When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, there is no better place to be than Gatlinburg TN! You’ll find a variety of exciting events to honor the birth of our great nation, including spectacular parades, firework displays, and more! The best part of all is that all the action is located just minutes away from our affordable Gatlinburg cabin rentals! Here are 4 fun ways to celebrate the 4th of July in Gatlinburg:
1. See the First Independence Day Parade in the Nation
The City of Gatlinburg has the distinguished honor of presenting the first Independence Day Parade in the nation! This award-winning midnight parade kicks off at 12:01 AM on July 4th and is the perfect way to get into the patriotic spirit! The parade starts at the intersection of East Parkway and Baskins Creek Bypass, then turns south onto Parkway at traffic light #3 and continues through town until Ski Mountain Road. Due to the popularity of this event, be sure to arrive early to secure your spot!
2. Enter the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta
Another one of the fun ways to celebrate the 4th of July in Gatlinburg is with the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta! This lively event is an Independence Day tradition and is an annual showdown of unmanned floatables racing down the Little Pigeon River! Registration starts at the former Christ in the Smokies Museum at 11:00 AM, then the competition launches into action at 1 PM culminating with the crossing of the finish line at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! Join the crowd of spectators or rent a rubber duck of your own to join in on the competition!
3. Watch the Dazzling Fireworks Display at the Gatlinburg Space Needle
No Independence Day celebration is complete without a dazzling fireworks display, so be sure to check out the Gatlinburg fireworks finale at the Gatlinburg Space Needle! The spectacular 20-minute show starts at 11 PM and is sure to end your 4th of July with a bang! To make things even more exciting, the city will be putting on a drone show to go with the fireworks this year! While the fireworks blast off from the Gatlinburg Space Needle, you’ll be able to see the display from virtually any vantage point throughout downtown Gatlinburg!
4. Attend the Fourth of July Celebration at Gatlinburg SkyPark
Take your Independence Day fun to the next level with the Fourth of July celebration at Gatlinburg SkyPark! You’ll not only get to experience the best view of the Gatlinburg fireworks, but have VIP after-hours access to the SkyBridge, SkyTrail, SkyDeck, and SkyCenter! VIP ticket holders will also get all-day access to Gatlinburg on July 5th so that you can enjoy the park’s attractions during the daylight hours. Don’t miss the opportunity to stroll across the SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America!
Check out all of our cabins in Gatlinburg TN today to make your plans to celebrate the 4th of July in Gatlinburg! We look forward to seeing you soon!
