Midnight Independence Day Parade in Gatlinburg a Fireworks Spectacular

For the 33rd consecutive year, Gatlinburg kicks off America’s Independence Day celebration with the nation’s first parade, Gatlinburg's Midnight Independence Day Parade, which leads off at 12 a.m. on Friday, July 4, to the cheers of close to 100,000 spectators and features a special tribute to our four branches of military service among the many highlights.

“This will be one of the most patriotic and colorful midnight parades that the City of Gatlinburg has ever produced,” according to Special Events Manager George Hawkins, who organized the first Gatlinburg 4th of July parade in 1976 in celebration of America’s Bicentennial. “We are very excited about the entire weekend of events, which will include a four-day festival highlighting our armed services!”

As soon as the street is closed late on July 3, the parade route comes alive with pre-parade entertainers that begin the excitement of what is to follow. Giant helium balloons soar through the skyline of downtown Gatlinburg, from red, white, and blue Stars to Alphonso the dragon, Humpty Dumpty, and a giant patriotic Eagle and All-Star Train.

More than 100 volunteers are signed on to help the balloons navigate the streets, with over 100 entries of all types scheduled to appear. National entries such as Schwan’s Foods and Red Baron Pizza often bring in their Blaine Kern-designed floats.

Gatlinburg’s popular River Raft Regatta takes place at noon on Friday, July 4th, beginning at the River Terrace bridge on River Road and ending at the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies bridge in downtown Gatlinburg. This unmanned river raft race will be hosted by the United States Navy and is open to anything floatable except balls and plastic eggs. In the past, families have entered boats made out of matchsticks, floating rocks, as well as little rubber ducks.

Registration begins at 10 a.m., with the race beginning promptly at noon. Support for the River Raft Regatta is provided by the Gatlinburg Recreation Department.

Then, just an hour after sundown, the Fourth’s Grand Finale occurs on the streets of downtown Gatlinburg with a fireworks extravaganza visible all along the Parkway from Applebee’s to the Sky Lift starting about 10:30 p.m. Lasting almost 20 minutes in duration, the sights and sounds of “the rocket’s red glare” will fill the sky as a fitting tribute to this day of celebrating freedom.

Information courtesy of Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce