Fourth of July Festivals - Tennessee

Etowah Annual Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
Etowah begins its 4th of July Celebration with an Annual Boy Scout Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. Events for the day include a road race, family games, food booths, live entertainment, and other events taking place throughout the entire day. The climax of the event begins at 8:00 p.m. with music from a live band, followed by the largest fireworks display ever in Etowah provided by ThyssenKrupp-Waupaca Foundry. Bring your lawn chairs and plan to stay the entire day. L & N Depot Grounds- Downtown Historic Etowah. 423-263-2228. www.chilhowee.com

Gatlinburg's Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade
Downtown Gatlinburg.  Enjoy lighted floats, marching bands, and giant helium balloons.  Parade begins at 12:01 a.m. on the 4th of July, which is one minute after midnight on July 3rd. For the 31st consecutive year, Gatlinburg will kick off America’s Independence Day celebration with the nation’s first parade, which will lead off at midnight to the cheers of 70,000 to 100,000 spectators. A tribute to the five branches of military service will be one of the many highlights. As soon as the street is closed, the parade route will come alive with pre-parade entertainers that will begin the excitement of what is to follow. Giant helium balloons will soar through the skyline of downtown Gatlinburg, from red, white, and blue Stars to Alphonso the dragon, Humpty Dumpty, and a giant patriotic Eagle and All-Star Train. More than 100 volunteers will be signed on to help the balloons navigate the streets of Gatlinburg, with more than 100 entries of all types scheduled to appear. National entries such as Schwann Foods and Red Baron Pizza will bring in their Blaine Kern-designed floats.