Market, the second annual “Fireworks in Fourth Ward” returns to Historic Fourth Ward Park on Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m. with food trucks, booze tents, and family-friendly hullabaloo followed by a “grand fireworks show.”

Festivities also will take place starting at 5 p.m. at The Roof at Ponce City Market with its annual Fourth of July Rooftop Bash.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, the Pied Piper Parade wends through downtown Decatur (expect very patriotic floats), followed by the Concert on the Square at 7 p.m. in the Community Bandstand, featuring the Callanwolde Concert Band. Fireworks start cracking at 9 p.m.-ish.

Get a jump on celebrating our nation’s birthday with SweetWater Brewing Company’s 3rd of July celebration. Starting at 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, festivities include a charitable conrhole tournament, a Big Green Egg Cookout, and fireworks.

For those who want an elevated experience, VIP tickets are available for $75 per person and include a complimentary buffet, four beer tokens, and front-row seats to the fireworks.

The oldest and largest Independence Day blowout in South Fulton County—East Point's "Salute to the Red, White and Blue"—actually ignites with a free summer carnival from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and runs nightly through Sunday. On Thursday, carnival festivities start at 3 p.m., with the real treat launching at about 9:30 p.m., with "South Fulton County's largest Pryo Digital Fireworks display synchronized to a musical score!"

Per tradition, Thursday brings fireworks to Sandy Springs and a promise to "illuminate the skies above the King and Queen buildings" with the seventh annual Stars and Stripes Celebration at the Concourse Corporate Center Lawn. Expect music from the band Bogey & The Viceroys at 7:30 and boom-boom at 9:45 p.m. Pack a picnic, and enjoy an al fresco dinner prior to the festivities. No drones (or booze) allowed.

Up in Chamblee, Independence Day events begin at 5 p.m. in Keswick Park on Thursday with inflatables, a bike parade, and live music from Crystal Clear Band. Fireworks will follow at 9:30 p.m. When heading to the event, avoid the traffic and take MARTA (instructions here) and check out the Chamblee Rail Trail en route to festivities.

OTP, anyone? Marietta's venerable “Fourth in the Park” celebration will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday with a "Freedom Parade" (30,000+ spectators strong) and continue all day long with a festival, music (including A1A–The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show and more), and fireworks.

Road-tripping to a northern Gwinnett mall might not sound too alluring on the 4th of July, but Buford's biggest retail outlet puts on one of the most impressive fireworks showcases in the region (at 9:40 p.m.-ish Thursday). Expect music at 7:30 p.m. from The Throwback Experience and a post-fireworks showing of The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part on a 70-foot movie screen. Plus, a carnival.