Police urge early arrivals for parade and fireworks events as road closures are planned throughout the holiday
By SMOKIES.LIVE Staff
(GATLINBURG, Tenn.) — Gatlinburg is preparing to welcome thousands of residents and visitors for its annual Independence Day celebration, with city officials reminding the public that personal fireworks remain illegal within the city limits.
The holiday festivities, hosted by the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, will feature the city’s signature Fourth of July parade, the annual River Raft Regatta, a drone show and a fireworks finale.
Police Chief Ronnie Barrett encouraged attendees to enjoy the celebrations while following local laws.
“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,” Barrett said in a statement. “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 and the fireworks display.”
Under Gatlinburg Municipal Code, discharging fireworks is prohibited throughout the city, including in residential neighborhoods.
The celebration begins with Gatlinburg’s “First Independence Day Celebration in the Nation” parade, which steps off at 12:01 a.m. Friday. This year’s event commemorates America’s 250th anniversary and will travel south along Parkway from Traffic Light No. 3 to Traffic Light No. 10 at Ski Mountain Road.
To accommodate the parade, the Gatlinburg Police Department will implement several temporary road closures. Beginning at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, two southbound lanes of East Parkway between Food City and the Little House of Pancakes will be closed while maintaining two-way traffic. Additional closures and traffic stops will begin shortly before the parade, including the rerouting of northbound traffic from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Gatlinburg Bypass.
The holiday celebration continues Friday afternoon with the annual River Raft Regatta. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Edgewater Hotel, with the race starting at 1 p.m. Participants will launch homemade or decorated floatables into the Little Pigeon River, racing to the finish line near Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. An awards ceremony will follow at 2 p.m.
The celebration concludes Friday night with a drone show beginning at 9:50 p.m. above the Gatlinburg Convention Center, followed by the city’s annual fireworks display from the Gatlinburg Space Needle at 10 p.m.
Airport Road will be closed from Parkway to Cloverleaf Lane beginning at 9:15 p.m. until the fireworks display concludes.
Officials encourage attendees to arrive early for all events to allow extra time for parking and traffic delays.
Additional information about Gatlinburg’s Independence Day events is available through the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Watch the Gatlinburg midnight parade LIVE on Smokies.LIVE at midnight and replays all day on July 4th.
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