July 4th fireworks and parades 2022: Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and more
You can view the fireworks in World’s Fair Park from the eighth floor of the Sunsphere in Knoxville. Or party with country star Josh Turner. Or maybe take the family to Lakefront Park for water games and laser tag.
Check out these fun events and more ways to celebrate 2022 4th of July Independence Day celebrations in Knoxville and greater East Tennessee.
Festival on the 4th at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville
The Festival on the 4th at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville has music, food, and fireworks. Starting at 5 p.m. on July 4, there will be games and activities for all ages, including miniature golf and paddle boats. Fireworks begin at 9:35.
Leading up to the main event, Jenna Rose and Vibraslaps will perform on the Festival Lawn at 6 p.m. and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will present the 38th Annual Pilot Flying J Independence Day Concert at 8 p.m.
Attendance is free the event will take place rain or shine. There will also be free parking at World's Fair and Blackstock parking lots, 11th Street, Locust Street, Walnut Street, State Street and Market Square garages.
Pets, alcohol, personal tents, and personal canopies are prohibited. Find more information at knoxvilletn.gov.
Watch fireworks from the Sunsphere
Watch the fireworks in World's Fair Park from the Sunsphere!
From 7-10 p.m. on July 4, you can enjoy drinks, appetizers, and an ice cream bar by Rosa's Catering and get down to the Dj stylings of Kimzee Entertainment on the eighth floor of the Sunspshere.
But if you want the VIP experience, choose the sixth floor. Knoxville's Lauren Arp will be singing. Drinks will be served and Rosa’s Catering will provide a slider and hot dog bar with summer sides and ice cream.
Admission is $49-$150. Visit facebook.com/sunsphereevents for ticket details and more information.
Mabry's Hill
Bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the seven acres at Mabry-Hazen House at 1711 Dandridge Ave. in Knoxville and enjoy live music, food trucks, local beer, games and tours of the historic house. With downtown Knoxville to the west, and the Great Smoky Mountains to the south, Mabry’s Hill offers great views of the fireworks around the region.
Have fun and get a little competitive by joining three-legged races, watermelon seed spitting contests, cornhole, and croquet games. Trotta Montgomery Realty Company will hand out ice cream from a pony and cart and the house museum will be open for self-guided tours.
Admission is $5 for children and $15 for adults. The celebration is 5-10 p.m. July 4. More info at mabryhazen.com/fourthofjuly.
Farragut parade
Farragut’s annual Independence Day Parade will kick off at Farragut High School at 9:30 a.m. July 4. It will proceed down Lendon Welch Way and continue on Boring Road.
This year's grand marshals are Euphoric Cheese Shop owners Amy Burritt and Cheri Intveld.
The fifth annual Farragut Freedom Run (1-mile & 2-mile) Knoxville will start at 9 a.m. prior to the beginning of the parade. The flat course is certified for all levels. Visit runsignup.com/farragutfreedomrun to register.
Clinton fireworks and fun
There will be more than fireworks to enjoy at Lakefront Park this Fourth of July. Laser tag, inflatable bounce houses, water games, axe throwing and even a petting zoo will offer fun for everyone. Several food vendors like The Pup Hut, Sticks and Scoops, Bayou Bites, Big Butts BBQ, and Catherine’s Catering will also be on site.
The free festival is 5-10 p.m. Find more details at clintontn.net/recreation.
Anvil Shoots at Museum of Appalachia
Why attend a parade or watch fireworks when you can watch 150-pound anvils shoot into the sky?
The Museum of Appalachia in Clinton will continue its tradition of celebrating Independence Day by igniting anvils with gunpowder and hurling them into the sky, a common way pioneers used to celebrate holidays and special occasions.
“The earth literally shakes,” says Museum president, Elaine Meyer.
The anvil shoots will be at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. July 4 at the museum. There will also be a bell-ringing ceremony, flag procession, live music, and demonstrations from spinners, sawmillers, blacksmiths, woodworkers, and more.
Tickets are $6-$45 and can be purchased at museumofappalachia.org. The event is free for Museum members.
