Don’t Miss These Amazing July 4th Events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge

Independence Day is just around the corner, and the Great Smoky Mountains are gearing up for some fun celebrations! Read on to learn everything you need to know about all of the amazing July 4th events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

The Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade

Gatlinburg puts on the country’s first 4th of July parade at midnight! People come from all over the place to see this spectacular Independence Day parade, and about 80,000 people attend every year. Some of the incredible sights you’ll see in the parade include patriotic floats, enormous balloons, and costumed characters. Be sure to get to Gatlinburg early to grab a spot so you can watch this incredible parade!

Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta

The River Raft Regatta brings hundreds of people to the Little Pigeon River in downtown Gatlinburg for an unmanned raft race. The competition is open to anyone who wants to buy or make their own raft.

This year, attendees can choose to enter a rented rubber duck into the competition for only $2, or 3 ducks for $5. All proceeds go to the Gatlinburg Chamber Foundation. Those who finish in first, second and third place in the Treasure, Duck and Most Creative Float categories will receive trophies.

Registration for the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta begins at the Christ in the Smokies bridge on River Road at 11 a.m. The race will officially kick off at 1 p.m. and prizes will be given out in front of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Christ in the Smokies is located at 510 River Road and Ripley’s Aquarium is located at 88 River Road.

Pigeon Forge Fireworks Display

The Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival at Patriot Park has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Fourth of July Fireworks Displays” by Fox News. If you’re in the Smoky Mountain area for the 4th of July, this is definitely the place to be! The Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival starts July 4rd at 2 p.m. with food vendors opening. You’ll be able to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, and other delicious favorites. In the evening, you’ll be serenaded by free entertainment from the stage, which includes Runaway June and Whiskey Icarus. Joe Nichols is scheduled to headline this year’s July 4th Patriot Festival in Pigeon Forge. Nichols is a Grammy-nominated country music artist known for radio hits like “The Impossible” and “Home Run.”

Joe Nichols takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. and is followed by the city’s annual fireworks display. The show will last about 20 minutes, but it will be a spectacular display ringing in Independence Day! Parking for this event is free, and you can park in the Teaster Lane Lot. A shuttle will be available to take guests from this parking lot to Patriot Park. Patriot Park is located at 186 Old Mill Avenue in Pigeon Forge.

Fourth of July Celebration at the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

This year, the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is offering the biggest and best fireworks viewing party in Gatlinburg! The fireworks show is taking place at the Space Needle, which is directly across from (and 100 feet below) the SkyLift Park. You’ll love enjoying the show from up above instead of joining the crowds down below! Whether you want to grab a seat and relax on the SkyDeck to watch, or see the show from the SkyBridge, both spots offer incredible views. This is a specially ticketed event that begins at 8:30 P.M. on top of the mountain, with live music, food and drinks! The firework show will begin at 11 P.M. There is limited availability of tickets and they include access to the special 4th of July Celebration.

Gatlinburg Fireworks & Drone Finale

The Gatlinburg July 4th fireworks and drone show is simply spectacular! This year’s display will begin at 10:50 P.M. The drone display features patriotic themes that launch from the top of the Convention Center. The show features 200 drones and displays 13-18 images over a 10-minute span. Following the drone show, fireworks will be launched from the Space Needle. The observation tower stands at 407 feet tall, so everyone will have a great viewpoint of the fireworks lighting up the night sky!

Looking for a great cabin close to all of the awesome July 4th events in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge? Visit our Where to Stay in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge page to find the perfect vacation rental for your next trip to the Smokies!