July 4 celebrations planned
Fireworks light up the Clinch River in Clinton on the 2024 Independence Day celebration at Lakefront Park. Four of Anderson County’s municipalities — Clinton, Norris, Rocky Top and Oak Ridge — will hold fireworks shows on this July 4.
For some, it’s a two-day observance this year, with activities set for Friday, July 3, as well as Saturday, July 4.
Clinton is having a free downtown concert on July 3 to kick off the weekend.
The Museum of Appalachia this year will expand its Independence Day activities to two days, Friday and Saturday, which include the annual “old-fashioned anvil shoots.” They aren’t fireworks, but they do make a lot of noise.
The museum uses a pile of gunpowder to blast a 200-pound iron blacksmith’s anvil hundreds of feet into the air, with a big crowd looking on from a safe distance.
Clinton, Norris, Rocky Top and Oak Ridge have their own celebrations planned, and each of them will be capped off by a fireworks show.
CLINTON: The city of Clinton is celebrating not just the 250th anniversary but also the reopening of downtown streets after more than 16 months of renovations to the historic district.
The July 3 concert will take place in that historic downtown area from 4:30 until 9:30 p.m. People are urged to “bring a lawn chair and enjoy the music.”
“With One Tree Hill stars Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele headlining this 250th America celebration you won’t want to be anywhere else as they bring the same energy to Clinton, TN that they have taken on their worldwide tour,” Historic Downtown Clinton stated.
“Local sensation WestWend and international touring country sweetheart Erica Sunshine Lee Music will also be on hand for a fun night in downtown! Don’t miss it!”
On July 4, a festival and fireworks will take place at Lakefront Park. Events begin at 5 p.m., and include wrestling shows and fireworks, which will be set off beginning at 9:45 p.m.
Activities will include Backyard Bouncers, Little Ponderosa Petting Zoo, East Tennessee Championship Wrestling, Til Ragnarok Axe Throw and Hamock Sound.
Food trucks at the event will include Big Butts BBQ, Bailey’s Beverage Cart, Del Mar’s Pup Hut, Jimmy’s on Wheels, Kona Ice, Melinda Lundsford’s Funnel Cakes, Sticks and Scoops, Sugar belle cotton candy, and Underground pizza and pasta.
NORRIS: Norris Day begins on July 4 with the Firecracker 4K and 1K Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. in the town’s Commons area.
There will be an evening program at the Lions Club Pavilion behind the post office beginning at 5:30 p.m.
A free evening concert will be presented by “110 in the Shade,” a six-member group performing electric, funk, soul, Motown, and R&B numbers, from 7-9 p.m. on the outdoor stage next to the Lions Club Pavilion downtown.
There is no admission charge to any of these events, but concert attendees are requested to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on in the grassy area in front of the stage, next to the pavilion.
Food will also be available from food trucks throughout the day, and there will be inflatables set up for the kids from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as a water slide from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The concert will be followed by a fireworks display.
This will be the 58th annual Norris Day celebration.
ROCKY TOP: July 4 activities will kick off with a collector car show from 9 to 11 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 multiple food and drink options, a dunking booth, a petting zoo, bounce houses, ax throwing, and more.
Rocky Top’s celebration concludes with fireworks at 10 p.m.
OAK RIDGE: The City of Oak Ridge is celebrating the 250th Anniversary of American Independence this year at its annual Independence Day Concert and Fireworks show in A.K. Bissell Park on July 4.
Fireworks are scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.
The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform prior to the fireworks. The concert is free, but the band accepts donations to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Irvey’s Ice Cream and Rolling Eggrolls food trucks will be at the event this year.
All of A.K. Bissell Park will be open to the public this year, and fireworks will be set off from across the street at Oak Ridge High School.
To listen to music that is coordinated with the fireworks, attendees are encouraged to tune into Merle FM 96.7.
