Over 100 floats, vehicles, horses and bands paraded through the streets of Gatlinburg in the first celebration of the Fourth of July this year. Led by the Kerbella Shrine mini-semis and precision drill by police motorcycle units, the parade kicked-off on Hwy. 321 at the stroke of midnight. The large contingent of police vehicles led the opening color guard as the parade proceeded down Hwy. 321 and into downtown.
Thousands lined the streets in a crowd mixed with Sevier County residents, East Tennesseans and visitors from across the country. “We usually come to Gatlinburg one week during the summer, but decided to come up for the holiday and the people in the hotel told us about the parade,” said one visitor from Georgia. The family was camped out in lawn chairs on the sidewalk along with other guests in the crowded Howard Johnson.
Late arrivers were stopped at the intersection of 321 and the Parkway where the parade turned to proceed up the road to traffic light 10. Many left their vehicles and made their way to the parade route to enjoy the music and lighted floats.
The parade’s prime feature was a float for every branch of the United States Armed Forces. Representatives from each service rode and walked beside the lighted stages as they made their way through the route, spaced apart between other floats. Representatives from the Second Gulf War Coalition were also represented by flags. Ambassadors from Angola and Australia participated in person, proudly carrying their national flags in the procession. The representatives were pleased with the parade and their visit to the city according to the Special Events Office.
Lighted floats from businesses lit the night for the on-lookers. A mixture of well known local groups like Mix 105.5, Stead Photography, Dollywood, and Cotton Eyed Joe’s were represented, while others traveled from farther away such as the Outdoor Channel RV from California and the high school band from Minnesota. The combination of sound and light was one of the best parades the city has ever done for the holiday according to several locals in the crowd who make the annual event.
Though the police force made a large presence both in the opening and along the route directing traffic and maintaining order in the crowd, there were no major incidents reported. Other city departments were also cooperating with the late night activities. The trolley service was fully manned and in full swing before and after the spectacle. Fully loaded trolleys shuttled the crowd back to parking lots, hotels and various other points, while also managing to get parade participants who needed a ride back to the starting point at the City Center from the Sugarlands Visitor Center and traffic light 10.
The Sanitation Department was already at work on the beginning of the route as the procession was still winding its way to a 1:30 am conclusion on the Parkway. Both trucks and foot crews with blowers worked the street and sidewalks in preparation for one of the biggest weekends of the tourist season.

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