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Fireworks and World Cup fever
Friday, July 3 — This is Hayden with my weekly Friday newsletter on Norcross.
The city is kicking off Independence Day weekend with fireworks tonight at Lillian Webb Park. Norcross City Hall is closed today, and sanitation services resume on Saturday.
As for me, I’m spending part of my Fourth of July holiday covering the annual parade in Dunwoody on Saturday morning. Come say hi if you’re planning to attend this year.
⬇️ Quick round-up of things to know:
🏛️ The Norcross City Council meets at 6 p.m. on July 6 for a special-called and regular meeting. See the meeting agenda and city meetings calendar here.
🤼 The city’s next Day of Play at Lillian Webb Park is Tuesday, July 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
🧑⚖️ The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld birthright citizenship and struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting the 14th Amendment.
🚇 Since June 11, MARTA has transported approximately 1.7 million people during the World Cup in Atlanta. Gwinnett County voters last rejected a transit expansion in November 2024. In 2019, the county denied a bid to join MARTA.
Happy 250th birthday, America,
🇺🇸 Hayden
⚽ When the matches end, the dining begins. After cheering on your favorite teams across Atlanta, savor the city’s best tables during Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 27 through Aug. 1. More than 50 restaurants serve exclusive prix-fixe menus. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Norcross Red, White & Boom: Fireworks tonight at dusk
🎇 Norcross is hosting its annual Red, White & Boom fireworks show, free and open to the public, on Friday, July 3, at Lillian Webb Park from 5 to 10 p.m.
Downtown streets will close at 2 p.m. and reopen at midnight. No parking will be allowed downtown after 1 p.m. on Friday.
Before the fireworks light up the sky at dusk (around 9:40 p.m.), expect live music from The A-Town A-List, food from local vendors, face painting, and other family activities.
🅿️ Find out how to plan your evening and where to park here.
You can hear the fireworks. Can you hear your friends?
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Gwinnett Democrat Adrienne Carden sworn in to fill Georgia Senate seat
🏛️ The Georgia Senate is back to full capacity, after Adrienne White Carden was sworn in to represent the 7th District in Gwinnett County.
The Democrat won the special election to succeed Nabilah Parkes, also a Democrat, on June 16. Parkes resigned during the legislative session to run for lieutenant governor, but lost the June 16 runoff to her former colleague, Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs.
🗽 This story comes to Rough Draft through a content partnership with Capitol Beat.
⚽ When the matches end, the dining begins. After cheering on your favorite teams across Atlanta, savor the city’s best tables during Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 27 through Aug. 1. More than 50 restaurants serve exclusive prix-fixe menus. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Planning and Zoning Board previews new subdivision near Norcross Elementary
🏘️ The Norcross Planning and Zoning Board saw plans on July 1 for a 27-home, single-family redevelopment that would transform a block in the city’s historic downtown district, mostly between Hunt and Beutell streets.
The city’s planning documents support increased residential density around its downtown to bring in new generations of community members and local businesses.
🔍 Read more about what the new subdivision will look like here.
World Cup semifinal watch party in Norcross at Lillian Webb Park
⚽ While Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is hosting two of the world’s four best soccer teams on July 15, viewing at Lillian Webb Park will be free and open to the public.
Explore Gwinnett, the county’s tourism arm, and the City of Norcross are partnering to host a watch party, starting at 2 p.m., for the FIFA World Cup semifinal match at 3 p.m.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team knocked out Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night in a 2-0 thriller, sending the Stars and Stripes to Seattle to face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6, at 8 p.m.
🥳 Read about how metro Atlanta is celebrating the World Cup here.
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