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Travel


Gatlinburg Celebrates 41 Years Of 4th Of July Midnight Parade

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 - by Marci Claude

Gatlinburg celebrated the 41st Anniversary of the 4th of July Midnight Parade in grand style. More than 70,000 people lined the Parkway for the mile long parade honoring US Veterans and military heroes. Entries came from as far away as Minnesota to march in the parade. The 100th Army Band from Fort Knox, Kentucky also marched in the parade and provided patriotic concerts over the course of the holiday. 

During the parade, Gatlinburg visitors were entertained by elaborately decorated and lighted floats from local attractions and area businesses, community organizations, marching bands, local pubic safety agencies and more. The Litchfield Marching Dragons from Minnesota, the Baltimore Twilighters and the Baltimore Entertainers also marched in the parade along with featured floats, giant balloons and exotic cars.  

The River Raft Regatta, held at noon on Monday, July 4, was well attended, with more than 120 entries. Participants from Tennessee, Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky brought entries for racing 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 spectacular fireworks display just after dark. The 100th Army Band entertained visitors by accompanying the fireworks show.  

Join the Gatlinburg conversation via social media; like us atwww.facebook.com/gatlinburgtn. For more information about Gatlinburg and other summer events, call 1-800-588-1817 or visit our website at www.gatlinburg.com.

MIDNIGHT PARADE AWARDS

Best Professional Float
1st - Ripley's Entertainment

Best Original Entry
1st - Dixie Stampede/Lumberjack Adventure
2nd - Cuzzin' Eddie's Toors
3rd - Ole Smoky Moonshine

Best Use of Lights
1st - Ripley's Entertainment
2nd - Litchfield Marching Dragons
3rd - Dixie Stampede/Lumberjack Adventure

Most Entertaining Float/Unit
1st - Litchfield Marching Dragons
2nd - Ripley's Entertainment
3rd - Kerbela Shriners

Best Marching Band
1st - Litchfield Marching Dragons
2nd - Baltimore Twilighters Marching Band
3rd - 100th Army Band

RIVER RAFT REGATTA AWARDS

Oldest Entrant: Pauleen Green from Powder Springs, GA - 85 years old
Youngest Entrant: Abe Griswold from South Carolina - 1 year old

TRASH:
1st: Allen Bonar - Falmouth, KY
2nd: Jane Holman - Maumee, OH
3rd: Tracy Porter -  Genoa, WV

TREASURE:
1st: Brett Bonar - Falmouth, KY
2nd: Andrew Addis - South Carolina
3rd: Alan Stuller - Milwaukee, WI

MOST CREATIVE:
The Benniger Family



September 16, 2018

Rome, Ga., Has Inaugural Hot Air Balloon Festival

September 14, 2018

Blowing Springs Farm Opens Sept. 28

September 13, 2018

This Week's Tennessee Tourism Roundup


Rome, Ga., held its inaugural hot air balloon festival over the weekend at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport. There were over 20 balloons present.   Over 70 vendors were ... (click for more)

Blowing Springs Farm opens Sept. 28 with an all-new corn maze design and new supersized board games, like jumbo checkers and giant dice. The award-winning event’s 17th season is happening every ... (click for more)

  The Soundtrack of America is Made in Tennessee and you can hear great music at festivals like Tina Turner Heritage Days, Americana ... (click for more)


Travel

Rome, Ga., Has Inaugural Hot Air Balloon Festival

Rome, Ga., held its inaugural hot air balloon festival over the weekend at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport. There were over 20 balloons present.   Over 70 vendors were present, ranging from food to Italian ice to crafts.   Tethered balloon rides were offered and a moon glow even topped off the evening. . (click for more)

Blowing Springs Farm Opens Sept. 28

Blowing Springs Farm opens Sept. 28 with an all-new corn maze design and new supersized board games, like jumbo checkers and giant dice. The award-winning event’s 17th season is happening every Friday - Sunday through Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.    Adults and kids alike can enjoy classic fall festival activities such as a pumpkin market, hayrides, duck races, pedal ... (click for more)

Breaking News

10-Term Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd Dies

Marilyn Lloyd, who represented the Third District in Congress for 10 terms, has died at the age of 89. Ms. Lloyd got into politics after her husband, TV anchor Mort Lloyd, was killed in a plane crash in 1974. Mort Lloyd had won the Democratic primary to oppose Rep. Lamar Baker. The party chose her to go on the ballot in his place, and she defeated Congressman Baker. She was ... (click for more)

Soddy Daisy Couple Robbed Of Over $56,000 In Items; Believe Facebook Post May Have Tipped Off Thieves

A Soddy Daisy couple reported a theft at their residence netted thieves over $56,000 in items. The couple said the thieves may have picked their residence because they posted on Facebook that they were vacationing in Gatlinburg. Michael Lee Leming, 42, has been arrested in the case. However, only $10,600 of the stolen items were recovered. Leming is from Dunlap, but was ... (click for more)

Opinion

Arming Teachers With Guns Will Be Too Dangerous - And Response (4)

Arming teachers with guns in the classroom, as Bill Lee proposes, would be the single most dangerous thing to happen to students in Tennessee history. Students and teachers in close proximity to loaded firearms daily? Across this state, in middle schools alone, there are probably hundreds of student/teacher conflicts a day. What if a student got hold of gun in a struggle with ... (click for more)

Roy Exum: Scream ‘Sexual Assault!’

Candace Owens, a communications director for the conservative non-profit “Turning Point,” wasted not a minute’s time as the Democratic debauchery of Supreme Court appointee Brett Kavanaugh raced like a prairie fire across America. There is little doubt that many politicians -- on either side of the aisle -- play a little loose with the truth. But this Eleventh Hour attack on the ... (click for more)


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