Cable network Destination America will host Fourth of July celebrations this weekend in the communities of Waveland, Miss., and Oroville, Calif., which were selected from a pool of 2,600 entrants in the network's third annual Red, White and You contest.

The network created the holiday-linked public service initiative in 2013 as its contribution to Discovery Impact, Discovery Communications's corporate social responsibility program, which challenged each of the programmer's networks to come up with their own community service efforts.

For both communities the weekend will mark the return of Independence Day fireworks following years of difficulties.

Waveland is a Gulf Coast beach town that just barely survived 1969's Hurricane Camille (which Southerners along the coast still speak about in hushed tones) only to become the ground zero of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Ten years later, Waveland, with a population of less than 6,500, is still recovering from the devastating storm, having just reopened its iconic pier on June 20. The Waveland Police Department said it was preparing for a crowd of 15,000 to 30,000 people for the $50,000 July 4th spectacular, according to local news reports.

"I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of rebuilding since Katrina than to have this celebration,” said Mayor Mike Smith of Waveland. "Our people are very resilient, but this will help in the healing process."

Oroville, dubbed the City of Gold for its role during the California Gold Rush, today is one of the leading water sources for the entire state but is at only 44% capacity, according to a photo essay at the San Francisco Chronicle's website. With the still ongoing statewide drought and other local economic challenges, fireworks traditionally displayed from atop the Oroville Dam have been canceled the last several summers.

Destination America's Red, White and You initiative will restore that grand tradition in the seat of Butte County, where personal possession and use of fireworks are banned outside the city limits, in unincorporated areas of the county, according to the local Gridley Herald.

"[T]he California drought has been difficult for everyone, including us," said Oroville Mayor Linda Dahlmeier. "This 4th of July celebration will encourage our community and remind us of our rich history.”

The two communities' "stories of recovery and resilience" piqued the network's interest, Marc Etkind, Destination America GM, said, adding, "[T]heir incredible display of hometown pride and American spirit are what makes them especially deserving."

Communities that have won the Destination America contest in the past include 2014 grand prize winners Prescott, Ariz., a town still recovering from the wildfires that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters, and Hamtramck, Mich., a city making a comeback from economic hard times. The inaugural 2013 winners were Union Beach, N.J., a Jersey Shore town hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, and Fayetteville, N.C., a community that enthusiastically supports its military partners at Fort Bragg.

“Independence Day is a time to bring communities together," Etkind said, "and Destination America is privileged to support these towns as they honor their pasts while working hard to ensure a bright future.”

Destination America launched this year's contest in March. The winning submissions came from residents of each community; they are reprinted below.

Waveland, Miss. – Nominated by Donna Estopinal
It's been almost 10 years since Hurricane Katrina attacked Waveland, MS leaving our beautiful city in ruins.  She did not attack a few, the entire city was affected.  Not only did she put people out of work, she also put them out of their homes.  Many people were forced to move away leaving their dreams behind to start over somewhere else.  Those who stayed were determined to rebuild not just their homes but our beautiful city as well.  Waveland is coming back stronger and better than before.  Our pier will be open soon, our veterans' memorial is more beautiful than before and on and on.  We are recovering and moving forward slow but sure.  Everyone in the City of Waveland works hard everyday.  What better place to show off our determination in rebuilding than Waveland, Ms by having a "Red, White and You" celebration, fireworks and all!

Oroville, Calif. – Nominated by Deliah Robison
Oroville, CA deserves a wonderful 4th of July celebration. Oroville, named the City of Gold, is a historical point for the gold rush. Oroville is home to one of the largest dams. Many retired military Veterans reside here. It means a lot to those families and their community to celebrate and remember what their service was for. In the past, our town hosted a large fireworks show from the dam, but the costs have become too high in many previous years. Last year, they ran many fundraisers to host the fireworks show. It would mean a lot to our town to be able to celebrate without cutting back or having to run numerous fundraisers. We have many access points and can even host neighboring towns by opening our state parks and marinas for more places to watch the fireworks. Please consider our town.

Two communities -- one hard hit by Hurricane Katrina a decade ago, another suffering through drought and an economic downturn -- will see Fourth of July fireworks celebrations restored this year after their selection as Destination America's "Red, White and You" contest.

