City of Knoxville offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, 2024, for the Independence Day holiday. 

Drivers should be aware of closures of both the Gay Street Bridge and Henley Bridge on Thursday. If you’re planning on attending Festival on the 4th at World’s Fair Park, be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to detour around the bridge closures and get parked downtown. 

The Henley Bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on July 4 from 4 p.m. to midnight in order for Pyro Shows to stage the fireworks for Festival on the 4th.

The Gay Street Bridge has been closed since June 25, 2024, when a Tennessee Department of Transportation routine inspection revealed a support component in need of repair. Once the state inspection is completed, repairs will begin.

On Thursday, southbound travelers should utilize detours at Summit Hill Drive to Hill Avenue to James White Parkway, as well as Church Avenue to Howard Baker Drive to Hill Avenue to James White Parkway. Northbound travelers on Chapman Highway should take Moody Avenue to James White Parkway.

Additionally, World’s Fair Park Drive between Clinch and Grand avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic between 2 and 11 p.m. Thursday. Clinch Avenue between Henley and 11th streets will also be closed.

Parking is free on Thursday at all City-owned garages.


Other holiday schedule reminders:

• Waste Connections will collect garbage and recyclables on neighborhood routes on July 4. Downtown trash and recycling crews will also run their regular schedule.

• City parks and outdoor pools will be open July 4. Ed Cothren (1737 Reynolds St.) and Inskip (4204 Bruhin Road) pools operate 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/Aquatics.

• Kid A’Riffic Fun in the Park will not be held Wednesday, July 3. The next event is July 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Morningside Park, 1600 Dandridge Ave. 

• The 311 Center for Service Innovation, which operates the 311 and 211 phone numbers, will not take calls July 4. Residents who need to report non-emergency issues such as overgrown lots and abandoned vehicles are encouraged to use the My Knoxville app for Apple and Android, which can be downloaded at KnoxvilleTN.gov/App. Social service resources are available online at East Tennessee 211. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. KPD’s non-emergency line (865-215-4010) can be used to report fireworks, loud music and parties, found animals and other non-life-threatening incidents. 

• The City's Solid Waste Facility, 1033 Elm St., will be closed Thursday, July 4, and resume normal business hours on Friday, July 5. 

• City of Knoxville Community Centers and indoor pools will be closed July 4. 

• Knoxville Area Transit buses and trolleys will not operate July 4, and the service desk at the Knoxville Station will be closed. 

• City recycling centers will be open on July 4; however, the Goodwill attendant will not be on site to accept household goods donations. Please don’t leave donations at unattended centers. 


Remember that Friday, July 5, is First Friday, which means the 100 block of Gay Street (between Jackson and Vine avenues) will be open to pedestrians only from 4-10 p.m. for a block party hosted by the Arts and Culture Alliance from 6-9 p.m. 

Parking meters on the 100 block will be bagged at 2 p.m. to remind drivers to move their vehicles. To explore parking options, visit DowntownKnoxville.org or download the Parkopedia app.