July 4th in the Smokies | Celebrate America’s Birthday in the Great Smoky Mountains!
It’s All-American fun in the Great Smoky Mountains as we celebrate our nation’s 240th birthday in 2016! Here’s the all-star lineup of awesome events on July 4th in the Smokies!
Gatlinburg hosts the First Independence Day Parade in the Nation at Midnight on July 3rd. Get into the patriotic spirit of the holiday and celebrate America’s military heroes at this 41st annual parade. With marching bands from across the country and lighted floats, this is a one-of-a-kind parade not to be missed!
The celebration continues in Gatlinburg on Monday, July 4th with the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta on the Little Pigeon River. Any unmanned, floatable craft can be entered in the race to compete for prizes and trophies. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m. at the bridge on River Road in front of Christ in the Smokies. The race begins at 12:00 noon there and ends down at the bridge at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. To register for this free race, call the City of Gatlinburg Special Events Office at 800-588-1817.
The City of Pigeon Forge hosts the 26th Annual Patriot Festival beginning at 12:00 noon on Monday, July 4th at Patriot Park. This free event is an afternoon and evening of live music, great street food, and kid’s activities. Kids’ Carnival and food vendors open at 12:00 noon with live entertainment beginnning at 1:30 p.m. Festival music features Joe Diffie (performing at 8 pm) and an Allman Brothers Tribute Band along with our talented community chorus and local musicians. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets (no umbrellas or pop-up tents allowed) and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of patriotic family fun Pigeon Forge style. Then as the sky darkens, get ready for the grand finale. a Fireworks Spectacular at 9:30 pm. Free parking is available at the Municipal Parking Lot on Teaster Lane with free trolley shuttle service to Patriot Park for the festival. For more information, contact Pigeon Forge Office of Special Events at 800-251-9100.
There’s Fourth of July fun to be found at Smokies Stadium in Kodak as the Tennessee Smokies host the Jackson Generals at 7:00 p.m. It’s Dollar Night at the stadium so you can load up on hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi products (and get a program) for just $1 each! And enjoy a special post-game fireworks show for the holiday!
Gatlinburg’s Fireworks Finale will be held at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, July 4th. The downtown Parkway in Gatlinburg is a great vantage point to view grand fireworks finale at the Gatlinburg Space Needle. Word is the Plaza at Ripley’s Aquarium is a favorite spot, but really anywhere between traffic lights #3 and #5 provides a great view of the musical show.
Dollywood has a nightly fireworks show called Dolly’s Nights of Many Colors! From June 11 through August 7, 2016 at 9:30 p.m. Dollywood guests will enjoy an inspiring show of synchronized music featuring “Paint Your Dreams Across the Sky,” written by Dolly specifically for this special event.
