Gatlinburg's Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade a Hit
Gatlinburg, TENN (July 7, 2021) - Thousands of people lined the Parkway for the 46th Annual 4th of July Midnight Parade honoring First Responders, US Veterans and military heroes and Frontline Healthcare workers from LeConte Medical Center. The 100th Army Band from Fort Knox, Kentucky also marched in the parade and provided patriotic and entertaining concerts over the course of the holiday.
During the parade, Gatlinburg visitors were entertained by the elaborately decorated and lighted floats from local attractions and area businesses, community organizations, marching bands, local public safety agencies and more.
The River Raft Regatta was held at noon on Sunday, July 4th and boasted a successful turn out. Participants from Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, South Carolina and Arizona brought their imaginative raft entries for racing to the Christ in the Smokies Bridge on the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
To wrap up the 4th of July festivities, visitors gathered in downtown Gatlinburg to enjoy a fireworks display from the Space Needle. Event coordinators were very happy with the number of people who come out to enjoy all the holiday events.
MIDNIGHT PARADE AWARDS
Best Original Float/Unit
1st – Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies – Gatlinburg, TN
2nd - Cotton Eyed Joe – Knoxville, TN
3rd – Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery – Gatlinburg, TN
Best Use of Lights
1st – Smoky Mountain Jeep Club
2nd – Military Veterans Float
3rd - Marty Loveday & Associates Real Estate and Auction – Sevierville, TN
Most Entertaining Float/Unit
1st – Marty Loveday & Associates Real Estate and Auction – Sevierville, TN
2nd – Cotton Eyed Joe – Knoxville, TN
3rd – Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery – Gatlinburg, TN
Best Marching Band
1st – 100th Army Band - Fort Knox, Kentucky
RIVER RAFT REGATTA AWARDS
Fastest Duck Category:
1st – Melissa Rhodes, Newcomerstown, OH
2nd – Abe Griswold, Spartanburg, SC
3rd - Melissa Rhodes, Newcomerstown, OH
Fastest Treasure Category:
1st – Jude Griswold, Spartanburg, SC
2nd – Micah Floyd, Sevierville, TN
3rd – Ann Marie Boyles, Haleyville, AL
Most Creative Design Category:
1st – Tracey Burns, Greenville, SC
2nd – The Porter Family, Dunlow, WV
3rd – Hayley Rickleff, Tucson, AZ
