East Tennessee gears up to celebrate America’s milestone with area events
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, communities around East Tennessee are gearing up to celebrate the milestone.
From parades to library storytelling to fun at the park, Lenoir City has lined up a schedule of events. The events started with America 250 Storytime at Lenoir City Public Library Friday, June 16, in the library located along Broadway.
“The General William Lenoir branch of Daughters of the American Revolution read patriotic books and helped library users paint rocks.
The celebration continues with the city’s annual Lenoir City Independence Day Parade starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 4, along Broadway, from C Street to South Grand Street.
According to its site, the parade begins with a free children’s Firecracker Run, half-mile fun run for youngsters ages 5 to 12. All runners receive a participation award, and other prizes are presented.
The excitement continues when Lenoir City Parks and Recreation hosts its free annual Rockin’ the Dock 1 p.m., Saturday, July 4, in Lenoir City Park. See our story for more details on that event.
Kicking off July 4 events, the City of Loudon will host an America’s 250th Celebration 8 p.m., Friday, July 3, in at Tate & Lyle Amphitheater in Loudon Municipal Park, 1470 Roberson Springs Road, Loudon.
The free concert is part of the Levitt Family Foundation series of free concerts, said Tammy Roberts, program director for Loudon Alive, which is facilitating the concerts for the city.
The concert features the headliner, Wild Blue Yonder and its opening act, Knox Boombox. The gates are scheduled to close to traffic at 8 p.m. with fireworks at dark. For more information on the event, email to loudonalive3774@gmail.com or call 865-458-7525.
The city will hold its Independence Day Parade starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 4, along Mulberry Street.
According to its website, lineup is scheduled for 9 a.m., on Carter Street near Loudon High School.
Greenback also will celebrate with its annual 4th
of July Parade starting at 5 p.m., Saturday, July 4, in downtown Greenback. Festivities, such as live music, vendors, food trucks, face painting, will take place in Greenback Community Center, and fireworks are scheduled to start after dark.
Also, Blount County will be celebrating with Independence 250 Concert on the Fourth starting at 9 p.m., Saturday, July 4, at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center’s large covered amphitheater.
The event is expected to feature a 35-piece American brass band and live portrayals of historic figures, followed by a fireworks display in downtown Townsend. A $10 donation is suggested for admission.
Also, Blount Partnership Chamber of Commerce has an activity in which people can visit sites and win a prize.
“We have passports here for people to come and stamp,” said Rachel Souder with Blount Partnership. “The passports have different events in Blount County people can go to; and if they go to them, they come here [at the Blount Partnership office, 201 S. Washington St.] and we give them a stamp,” she said.
“One of them is our Townsend Fall Heritage Festival or if you go to a national park, we can stamp it or for history and tradition if you go to the Jack Green Park,” she said, adding the Chamber has a book filled with different places and activities to see.
“They will go to these events, and if they don’t have a passport, we can give them one and they fill it out their information and where they went,” Souder said. “If you get up to five stamps, you get a collectible Tennessee 250 poster. If you collect the most stamps, you’ll be entered in a grand prize drawing.”
She said the deadline to enter is Oct. 1.
Other location events include:
Monroe County:
• Sweetwater’s Independence Day Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, July 4, in Downtown Sweetwater with a parade, live music, dancing, shopping and fireworks.
• Madisonville’s Independence Day Festival 5 p.m., Saturday, July 4, in Houston Park., featuring a kid’s zone and splash pad, live music, fireworks and food trucks.
Anderson County:
• Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele are scheduled to headline the Concert in downtown Clinton from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, July 3, on Market Street.
• Oak Ridge Community Band’s 4th of July 250th Celebration 6 p.m., Saturday, July 4, in A.K. Bissel Park.
• Norris Day Celebration 8 a.m., Saturday, July 4, at The Commons in downtown Norris.
Sevier County
• Gatlinburg’s annual 4th of July Midnight Parade starts at 11:59 p.m., Friday, July 3, in downtown Gatlinburg.
• Pigeon Force Patriot Festival is Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, in Patriot Park, which features fireworks, food and live country music from Craig Morgan on July 3 and Carly Pearce on July 4.
• Gatlinburg’s 4th of July Drone Show & Fireworks Finale is 9 p.m., Saturday, July 4, at 120 Airport Road, Gatlinburg.
• Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta is 2 p.m., Saturday, July 4, at Edgewater Hotel & Conference Center along Little Pigeon River.
