🌱 Spend Fourth Of July Downtown + Tips To Keep Pets Calm, Safe

Hello, Woodstock-Towne Lake! It's me, Nina, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Today we'll cover:

• The schedule for local Fourth of July events.
• Keeping your pet safe and calm today.
• Two blood drives on Wednesday.

But first, today's weather: A heavy thunderstorm in the evening. High: 90 Low: 71.

Here are the top stories today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

1. It's time for Woodstock's July 4th Spectacular! The parade starts at 10 a.m., running down Main Street from Woodstock Elementary School to Highway 92, and Rope Mill Road and Main Street will be closed along the route from 7-8:45 a.m. and 9:45-11:30 a.m. for the Freedom Run Race and July 4th Parade. You can find a list of road closures here, if you can't make it, the parade will be live streamed on the city's YouTube channel here. The festival is taking place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in The Park at City Center and will feature a foam party, bubble making, a carnival, games, food, arts and crafts, music and more. The fireworks show will start at 9 p.m., they'll be fired from behind the Lowes shopping center on Highway 92. (The City of Woodstock)
2. Just like humans, some animals are frightened by loud noises and flashing lights. The Cherokee County Animal Shelter advises pet owners to walk and exercise the furry ones well before fireworks start up tonight. Make sure fences, doors and other places pets may escape through are in working order and secured. If you haven't updated their microchip information in a while or have moved, be sure to make that update when you can. Running a noise machine, fan, radio or television may help hide the sounds if you can't be there. (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Facebook)
3. If you're in the mood to save a life this week, there are two American Red Cross blood drives coming up on Wednesday. In Canton, there is a drive from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at WellStar Cherokee Health Park and another from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the R.T. Jones Memorial Library. Donors will receive a Red Cross dry bag, while supplies last, and a $15 gift card. You can register for either drive at the link. (Various Times)
4. Get your sneakers ready, chair placement for Saturday's Uptown Funk concert at the Northside Hospital Cherokee Amphitheater begins on Friday at 6 a.m. Once you get to the venue on Friday morning, you can place your folding chairs, beach chairs or bag chairs to save your spot, but no tables, blankets, tarps or things that anchor into or cover the ground. Be sure to check the official Woodstock Summer Concert Series website for details on parking, shuttles and more. The next concert is scheduled for Aug. 12 with the Van Halen tribute band Completely Unchained and Guardians of the Jukebox. (Woodstock Summer Concert Series)

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Today in Woodstock-Towne Lake:

Tuesday, July 4

• Parade Grab and Go: Head to The Daily Draft, at 8594 Main St., for their walk-up window Fourth of July specials. They'll have three drink options and two breakfast offerings — egg and cheese on a croissant with bacon or sausage. (9 a.m.)
• Regal Summer Movie Express: Bring the family over on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the first screening of the day and $2 tickets at Regal Cherokee. The movies this week are "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Clifford the Big Red Dog," the theater address is 355 Cinema View. (10 a.m.)
• WILKES: The artist is playing live today at Reformation Brewery, 105 Elm St. The brewery will also be serving up free hotdogs until they run out. (2 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• If you're looking for something fun to do, the last day of the Fourth of July celebration at the Outlet Shoppes is today. The shops are open, and there will be a live DJ, giveaways and a balloon artist. The entertainment goes from 1-4 p.m., the shops are open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and the address is 915 Ridgewalk Parkway. (Visit Woodstock)
• New York Times Best Seller Lisa See will be appearing at The FoxTale Book Shoppe this Sunday with her latest historical novel, "Lady Tan's Circle of Women." A book purchase is required to attend, you can order hand-signed books here. The book shop is located at 105 E. Main St. (Visit Woodstock)
• The next Red Cross Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED class at Cherokee Recreation & Parks is on July 23. These classes tend to fill up well in advance, but the deadline to register is July 16. There is an online component that needs to be completed prior to the in-person class, which will be held at the Aquatic Center in Canton. (Cherokee Recreation & Parks)
• Cherokee County Animal Shelter: "IF you have lost or found a pet, please visit www.cherokeega-animals.org. We have a "Lost and Found Pets" button. You can fill out a lost and found form (including a photo) that will be emailed to the shelter's intake department. The staff will create a lost report in our records with the information you submit. Also physically check the shelter on Wednesday when it reopens and often. No reporting method is a substitute for an in-person identification." (Cherokee County Animal Shelter via Instagram)

Here are some events coming up this week that require a ticket purchase or registration in advance, be sure to check the venues' official calendars for their full schedules.

• MadLife Stage & Studios, 8722 Main St.
  • Wednesday: Songwriters & Storytellers - A Night of Songwriters in the Round, with Levi Ransom, Shane Byous, Jim Stapley and Thomas Hinds (7:30 p.m.)
  • Thursday: Frankly Scarlet - Grateful Dead Tribute (8 p.m.)
  • Friday: Meet Loaf - The Ultimate Tribute to Meat Loaf (7:30 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Departure - The Journey Tribute Band (7 p.m. and 9:55 p.m.)
  • Sunday: Travis Ledoyt's "Sun and the Stars," A Legendary Evening - Performing Music by Presley, Orbison, Cash, Lewis, Perkins and More (5 p.m.)
• Rootstock, 8558 Main St.
  • Wednesday: Monthly Wine Tasting Experience (6:30 - 9 p.m.)
  • Sunday: The Mixtape Vibe, Songwriters in the Round (6 - 8:30 p.m.)
• The Gifted Ferret, 1910 Eagle Drive, Unit 400
  • Friday: Wine Tasting Bingo Night (7 - 9:30 p.m.)
  • Saturday: Artisan Wine Tasting Summer Chill Out Party (5 - 7 p.m.)
• IN WDSTK - Open to non-members
  • Thursday: YPOW AM - The Circuit, 1 Innovation Way (7:30 - 8:30 a.m.)
• Woodstock Parks and Recreation
  • Saturday: Discovering Paddleboarding - Murph's Surf, 6993 Bells Ferry Road (10 - 11:30 a.m.)
• Sequoyah Regional Library System
  • Friday: Pokemon Club at the Rose Creek Library, 4476 Towne Lake Parkway. You can register here. (3:30 - 4:30 p.m.)
• Senior Center Programs - Most classes and events are held at the William G. Long Senior Center (WGLSC), 223 Arnold Mill Road
  • Tuesday: Woodcarving Club, Painters' Club
  • Wednesday: Walking Club, BUNCO
  • Thursday: Adult Coloring Club, Nimble Fingers Sewing Club, Duplicate Bridge
• Other
  • Saturday: Paint & Chat Art Class - Tranquility Fine Arts, 9194 Main St. (2 p.m.)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• FCA - UGA Night of Champions (July 7)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. I'll be off and celebrating the holiday through tomorrow, so I'll see you all Thursday morning for another update!

— Nina Lightcap

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter? Contact me at Woodstock@Patch.com