Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade

Gatlinburg celebrates the 4th of July in a big way, and this year will be no exception with the nation’s first Independence Day Parade. The event has been named a “Top Ten Parade to See in the US” by National Geographic Traveler magazine and rated by Livability.com as one of the “Five Best Fourth of July Celebrations in Smaller Cities.”

For over 45 years, Gatlinburg has kicked off the holiday with the first Independence Parade in the nation, stepping off at 12:01 a.m. on July 4.

Parade Route Information Stretching more than a mile, the parade route begins at Baskins Creek Bypass on East Parkway, turns south onto Parkway at traffic light #3, and travels the length of downtown to traffic light #10 at Ski Mountain Road. Parade-goers are encouraged to arrive early on Monday, July 3rd, to secure the perfect viewing area along the route.

Fireworks Display Gatlinburg’s Fourth of July celebrations will come to a close at 10:00 p.m. on July 4th, when visitors can enjoy a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display in the heart of downtown. The best viewing areas are located around traffic lights #3 and #5.