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, corn hole, tug-of-war, a cake walk, Victorian festival games 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 SUN:
This is the first year we’ve heard about this. Our jaws are still on the floor so we figured it’d be easiest to write it down 😉
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN WATCH FIREWORKS FROM INSIDE THE SUNSPHERE?! Yes, you read that right. AND you get to pick the floor that sounds best to you. The 6th floor will cater more for a 21+ crowd while the 8th floor will have family friendly activities for all ages. The best part (besides, potentially, AC) is that the fireworks show will basically be right next to your face. 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! 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!