With growing signs that the Milledgeville Mall will not hold a fireworks display this year, local residents may be seeking other locations to view beautiful bangs over the skies of Milledgeville this year.

For the past few years, the mall has held a fireworks display as part of its annual “Family Safety Day” event, which has featured events such as a bouncy house, a wall climb and musical performances outside the mall.

State law requires the filing of a permit for a fireworks display in county probate court to officially notify the state fire commissioner’s office and local fire departments and authorities of an intention to hold a fireworks display.

While mall representatives or representatives from mall owners Augusta-based Hull Storey Gibson Properties were unable to be reached for comment, the permit for Milledgeville Mall had not been filed as of 5 p.m. Friday.

“I haven’t seen anything yet, and usually we hear about it,” Baldwin County Fire Chief Tommy Smith said late last week.

Despite the lack of fireworks, the mall is still promoting its Family Safety Day for Friday, July 3.

For those individuals or families seeking a fireworks display or a holiday happening, the Central Georgia area has several activities within a reasonable driving distance for Milledgeville residents.

Crooked Creek Marina in Eatonton on Lake Sinclair, for instance, will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue chicken at the marina just off Pea Ridge Road in Putnam County and will host live music featuring the 120/80 Vocal Band, Renegade and Moreland.

The evening will conclude with a scheduled fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

“We did a fireworks display last year and it went over great. We had about three to five thousand people in attendance if you count all the people who were on the water,” John Jansen, who owns the Crooked Creek property with brother Mike Jansen, said. “We literally had people hooting and hollering on the water for more than 45 minutes after it was over. It’s just great.”

For those who can’t make it to Crooked Creek, the Lake Sinclair area near the public fishing dock just across the Putnam-Baldwin County border is rumored to provide a kaleidoscope of color in the night skies every Fourth of July holiday evening from nearby fireworks displays.

“I think if you have access to a boat that there are always fireworks on the lake. I think people will have their own activities and their own Fourth of July activities with family and friends,” Jane Sowell, executive director of the Milledgeville/Baldwin County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Monday.

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynold’s Plantation, will hold a fireworks festivity Friday night in conjunction with the Oconee Performing Arts Society, featuring a concert from the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and a performance by musician Phil Driscoll.

“The fireworks display is open to the public, but it’s not free,” Lisa Kubik with Ritz-Carlton Lodge said Monday. “The public is welcome to attend, but there are reserved chair general seating at $35 per person, with lawn area seating at $10 and kids 12 and under $5. We will be providing off-property shuttle transportation with free parking, but an on-property parking pass is $20.”