For 34 years and counting, Gatlinburg Tennessee has been one of the first cities in all the country to celebrate Independence Day. You can't get much earlier officially than Midnight, 5 minutes after 11:55 PM, July 3rd, and you can't celebrate it better without a parade.
More than 100,000 people gather between Stoplights #3 and #10 to watch. All the way up and down the parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, the streets will close and fill with endless floats from local businesses and on the special occasion of the Park's 75th anniversary, the city of Gatlinburg will recreate President Roosevelt's motorcade as part of the the parade. The event lasts more than an hour and you will enjoy every minute of it.
Then its off to bed with you. You'll need to rest to enjoy the activities of the coming day, and Sidney James is just a short walk up the road, away from all the vehicular traffic and into a soft, comfortable bed.
At noon, the popular River Raft Regatta takes place along River Road behind the Mountain Mall (at the Aquarium). Registration begins at 10 a.m. and at promptly noon, all kinds of floating objects race towards the Aquarium. This is a free event sponsored by the Gatlinburg Parks and Recreations department.
Your day is free from there, and between the River Raft Regatta and the big show at night, you have a lot of time on your hands. Its going to be hot, so take advantage of Sidney James' THREE pools, on site Ice Cream at the Cafe, and fun in the sun. If the kids are itching for play time, you've got an expansive city park within a short walking distance.
And then at sunset, the show begins. "Stand Here" is Gatlinburg's suggestion for enjoying the fireworks, meaning between Light #3 and the Sky Lift, you'll be able to witness a 20-minute display of lights and pyrotechs 500 feet overhead. It caps off a perfect evening to an eventfully rich day of Independence.
All courtesy of Sidney James.
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