Good food shared with family and friends and fantastic fireworks are two key ingredients for a successful Fourth of July, and the Collingwood Apartment Homes team in Alpharetta, Georgia, is here with the recipe!

Fireworks & Holiday Celebration At Wills Park

In keeping with tradition, the City of Alpharetta will celebrate this great nation of ours with a brilliant display of fireworks at Wills Park on Friday, July 4, 2025, starting at dusk, about 9:15 p.m. (In case of a weather delay, the latest the show will start is 10:40 p.m.)

All main parking lots along Wills Road will be open until they reach capacity. Once that happens, these roads will close until the end of the show, so plan accordingly:

• Old Milton Parkway from Wills Road to State Route 9
• Wills Road from Old Milton Parkway to State Route 9

Be sure to get there early with your blanket, picnic, and lawn games so you can make some memories before the explosive fun begins!

The Perfect Picnic

The Collingwood Apartment Homes team asked * the Idea Specialists™ * what they would pack for the perfect picnic to take to the park. They said they’re big fans of the Real Simple Picnic Checklist, which includes everything from reminders to take bug spray and a portable speaker to suggestions for food and beverages. The best advice from Real Simple? “Picnic fare is all about food that will taste great whether you eat it now or two hours from now. It should be easy to eat and clean up. And the less utensils needed, the better.” Amen to that!

And, the Idea Specialists™ are in agreement that every picnic basket should contain something sweet and something savory. Small portions are better than large—easier to manage on a plate, or, even better on a skewer, like these fun—and patriotic!—peanut butter and jelly skewers from Weelicious. You could do this with just about any kind of sandwich. Heck, you could even do a skewer alternating bites of your  favorite brownies and chocolate chip cookies with fruit. (Which of course you should pick up at the downtown Alpharetta Farmers Market.)

Now, everybody thinks they’ve got the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the world. We’re not going to argue, because so do we! But we are going to suggest that everyone give Ovenly’s Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies a try. Oh my heavens at the melty goodness!

Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Goodness

And speaking of recipes and goodness, everybody also has their favorite macaroni and cheese, right? Just like grandma used to make—unless your grandma preferred that box of instant with the powdered orange stuff in it. Not that we’re judging. We listen, and we don’t judge.

We’re talking about macaroni and cheese now not because it’s a great picnic food (cold macaroni salad works better for that), but because Monday, July 14, 2025, is…..drum roll, please…..National Mac and Cheese Day!

Yep, America’s classic comfort food has its own day. Nobody’s sure quite how or why, but you can read about the history of the dish and its connection to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. And then you can take advantage of your upscale Collingwood Apartment Homes kitchen to make Southern Living’s Best-Ever Homemade Macaroni and Cheese.

Cheers!

You can’t have a picnic, whether at the Fourth of July celebration or on the sun deck by our luxury apartment home community’s sparkling pool, without something to quench your thirst. If you want more than just a plain Coke and a smile, try the popular Kalimotxo cocktail—a mix of Coca-Cola and red wine. Men’s Journal says the drink got its start in the Basque region of Spain, and now there are multiple variations on the theme.

Remember, whatever you drink, don’t bring glass to the pool!

And while there’s nothing wrong with a classic red SOLO 18-ounce party cup, why not treat yourself to some fun tumblers like these 24-ounce reusable thick plastic sunflower cups from Amazon? They come complete with straw and lid, perfect for sipping without spilling!

Be safe, have fun!

* The Idea Specialists™ *

The Idea Specialists™ is a group of design and inspiration professionals with a focus on communications for the luxury apartment home industry, as well as custom lifestyle planning and more.