The City of Knoxville hosts the community-wide Festival on the Fourth celebration at World’s Fair Park on Thursday, July 4, 4-10 p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy free activities, live music and the City’s largest fireworks display.  

This year’s festival also marks the debut of the park’s improved Performance Lawn. The $2.5 million project updated water and electric service, improved drainage, and added new sod, pervious paver hardscaping and an enlarged entry area and gates.

 “We’re excited to host this family-friendly holiday event,” says City Special Events Director Judith Foltz. “The new lawn is a wonderful addition for both the Festival on the Fourth as well as future events in World’s Fair Park.”

Festival on the Fourth features a variety of entertainment, activities and food vendors on the Performance Lawn, Festival Lawn and inside the Tennessee Amphitheater. 


Live family entertainment on the Home Federal Bank Family Fun Stage at the Tennessee Amphitheater includes: 

• 4:15 - 4:45 p.m.: K-Pop Dancers
• 5 - 5:45 p.m.: Dre Hilton
• 6 - 7 p.m.: The Amazing Magic Show with Tim Pressley

Activities in the Regal Kids Zone on the Festival Lawn include mini-golf, a water balloon game, Legos by Bricks 4 Kids, a climbing wall and a Eurobungy trampoline. Families can also enjoy face painting and a photo booth. 

On the park’s Festival Lawn Stage, Bary Jolly performs Jimmy Buffet’s songs from 4:15 - 5:30 p.m., followed by classic rock covers by the Bicho Brothers from 6 - 7:30 p.m. 

Music on the Performance Lawn Stage begins at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Stoney Point Bluegrass Band. 

At 8 p.m., the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s 35th annual Free Pilot Flying J Independence Day Concert featuring KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian begins its performance. Patriotic favorites from Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa and John Williams will be performed. 

The program will showcase tributes to the 75th anniversary of D-Day with selections from "Saving Private Ryan" and the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing with selections from the score of “Apollo 13.” 

The City’s largest annual fireworks display begins at 9:35 p.m. The Symphony’s performance and fireworks display will be broadcast live on WBIR-TV Channel 10 and WBIR.com from 8-10 p.m.

Free parking is available in the 11th Street, Locust Street, Walnut Street, State Street and Market Square garages, as well as the City’s Blackstock lots on Grand Avenue. ADA parking is available at the Fort Kid parking lot on World’s Fair Park Drive. 

Guests are invited to bring chairs and blankets, but no coolers, alcohol, pop-up tents, canopies or pets will be allowed. In addition, scooter vendors will activate geofencing around the fair site to prohibit scooters from entering. 


Be advised of the following festival-related road closures: 

• World’s Fair Park Drive between Clinch and Grand avenues will be closed 2-11 p.m. Thursday; 
• Clinch Avenue between Henley and 11th streets will be closed 2-11 p.m. Thursday; and
• Henley Bridge between Hill and Blount avenues will be closed 4-11 p.m. Thursday.


This annual event happens rain or shine. Visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/4th for additional information.