The First Fourth of July Parade in Peachtree City, 1973

04 Jan The First Fourth of July Parade in Peachtree City, 1973

July 4, 1973

The First Fourth of July Parade in Peachtree City, 1973

The Fourth of July in Peachtree City has become for some, an important tradition. One must get up very early to secure a spot to watch the fireworks, setting out your tarp and blankets around Lake Peachtree. Then, you will need to find your way to the parade route to see all your neighbors gathered together to create one of the best Fourth of July processions in the area. If you do not arrive early enough, you will be stuck with no place to relax when the fireworks start and stuck behind all the tall people as the parade goes by. But we have not always been fortunate enough to have such a celebration right here in our backyard. The birth of the first Peachtree City Fourth of July Parade on July 4th, 1973 can largely be attributed to Sallie Satterthwaite.

In an article she wrote in The Citizen for the 50th Celebration of PTC, she tells the story of her desire for a large patriotic celebration, but she could not do it alone. With the help of the community, they were able to see it happen. She and a group of volunteers went door to door to raise money for fireworks. They put articles in the paper to find participants for the bike and golf cart contest. The fire chief lead the parade, which had more participants than bystanders. There were by her estimate only a few hundred people, but “officials estimated it was the largest gathering in Peachtree City’s short history”.  Ms. Satterthwaite’s vision lives on, each year getting bigger and better, bringing enjoyment to many hundreds of people each year.

Sources: The Citizen for the 50^th Celebration of the Founding of Peachtree City.

By Angela Pendleton.