As the 4th of July quickly approaches, it is time to make your plans to celebrate Independence Day in the Smokies! The great news is that there are several exciting July 4th activities and fireworks displays taking place throughout Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg! Get in your patriotic gear, grab an American flag and get ready to check out these fantastic ways you can celebrate the 4th of July in the Smoky Mountains:

Patriot Festival in Pigeon Forge

 The Patriot Festival is a popular annual Independence Day event with an evening full of great live music and a spectacular fireworks finale! The event takes place at Patriot Park, where a complimentary shuttle will drop off passengers from the free event parking at the Teaster Lane Municipal Parking Lot. The fun starts at noon with food vendors and a free carnival for kids, then continues from 1:30 to 9:30 PM with a variety of live entertainment. The finale is a fireworks display at 9:45 PM where the skies will be filled with a stunning array of colors to celebrate the birthday of our great nation!

Fourth of July Midnight Parade in Gatlinburg

Start your Independence Day celebration early by attending the Fourth of July Midnight Parade in Gatlinburg! This parade kicks off at 12:01 AM on July 4th and starts at traffic light #1A on the East Parkway before continuing south on Parkway at traffic light #3. It then runs the full length of downtown to traffic light #10. This parade has honored America’s Military Veterans and other U.S. Military Heroes for more than 40 years and has been named by National Geographic Traveler Magazine as a “Top Ten Parade to See in the US”. Come on out to join nearly 80,000 spectators to cheer on our nation’s heroes in this classic American small town parade!

Gatlinburg’s Fireworks Finale 

Another great way to celebrate the Fourth of July in the Smoky Mountains is by attending Gatlinburg’s Fireworks Finale, a 20 minutes fireworks spectacle in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg! This explosive finale takes place at 10 PM with the best viewing areas around traffic lights #3 and #5. Come out early to enjoy a free concert at 8:30 PM by the 100th Army Band at Ripley’s Aquarium Plaza, who will also be performing after the fireworks at 10:20 PM.

Celebrate in Your Cabin

If you prefer a relaxing July 4th holiday without the crowds, celebrate Independence Day in the comfort of your cabin from Acorn Cabin Rentals! The full kitchen in our cabins has all the amenities you need to prepare a traditional July 4th picnic, as well as convenient outdoor grills for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. After enjoying your meal, kick back in front of a flat screen television to watch fireworks displays from around the country in air-conditioned comfort!

Check out all of our cabins in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge today to plan your 4th of July in the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to seeing you soon at Acorn Cabin Rentals!