Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade at Midnight

The 4th of July Midnight Parade in Gatlinburg, TN is held every year as the “first 4th of July Parade” in the nation. Get the details on when it happens and where to before the Fourth of July in Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

Gatlinburg 4th of July parade fireworks and flag

Come see the first 4th of July parade of the year in Gatlinburg, TN! Every year, the parade starts at midnight, and it’s the first 4th of July parade to kick off in the entire country!

The parade starts at midnight on the evening of July 3rd. The annual Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade at Midnight is expected to bring over 100,000 spectators! The the city of Gatlinburg expects that it will continue to grow each year, too!

The streets will be closed to vehicles at approximately 11 p.m. on July 3rd so plan to get there early. You will want to pack a chair for your evening, so you can relax and wait on the parade to pass! You can see the parade anywhere from downtown on the main strip, so don’t sweat it too much if you have trouble finding a spot in the middle of downtown! You’ll see the same parade at the beginning and end of the route, so just find a place where you can be comfortable!

During the parade, there will be a tribute to the 5 military branches – a major highlight of the parade and rightfully so.

Also, Gatlinburg will be having a fireworks show around the same time as the Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade, which will begin about an hour after sundown. The display can be seen along most of the Parkway. The fireworks show is supposed to last around 20 minutes, so make sure you don’t miss it!

Tips for Visiting the Gatlinburg 4th of July ParadeFireworks to celebrate the 4th of July

  • Arrive early to get the best spot!
  • Pack snack and drinks so you don’t have to leave your spot!
  • If you spend the day in Gatlinburg, stop by one of the amazing restaurants in the area to grab an early dinner before the parade begins.
  • Take a few folding chairs and blankets to make you comfortably while you wait.
  • Don’t forget your camera!

If you won’t be in Gatlinburg, you can check out the 4th of July fireworks in Pigeon Forge. The Pigeon Forge event will have free concerts on July 4th. The Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge events are both free and will be a great time for the entire family! We can’t wait to see you soon!

6 thoughts on “Gatlinburg 4th of July Parade at Midnight”

  1. I am so excited about the parade. never heard of a midnight parade before. that is awesome, & if we r in gatlinburg we will be there. we r suppose to be there, but right now not sure. thanks for newsletter, love it

  2. OMG!!! I was in Gatlinburg on the 4th for this parade and didn’t even know it was happening til the nice gentleman at the hotel called sydney james resort (the maintenance guy) told us about it!

    It was definitely the most wonderful , awesome parade I and my kids also my best friend has EVER attended! It was very patriotic and a long parade which is nice because all the others last only a little while….this one is like an hr and half maybe more! Well worth the trip just to go for the 4th!

    I love Gatlinburg and now I know I will plan my vacation around this parade so I can see it again!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! And u will too!!!!

  3. We will be moving to Wright-Patterson AFB this summer. Our half way point is Gatlinburg, TN. I just love July 4th. Can’t wait to see the parade. A special thanks goes out to all the military, men and women that keep us safe (Police, Firefighters, EMT, etc)

  4. I attended the first in in 1976, held in honor of the bicentennial and it has been held ever since. I will be at this one for the first time since 1976 (I’ve been working out of the country). It is an awesome parade.

  5. I love the 4th parade, I love Gatlinburg and I just retireed and I seriously am thinking about moving to Gatlinburg.

  6. We were there last year and had a Wonderful time going for a repeat performance this year, can’t wait!!!

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