This is the third year the Discovery-owned network, in tandem with USA Today, has asked communities across the country to make a case for why their hometowns deserve to have a big patriotic party thrown for their populaces. Out of 2,600 entries, the winning communities are:

• Waveland, Miss., on the Gulf Coast, which will celebrate its recovery and rebuilding accomplishments with the first July Fourth fireworks celebration in a decade;
• Oroville, Calif., which will restore a past tradition of a fireworks display at the 770-foot-tall dam that provides the leading water source for the entire state -- but which has seen the lake dwindle in paralyzing drought conditions and suffered economic hardships that have pre-empted the pyrotechnics in recent years. (See photo, via ABCnews.com; credit Paul Hames/California Department of Water Resources via Getty Images|Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.)

“Waveland and Oroville captured our attention with their stories of recovery and resilience while their incredible display of hometown pride and American spirit are what makes them especially deserving of the Red, White and You grand prize celebration,” Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America, said in a release. “Independence Day is a time to bring communities together, and Destination America is privileged to support these towns as they honor their pasts while working hard to ensure a bright future.”

“I am delighted that Destination America and USA Today have chosen the beautiful City of Waveland for a July 4th celebration," mayor Mike Smith said in the release. "Our people are very resilient, but this will help in the healing process to recover from a devastating hurricane such as Katrina. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of rebuilding since Katrina than to have this celebration.”

“We are so honored to receive the Red, White, and You celebration hosted by Destination America and USA Today," Oroville mayor Linda Dahlmeier said similarly. "Oroville has grown through the gold rush, the logging industry, and the monumental build of the Oroville Dam. Oroville is the beginning of the State Water Project and the California drought has been difficult for everyone, including us. This 4th of July celebration will encourage our community and remind us of our rich history.”

Last summer, the festivities were held in Prescott, Ariz., in recovery from deadly wildfires that killed 19 brave firefighters, and in hard-hit Hamtramck, Mich.

The first Red, White and You parties, in 2013, took place in Union Beach, N.J., a coastal town recovering from Hurricane Sandy, and Fayetteville, N.C., a community that enthusiastically supports its military partners at Fort Bragg, as Destination America noted.

Destination America has selected communities in Arizona and Michigan as the winners of its second annual "Red, White and You" contest.

Prescott, Ariz. and Hamtrack, Mich. will host spectacular Fourth of July celebrations, courtesy of Destination America and USA Weekend.  

“We are honored to celebrate our nation’s birthday with these two very worthy communities,” said Marc Etkind, general manager for Destination America.  “Fourth of July is a balance of remembrance with celebration and we hope to encourage the spirit and tradition of the holiday in Hamtramck,  while commemorating the heroic firefighters of Prescott.”

The contest, borne out of many communities’ lack of funding to stage traditional events, last year awarded Union Beach, NJ, a coastal town recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, and Fayetteville, NC, a community which enthusiastically supports its military partners at Fort Bragg.  

Launched in March, the 2014 Red, White and You contest, drawing 2,500 entries, asked folks across the country to put their pride on display to prove why their respective towns were most deserving of an over-the-top Independence Day party. Prescott is still recovering from the devastating wildfires that tragically claimed the lives of 19 brave firefighters, while Hamtramck is a city that has been hit by hard times, but in true American spirit is working to make a comeback.

Columbus, Ga., Charleston, W.V., Aiken, S.C., Ellwood City, Penn.; and Toledo, Ohio are the five runners-ups and will be feted with dazzling fireworks displays.

Additionally, an online poll for People’s Choice winner, which took place at DestinationAmerica.com, resulted in three winners with Delmont, S.D, Gloucester, Mass. And Hackleburg, Ala., coming out on top, each receiving $4000 toward their local parks and recreation departments.

Last year, Destination America lined up a spectacular party for Union Beach, headlined by Grammy Award-winning band The Mavericks. Union Beach was treated to barbeque from stars of the network’s series BBQ Pitmasters Myron Mixon and Tuffy Stone. In Fayetteville, there was a more patriotic nod to our country’s armed forces: the 82ndAirborne Division Chorus performed after a traditional posting of the colors and remarks from Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, deputy commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.