Gatlinburg 4th of July Midnight Parade
Be one of the first to celebrate our nation's independence with a midnight parade in Gatlinburg.
The mile-long parade will begin at 12:01 a.m. July 4 (that's overnight between Sunday and Monday) on Baskins Creek Bypass and march through downtown Gatlinburg toward Ski Mountain Road. Arrive early on the evening of July 3 in order to find good spots to view the parade.
Gatlinburg’s Independence Day celebrations will continue at 10 p.m. on July 4 downtown for a 20-minute fireworks display. Music from Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales will fill the Gatlinburg streets.
The parade and fireworks show are both free. Visit gatlinburg.com for details.
Smokin' the Water in Kingston
Food and craft vendors will be at Kingston’s free Fourth of July festival and fireworks show Smokin' the Water at Kingston City Park from 4-11 p.m. July 4. There will also be performances by Dirt Floor Doctors, C.J. Auburn and Fairview Union.
Visit parks.kingstontn.gov/special-events for more information.
Rockin' the Docks in Lenoir City
Spend a full day on Fort Loudon Lake for Rockin' the Docks in Lenoir City.
From 1-10:30 p.m., on July 2 at Lenoir City Park, live bands will be performing, a variety of snacks and food offered by vendors, and there will be a play area for children.
The free day-long event is capped with fireworks. Visitors are asked to leave pets at home and alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Lenoir City's Fourth of July parade begins at 11:15 a.m. July 4 on South C Street. It will begin shortly after the Firecracker Run, a half-mile race for kids 5-12.
More information on Lenoir City's July 4 events are available at facebook.com/lcparksandrecreation.
Loudon celebration on July 3 and 4
Enjoy tailgating at Loudon Municipal Park on July 3 with music and food trucks. Gates open at 5 p.m. and will close for car traffic at 8 p.m. The fireworks will begin at 10.
Inside the park offers the best viewing of the fireworks, but they can also be enjoyed from the areas surrounding the park.
Loudon's Independence Day parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4 on Mulberry Street. More details for Loudon's events are available at facebook.com/loudonparks.
Music at Oak Ridge
The Oak Ridge Community Band will celebrate Independence Day with a concert of patriotic songs at A.K. Bissell Park from 7:30-10 p.m. on July 4.
Razzelberry’s Ice Cream will be onsite to help keep goers cool. Fireworks will end the night’s festivities. It’s free admission and blankets and chairs are welcome. Check out exploreoakridge.com/event for more info.
Patriot Fest in Pigeon Forge
Celebrate Independence Day with country and gospel music star Josh Turner. The Grammy-nominated singer is headlining the annual Patriot Fest in Pigeon Forge.
The free festival is 4-10:35 p.m. on July 4 at Patriot Park. Food vendors, games, and activities will be available throughout the night. A fireworks show will cap the evening.
There will also be performances by classic rock cover band Liquid Velvet and Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band Swamp River Revival.
Bring lawn chairs and blankets, but umbrellas and coolers are prohibited. pigeonforge.com/event/patriot-festival has more information.
Parade in Powell
Celebrate the Fourth in Powell by attending the Annual Powell Lions Club 4th of July Parade! The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. July 4 near Powell Middle School and end at the back parking lot of Powell High School.
Things to bring to Fourth of July events
Lawn chairs or blankets
Cash just in case some vendors are cash-only
Ear protection for toddlers, infants, and even adults
Water to stay cool and hydrated. But check to ensure the specific venue allows outside beverages.
What not to bring
Leave pets at home. Dogs can become aggressive and run off when fireworks begin.
Canopies and tents can block the views of others watching the fireworks. However, some venues due allow them; to check the venue’s policy before packing any tents or canopies.
Alcohol is prohibited at many public July 4 events. Check the venue's policy on alcoholic beverages before arriving.
What are Knoxville's fireworks rules?
The city of Knoxville “prohibits possession, transportation, storage, manufacture, sale, handling, and discharge of display fireworks without a permit from the fire marshal.”
Pyrotechnic permit applications can be found at the Fire Marshal’s Office at 400 Main St. and at knoxvilletn.gov.
Use of fireworks without a permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: July 4th fireworks and parades in Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge
