What to Do for the 4th of July in Knoxville
Emilie Stooksbury
What to Do for the 4th of July in Knoxville
FIRST THINGS FIRST: I now have multiple friends who think of me when they eat hot dogs. Y’all, I can’t stress this enough: I. Love. Hot. Dogs. And there’s not a holiday out there that celebrates the hot dog like the 4th of July. Just like Jennifer Coolidge, it makes me want a hot dog real bad BUT there’s more to do in Knoxville for Independence Day than just eat some dawgs! So if you’re new to Knoxville or just looking for some fun ways to spend the holiday, here are a few fun ways to spend the Fourth of July in Knoxville, Tennessee!
1.) FROM THE WATER:
If you’re new to the city and still on the hunt for a boat friend (because c’mon, everyone needs a boat friend), the Star of Knoxville has you covered. This riverboat is not only painted thematically, they serve up a meal, provide entertainment, and (most importantly) give you a rad view of the Scruffy City and the fireworks show a la the Tennessee River. Click here to snag tickets.
2.) TO THE TOP OF THE HILL:
Another unique way to see the fireworks is by headin’ to the top of the hill just east of Downtown Knoxville where the historic Mabry-Hazen House sits. You can enjoy a whole evening of good ole fashioned summer fun – and we dooo mean old fashioned 😂 Expect a 19th century Independence Day party including sack races, watermelon seed spitting contests, three-legged races, bocce, croquet, a cake walk and more. There will even be a reading of the Declaration of Independence before watching the fireworks from your view overlooking the city. Snag your ticket here!
3.) FROM THE STADIUM:
The Smokies are out here shootin’ fireworks shows every night so we cannot waaaait to see what they have up their sleeves for their Independence Day Celebration home game! A baseball game seems like a classic way to spend the holiday anyway but if I can be frank (pun intended) the assurance of hot dogs may be the reason this is where we land on July 4th 😆 (And again, we couldn’t have chosen a more thematic color scheme if we’d tried.) Snag your tickets here!
4.) TO THE WORLD:
World’s Fair Park, that is. This is the main event, folks! If you’re lookin’ for a good ole fashioned (and free!) fireworks show and 4th of July festival in Knoxville, you need to get your cutie booty down to World’s Fair Park right snack dab in downtown! There will be vendors, activities, and live music all evening. As the sun goes down, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will take the stage – paving the way for an amazing fireworks show at 9:35pm. Find details here!