Fireworks, festivities on tap for July 4
Fireworks light up the Clinch River in Clinton on a previous Independence Day. Four of Anderson County’s municipalities — Clinton, Norris, Rocky Top and Oak Ridge — will hold fireworks shows on this July 4. (photo:Tony Cox )
There’s also more going on this week — all in honor of the birth of our county — than on virtually any other holiday of the year, except perhaps Christmas.
Cities, museums, marinas, parks and even neighborhoods throughout Anderson County have activities lined up for Independence Day, with many capping off their celebrations with fireworks displays.
Those range from the ones planned by the cities of Clinton, Norris, Rocky Top and Oak Ridge, to those scheduled by several of the marinas on Norris Lake. Some of the marinas are planning to launch fireworks Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Besides the fireworks displays, the cities of Clinton, Norris, Rocky Top, Oak Ridge and Oliver Springs have their own celebrations planned, with many activities beginning early in the day.
In Norris, the events begin at 8:30 a.m., the start time for the Firecracker 4K and 1K Fun Runs that kick off the community’s annual “Norris Day” activities.
The event concludes with fireworks shot from the Commons area just after dark.
In Clinton, the July 4 celebration begins at 5 p.m. at Lakefront Park. There will be inflatables for kids, a petting zoo, ax throwing, a game truck and more.
The fireworks will be launched beginning at 10 p.m. from just across the Clinch River from Lakefront Park.
Oak Ridge will host a free concert at 7:30 p.m. at A.K. Bissell Park, followed by fireworks around 9:45 p.m.
In Rocky Top, the July 4 activities will kick off with a collector-car show from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the George Templin Memorial Ballfield.
There will be a children’s bicycle parade beginning at 4:45 p.m. from the parking lot of Truist Bank on South Main Street, followed by a celebration beginning at 5 p.m. at the city park that will include a free concert.
Rocky Top’s celebration concludes with fireworks at 10 p.m.
Even the Mariner Point subdivision off Oak Ridge Highway in Clinton will be getting into the action — not with fireworks, but with a special golf-cart parade throughout the neighborhood.
Residents Joe and Nancy Harper have organized the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. at the Anderson County Senior Center, which is just inside the entrance to the community.
“We decided it would be a good idea to have a golf-cart parade, because that’s how most people get around in the neighborhood,” Joe Harper told The Courier News.
“We will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Center to get lined up,” he said. “Some of the carts have sound bars, and they will be blasting out patriotic music.”
The Harpers have one strict rule for the parade, however: “No politics,” Joe Harper said.
July 4 week
fireworks, events coming up
• July 3, fireworks at Dark, Deerfield Resort — Springs Dock.
• July 4, fireworks, Cedar Grove Marina.
• July 4, Fireworks Frenzy, Sugar Hollow Marina.
• July 5, Live music and fireworks show “Go Big or Go Home Fireworks,” Lone Mountain Marina.
• July 5, Live music and fireworks at dark, Whitman Hollow Marina.
• July 5, Live music with Mike Snodgrass and the Whisky Funk 6-10 p.m.; “Light up the Night” fireworks show follows, Stardust Marina.
• July 6, Live music witj Ryan Roberts, Whitman Hollow Marina.
• July 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 26, and 27, live music at the Indian River Marina.
