Fireworks will be flying this weekend for the annual July 4th festivities and fireworks display at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

The City of Cumming will begin celebrating Independence Day 2011 on Sunday, July 3rd at 6 p.m.

Revelers can expect fun, food and commercial vendors, children's activities (including inflatables), a street dance and music provided by local band, Feedback playing classic rock and country beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The fireworks, provided by Pyrotechnico, will start shooting off at 9:30 p.m. Tracy Helms, events coordinator with the fairgrounds, told Cumming Patch the fireworks display will last about 20 to 30 minutes. Immediately following the fireworks will be a dance contest for all ages.

Helms said the city is expecting anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000 people on Sunday with free admission and parking, but parking spaces are limited.

On Monday, July 4th, the 54th annual Steam Engine Parade rolls out at 10 a.m. and will last for about two hours.

According to the City of Cumming, the parade will start at the intersection of Tribble Gap and Woodland Drive and can be seen coming down Tribble Gap from Forsyth Central High School ending at the fairgrounds.

Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt and his council lead the parade, followed by a representation of veterans in Forsyth County.

Next in the line up comes the Steam Engines, magnificent machines representing a historical era of agriculture and farming. A.G. Thomas, Dr. Jim Mashburn, and Dr. Marcus Mashburn, were all avid collectors of steam engines and their family and friends have maintained and added to their unique collections. The Steam Engine Association proudly displays their antique engines every 4th of July to carry on the tradition Thomas began more than 50 years ago.

For more information about the parade contact Cindy Hansard at 770-887-0516 or Amy Webb at 770-887-1530.