By sunset on July 4, roughly 20,000 sets of taillights are pointed toward the Lake Blue Ridge dam, waiting for the fireworks. By 10 a.m. on July 5, the parking spots along East Main are open again, the Old Timers' Parade barricades are stacked behind City Hall, and the town belongs back to the people who live here.
If you have a Fannin County address, you already know the calendar splits July into two seasons. The first week is the visitor version. The next three weeks are the one worth writing down.
The pivot happens on a Sunday
The Fourth fell on a Saturday this year, which means the pivot is sharper than usual.
