Last Minute Details About The Fourth of July Celebration in Gatlinburg
Fire Away! Gatlinburg is set to celebrate the country’s independence with its own set of events. Most notably is the First Indpendence Day Celebration in the Nation parade kicking off at 12:01 A.M. on Thurday the 4th. This will begin at the intersection of 321 (East Parkway) and Baskins Creek Bypass. It will proceed southbound onto the Parkway at light 3, and end at Ski Mountain Road (light 10). Obviously, you will want to be here as early as possible to prevent traffic delays. This is a well-attended event, so if you can spend a day here, it will benefit you.
Below is some important traffic information to note:
The Gatlinburg Police Department will implement the following road closures for the Parade:
· The Gatlinburg Police Department will close two southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 321 (East Parkway) from Food City to Little House of Pancakes at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. Motorists will still be able to travel in both directions on this roadway.
· Immediately prior to the parade, all traffic on U.S. Highway 321 (East Parkway) will be stopped at 11:25 p.m. until the parade passes.
· All northbound traffic on U.S. Highway 441 will be re-routed from the National Park to the Gatlinburg Bypass at 11:15 p.m.
· All traffic will be stopped on the parade route at 11:40 p.m. and will not resume until the end of the parade.
The celebration doesn't end there. Independence Day in Gatlinburg will conclude with fireworks and a drone show, beginning at 10:50 P.M. This will be viewable from above the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Even though we didn’t have the best vantage point for the drone show which preceded the New Year’s Eve fireworks, what we saw was pretty cool, and I enjoyed watching videos of its entirety the day after.
Traffic will also be cut off on Airport Road for the fireworks and drone show at 10 P.M. at Cloverleaf Lane. If you need a landmark reminder where this is, it’s by the Gillette Motel.
Will you be attending this highly anticipated event in Gatlinburg? I’ll be working the day prior, so I hope to at least see a portion of the parade. This “old” man likes to wind down or at least be in bed around midnight, not roaming the town. As far as the fireworks go, I’ll certainly be around to hopefully witness the whole thing in good view.
On an important side note, I’m not trying to be a party pooper or rain on anyone’s fun on the Fourth, but it is illegal to discharge fireworks within the city limits of Gatlinburg, and this includes all residential neighborhoods. Be safe and smart everyone!
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