FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL TO BE DISCHARGED IN THE CITY
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Independence Day in the City of Gatlinburg will be celebrated through events hosted by the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau this upcoming July 3 and 4th and citizens and visitors are encouraged to attend and take part in these events.
Individuals are also reminded that it is illegal to discharge fireworks in the corporate limits of Gatlinburg, per the Gatlinburg Municipal Code. This code covers all locations in Gatlinburg, including residential neighborhoods.
“We ask that all Gatlinburg citizens and visitors safely enjoy the Independence Day holiday and adhere to the City ordinance regarding the discharge of fireworks,” said Gatlinburg Police Chief Ronnie Barrett. “There are several public events to enjoy and celebrate the Holiday and we ask that everyone arrive early to avoid traffic congestion for the parade on Thursday night and the fireworks display on Friday evening.”
For information on all Independence Day events in Gatlinburg, visit www.Gatlinburg.com/July4
FOURTH OF JULY PARADE: The annual ‘First Independence Day Celebration in the Nation’ Fourth of July parade begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 4. The parade begins at the intersection of U.S. Highway 321 (East Parkway) and Baskins Creek Bypass. The route proceeds southbound onto Parkway at Traffic Light No. 3 and concludes at Traffic Light No. 10, which is at the intersection of Parkway and Ski Mountain Road.
Parade attendees are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic delays.
The Gatlinburg Police Department will implement the following road closures for the Parade:
· The Gatlinburg Police Department will close two southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 321 (East Parkway) from Food City to Little House of Pancakes at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 3. Motorists will still be able to travel both directions on this roadway.
· Immediately prior to the parade, all traffic on U.S. Highway 321 (East Parkway) will be stopped at 11:25 p.m. until the parade passes.
· All northbound traffic on U.S. Highway 441 will be re-routed from the National Park to the Gatlinburg Bypass at 11:15 p.m.
· All traffic will be stopped on the parade route at 11:50 p.m. and will not resume until the end of the parade.
FIREWORKS FINALE: Independence Day celebrations will conclude with a fireworks display from the Space Needle at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 4. A drone show will precede the fireworks display beginning at 9:50 p.m. The show will be viewable above the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
RIVER RAFT REGATTA: The annual River Raft Regatta will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 4 in downtown Gatlinburg. All contestants will begin the day at the race’s starting line at the Edgewater Hotel. Registration for the event begins at 11 a.m. at the Edgewater Hotel for participants to register their floatable.
The race begins at 1 p.m. and ends after all floatables have crossed the finish line at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. An awards ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at Ripley’s Aquarium plaza.
For the latest updates from the City of Gatlinburg, visit GatlinburgTN.gov or visit the City’s Social Media pages on Facebook and X. Individuals can also keep up with the latest from the City of Gatlinburg by downloading the City’s Mobile App on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store by searching for “City of Gatlinburg”.
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