This Sunday evening for the first time ever, the city of Porterdale will play host to a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display.

The festivities will begin at 5 p.m. at the Porterdale Walking Path at the end of Hemlock Street, right across from the Porterdale Mill Lofts.

The Thomas Tilman Band, with their repertoire of country and southern rock music is scheduled to perform Sunday evening. A Legends Race Car and its driver Kyle Lowry will be on hand signing autographs for fans. There will also be a Moonwalk and arts and crafts projects for children.

Jimbo's Grill at the Mill will be selling barbecue plates and hot dogs and hamburgers. A concession trailer will also be on hand selling funnel cakes and other carnival food.

A fireworks display by Atlanta Pyrotechnics is scheduled to begin as soon as it is dark, around 9:30 p.m.

Patti Battle, Porterdale's new better hometown manager and a main organizer of the event, said attendees should bring their lawn chairs and blankets.

The Porterdale City Council made the decision to have the event in May. This year's event will be the first in an annual series of Fourth of July celebrations said Battle.

"This is the first time we've done anything like this," said Porterdale Mayor Bobby Hamby. "We wanted to do something patriotic to support our American troops and the U.S. as a whole. It's an idea I've thought about for a long time."

In the past funding problems have kept the city from being able to host such an event said Hamby. However with the opening of the Lofts and construction on several new subdivisions underway, the city council decided that the town had grown large enough and there was enough interest to support such a celebration.

"With Patti's help we were able to secure enough funds to put on a decent show," Hamby said.

Sponsors for the event include Jimbo's Grill at the Mill, BB&T Bank, Georgia Power, River Hill Subdivision, Creekside Subdivision and Washington Mutual.

"Next year we will have it on the fourth," Battle said. "Next year it will be a much bigger event."

Parking for the event will be available at the Porterdale ball field and the Baptist Church parking lot.