What to do and where to watch on the Fourth
If you can’t find something to do on July 4, you aren’t trying. Clinton, Norris, and Rocky Top will have fireworks and activities for the whole family. The Musuem of Appalachia will have its annual anvil shoot and Liberty Pole raising and Norris will host its 49th Annual Norris Day.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Lakefront Park in Clinton will host a plethora of events.
Backyard Bouncers will have a module bounce house, bungee run, all-stars basketball game, rock climbing wall, 68ft Army Boot Camp Obstacle Course, 22-foot two-lane tsunami water slide with slip-n-slide, race car combo with water slide, human hamster balls with track, pirate bounce house, and trackless train that are available for the public — again at no charge, but you must have wrist band to ride.
Faith Promise Church is sponsoring laser tag for those up to the challenge, and will also have a game truck set up for video games.
Food vendors include: Pizza Express, Riverview Grille, Coldwater Farms, Hibachi Truck, The Honeybaked Ham Co. and Sweet P’s Snowcones set up in the Lakefront parking lot by the tennis court area.
“The Will Shepard Band” and “The Regular Joe Band” will be playing from (5-9:45 p.m., which is sponsored by Ray Varner Ford and The City of Clinton.
The music will be set up on the women’s field at Lakefront Park.
There will also be some antique cars for show from The Clinton Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America.
Fireworks begin at 10 p.m.
The 49th Annual Norris Day will be held in downtown Norris. The Norris Lions Club sponsors the annual event. Fun, food, and fireworks for the entire family will be available for all who attend.
Running enthusiasts can begin the day with the Firecracker Road Run sponsored by the Norris Recreation Commission.
Later the children’s Dog Show will be held on the Norris Commons, followed by the one mile Fun Run.
Back is the popular children’s Big Wheel Race and the Decorated Bicycle Parade. The fun continues with the Three Legged Race followed by the Water Balloon Toss and the Water-Ball Battles. There will be sack races and duck races, too.
One of the highlights of Norris Day is the barbecue dinner served by the Norris Lions club.
Barbecue pork and chicken dinners will be available in the cafeteria of the Norris Middle School from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Proceeds from the ticket sales will fund many of the community projects supported by the Norris Lions Club each year.
Stop by the booths on the Norris Commons and on the grounds of the Norris Middle School where many of our community organizations will have displays. This is an excellent way to learn more about their activities and how they serve us.
The evening program will be held in the Norris Lions Community Pavilion, starting at 6:30 p.m. During the program, the Lions Honoree will be presented. The Honoree exemplifies all the best tradition of service to the community.
After the evening program, a concert on the commons will be presented on the stage beside the Pavilion.
Norris Day will conclude with a fireworks display on the Norris Commons, an event organized by the Norris Fire Department with funds raised by the Norris Lions Club and from local residents.
Rocky Top is holding a “July Bask” in memory of Tiny Houck, which runs from 2 - 10 p.m.
Starting at 2 p.m. is the “Kid’s Parade,” and from 2:30 - 9 p.m., its play all day for free.
There will be a bounce house, water slides, obstacle course, rock wall, “Euro Bungee,” a petting zoo, pony rides, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, and balloons.
There will also be a car show, a motorcycle show, food vendors, Spiderman, Captain America, and even Elvis.
From 9-10 p.m. everyone is invited to unwind, grab a bite to eat and grab a seat for the 10 p.m. fireworks.
If late night fireworks aren’t enough, you can catch a big bang during the day at the Museum of Appalachia.
Anvil shooting used to be a fairly common way that rural folks celebrated special events--they “shot the anvil” to celebrate the nation’s Independence, Christmas, and even Davy Crockett’s election to the U.S. Congress. Some years ago, two men, each more than 100 years old, watched the Museum’s anvil shoot and recalled this tradition from their early boyhood.
Now, shooting the anvil has come to be the highlight of the Museum’s fabulous July 4th Celebration. Folks as far as 15 miles away have reported hearing the blast, and certainly everyone gathered for the excitement feels the earth shake under their feet.
Anvil shoots will take place at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m, 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on July 4.
Along with the big boom several times during the day, there are patriotic ceremonies and lots of music — the old-time mountain music of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
A bell-ringing ceremony will occur at precisely 2 p.m. coinciding with the National Bell Ringing Ceremony when more than 10,000 bells across the country are rung in unison.
Thirteen youngsters will be selected from the audience to ring the bell in honor of the thirteen original states.
The Liberty Pole raising at 2:15 p.m. will commemorate a Colonial American practice signifying dissatisfaction with the English government. It illustrates the spirit of liberty among colonists in the early days of the War for Independence.
Americans love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food, and fireworks.
But all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation’s roads. This iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.
To crack down on drunk driving this Independence Day weekend, Anderson County law enforcement will be out in full force, aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger.
Sheriff’s deputies will be out working to make our roadways safe.
If you’re caught driving drunk or impaired, you will be arrested. The consequences of drunk driving are that serious.
Not only could you put your life and the lives of others at risk, but a DUI arrest means a loss of freedom and money, including going to jail, losing your license, and paying steep financial expenses.
This effort is supported by a grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.