Let the Fourth of July celebration commence! The city of Knoxville will host two nights of free, live music at World’s Fair Park on Friday and Saturday, July 2 and 3. There will also be a small fireworks show on July 2. The event will be a scaled-back celebration with safety precautions in place.

“We were disappointed to have to cancel Festival on the 4th months ago, when many COVID-19 precautions were still in place,” Kyndra Brewer, director of the City Office of Special Events, said. “But we are happy to be able to have a family-friendly, patriotic way to kick off the holiday weekend.”

Families are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and picnic dinners; please leave alcohol and pets at home. Bottled water will be available onsite, but there will not be food or beverage for purchase.
The park’s restroom facilities will be open, and additional portable toilets will be on site. Free parking will be available in all city-owned garages as well as the nearby 11th Street Garage.

“We look forward to celebrating together at this year’s scaled-down celebration and producing a full Festival on the 4th in 2022,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said.

Events begin on Friday night with the 572nd Air National Guard Band of the South, including performances from the concert band, jazz band Blue Groove and rock band Sound Barrier.

There will be a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. after the performances. The city recommends using the Randy Tyree Performance Lawn in World’s Fair Park for viewing the fireworks.

On Saturday, July 3, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert in the Tennessee Amphitheater. The performance time will be announced at a later date, according to the city.

More details will be posted at knoxvilleTN.gov/events.

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