3 Can’t Miss July 4th Events in Gatlinburg

No one celebrates Independence Day like the city of Gatlinburg! If you’re going to be in the Smoky Mountain area for America’s birthday, you do not want to miss these three July 4th events in Gatlinburg. Read on to learn everything you need to know about all of the patriotic fun.

1. 4th of July Midnight Parade

The people of Gatlinburg are so excited about July 4th, they can’t even wait for the sun to come up! When the clock strikes midnight on the 4th, Gatlinburg will kick off the “First Independence Day Parade in the Nation.” Attracting over 100,000 spectators, this parade features live music, gorgeous floats, and appearances from every branch of the U.S. armed forces.

The Gatlinburg July 4th parade will start at the Baskins Creek Bypass. At traffic light #3, the parade will turn onto the Parkway and continue until reaching traffic light #10 at Ski Mountain Road.

2. River Raft Regatta

The Gatlinburg July 4th River Raft Regatta is an extremely popular unmanned raft race on the Little Pigeon River. TheRegatta is open to both store bought and handmade rafts, awarding prizes to the top 3 finishers in both categories. There will also be an additional prize for the most creative raft, so go ahead and let your imagination run wild. Remember, you can build your raft out of virtually anything that floats!

If you plan on entering your raft in the Regatta, come to the Christ in the Smokies bridge on River Road at 10:00 a.m. to register your raft. The race will start at noon, and
prizes will be given out in the plaza in front of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

3. Gatlinburg Fireworks Finale

It wouldn’t be the 4th of July without fireworks! Gatlinburg will finish up its day long Independence Day celebration with an incredible fireworks display. The fireworks will be between traffic lights #3 and #5, but you’ll be able to see the show from nearly anywhere downtown.

Alpine Chalet Rentals is just minutes away from all of these incredible July 4th events in Gatlinburg! Our cabins feature the very best amenities, including gorgeous mountain views, awesome game rooms, and swimming pool access. Check out our Gatlinburg Cabins page to find the perfect place to stay for your next Smoky Mountain vacation.