4th of July Midnight Parade

The First Independence Day Parade in the Nation marks its 39th year by honoring Women Veterans and Other U.S. Heroes. In the opening moment of July 4th Gatlinburg’s downtown sidewalks will be filled with some 100,000 people on hand to witness the excitement of the Gatlinburg July 4th Midnight Parade. 

Also featured in the parade will be the 572nd U.S. Air Force Band, members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Coast Guard - plus vintage military vehicles, local area public safety agencies, and lots more.  

The parade route will extend from traffic light #1a on East Parkway, with the parade turning south onto Parkway at traffic light #3, then traveling the length of the downtown street to traffic light #10 at Ski Mountain Road.  

Check out the parade route early to choose your best spot. Some 100,000 people will attend the parade and many of those will start placing their folding chairs along the route as early as 7 am on July 3rd.  

Police and fire department vehicles, bagpipes, marching bands, decorated and lighted floats, horses, large balloons, and more make up the Gatlinburg July 4th Midnight Parade. The parade is very exciting regardless of age.  

Get some rest after the parade, because Gatlinburg offers the River Raft Regatta – an unmanned floatables race, and several free admission concerts along with a spectacular fireworks display on July 4th.