Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Celebrating July 4th In The Smokies
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on July 1, 2014
Later this week, we celebrate our nation's 238th birthday with the observance of Independence Day. And if you happen to be visiting the Great Smoky Mountains this Friday the 4th, or into the weekend, you'll have several choices when it comes to fun and unique ways to say “Happy birthday, America!”
Gatlinburg's always a good place to start, especially considering that their 4th of July Midnight Parade is the nation's first Independence Day celebration each year. At midnight on the 3rd, some 100,000 spectators will be gathered on the streets of downtown to get a look at this red-white-and-blue nighttime spectacle.
The route runs from traffic light #1A on East Parkway and ends at traffic light #10 at the south end of Parkway. If you plan to watch, get there early. Some guests claim their parade-route spots as early as the morning of the 3rd.
The festivities continue at noon on the 4th with the city's annual River Raft Regatta, which takes place on the river downtown-between Christ in the Smokies attraction and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies-and at 10 that night, the city's annual fireworks display lights up the night skies. The best spot for viewing this free pyrotechnics show is between traffic lights #3 and #5.
Meanwhile in Pigeon Forge, the 24th Annual Patriot Festival welcomes thousands of guests to Patriot Park for a free event that caters to visitors of all ages. Live music includes the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus, a bluegrass band, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band and headliners Lonestar. Throughout the day, food vendors will be selling tasty edibles, with a portion of proceeds going to charity, and it's all capped off that night with a fireworks display.
Parking at Patriot Park is free, and a trolley shuttle service will run between the municipal parking lot on Teaster Lane and the park.
And yes, our Smoky Mountain zip lines will be open this weekend as well, offering a great way to celebrate our nation's birthday by letting you have fun in the midst of some of its finest scenery.
