Pepsico Beverages North America of Johnson City and the City of Johnson City will sponsor the 34th Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration on the grounds of Freedom Hall Civic Center on Thursday, July 4. Everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Since several thousand people attend the event each year, an early arrival is strongly encouraged.
There will not be a rain date for this event. The time of fireworks could be delayed if there is inclement weather that evening. Visitors may be moved inside the Freedom Hall arena temporarily in the event of severe weather.
The following schedule may be useful in planning your evening:
5:00- 8:15 p.m. PARK & RIDE
FREE Johnson City Transit bus service begins from East Tennessee State University (corner of State of Franklin and University Parkway) and Winged Deer Park Complex parking lots.
5:00 p.m. Food service begins, craft booths open, children’s games start
NOTE: Only authorized food/craft vendors will be allowed.
5:30- 6:00 p.m. WXBQ DJs
5:00- 7:00 p.m. On-site registration for a chance to win prizes:
GRAND PRIZE – (1) Year supply of Groceries- $10,000 Value from Pepsi, presented by Food City
FIRST PRIZE – (1) Year supply of gas- $1500 Value
from Pepsi, presented by Food City
SECOND PRIZE – (1) Year supply of Pepsi- $520 Value
from Pepsi, presented by Food City
Anakeesta Super Pack Getaway
(4) Annual tickets to Anakeesta
Tree Canopy Walk, Dueling Zipline, Tree House Village Playground, Gem Mining, Mountain Coaster
Pigeon Forge Super Package
(1) Two-night stay Hearthside Cabins
(4) Dinner passes to Bennett’s BBQ
(4) Passes to WonderWorks
(4) Passes to Ober Gatlinburg
6:00- 6:40 p.m. Music by Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier.
6:45- 6:50 p.m. Tribute to Gold Star Families and Disabled Veterans.
7:00- 7:45 p.m. Music by local band Southern Rebellion.
8:00- 8:10 p.m. Color Guard with National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.
Pledge of Allegiance led by Miss Johnson City Peyton Kirby Wilson, Miss Historic Jonesborough Annie Malcom, and Outstanding Teen Miss Historic Jonesborough Tara Kilgore.
8:15- 9:15 p.m. Music by Adam Craig.
8:15 p.m. PARK & RIDE
Last bus shuttle departs from ETSU and Winged Deer Park.
9:20-9:35 p.m. Prize drawings on stage.
9:50 p.m. Welcome by Johnson City Mayor Jenny Brock and WXBQ musical introduction for fireworks.
9:55-10:15 p.m. Fireworks by Pyro Shows of Lafollette, Tenn.
Live remote of event by WJHL-TV News Channel 11 with WXBQ 96.9 FM broadcasting fireworks music.
10:20 p.m. PARK & RIDE
FREE Johnson City Transit service begins returning patrons to parking areas at ETSU and Winged Deer Park.
10:20-11:00 p.m. Entertainment resumes on stage with Southern Rebellion.
*Schedule subject to change
ATTENDEES SHOULD ADHERE TO FREEDOM HALL’S CLEAR BAG POLICY, WHICH CAN BE REFERENCED HERE:
https://www.johnsoncitytn.org/residents/freedom_hall_civic_center/frequently_asked_questions.php
COOLERS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH
CHARCOAL GRILLS OR ANY OTHER INCENDIARY DEVICES ARE PROHIBITED
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PROHIBITED
PETS SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ANIMALS AND ATTENDEES
MASS TRANSIT SERVICES
- Coolers and lawn chairs will be allowed on the FREE Johnson City Transit buses; charcoal grills or any other incendiary devices will not be allowed on the buses.
- Only designated service animals will be allowed on the buses - no household pets.
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PATRONS
- Lift-equipped buses will be available at ETSU and Winged Deer Park to bring physically challenged patrons to the event.
- Handicapped parking passes and instructions may be obtained by calling Freedom Hall no later than Tuesday, July 3 at 461-4884 weekdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Portable restroom facilities for the physically challenged will be located on-site.
PERSONAL VEHICLES AND PROPERTY
- Patrons driving personal vehicles to Freedom Hall are encouraged to remember to leave all valuables (cellular telephones, laptop computers, money, jewelry, purses, wallets, CDs, shopping bags, etc.) at home.
- Any valuables left in personal vehicles should not be left in plain sight and vehicles should remain locked at all times.
TRAFFIC ADVISORIES:
- No thru vehicle traffic will be allowed at the Science Hill Vocational School; pedestrian traffic will be allowed access from the Vocational School Parking Lot I to the entertainment areas.
- Sections of Morningside Drive will be designated for JCT bus traffic only.
- No thru traffic will be allowed on Guaranda Drive, Longview Drive, North Gilmer Park, Lacy Street, Sells Street, Mullins Street, Belmeade Drive, and Baron Drive. Only those showing drivers' licenses with home addresses will be allowed access.
- Residents of these streets inviting guests to fireworks parties should provide police officers blocking the roads with a copy of their invitation list - all others will not be allowed access.
- Pedestrian traffic will be stopped on Guaranda Drive at 8:45 p.m. and resume at 10:45 p.m.
- Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be stopped on Liberty Bell Boulevard at 8:45 p.m. and resume at 10:45 p.m.
- Following the fireworks, one-way traffic only will be allowed on Sundale Drive, Longview Drive and Guaranda Drive.
- Use the Knob Creek - State of Franklin connection to get between Bristol Highway, I-26 and Freedom Hall.
- When leaving the fireworks, use I-26 (rather than Kingsport and Bristol Highways), State of Franklin Road and Highway 381.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
- Ambulances will be located around the periphery of the Freedom Hall site.
- Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel will be posted at the command post location near the Freedom Hall pool.
- EMS personnel on bicycles and golf car mini-med will circulate throughout the crowd.
- Johnson City Fire Bureau personnel will be able to travel into the crowd via specially equipped golf cars to deliver emergency medical and fire suppression services.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR OWN FIREWORKS
- The best fireworks show in town will begin at 9:55 p.m. Please do not endanger yourself or others in the crowd by bringing your own fireworks.
- JOHNSON CITY CODE - Sec. 16-43 Fireworks -
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, or keep in stock, or give away, within the city, or one (1) mile thereof, any firecracker, cannon cracker, torpedo, Roman candle, sky rocket, pin wheel or any fireworks of any nature whatsoever, or any toy pistol or cannon, discharged by percussion caps or by percussion caps and gunpowder or other means.
(b) No person shall sell, possess or use fireworks of any description within the city; provided, that this section shall not apply to wholesale dealers and jobbers who may possess fireworks for sale to merchants and dealers outside the city and sell same to such outside dealers and merchants; provided, further, that this section shall not apply to fairs, shows and exhibitors who desire to give fireworks displays for the amusement of the public; provided, that such displays shall be given under the joint supervision of the exhibitor and city police department so as to protect the health and welfare of the public, but no such fireworks display shall be given without a permit from the city recorder. (Code 1964, § 21-32)
KERMIT STADIUM (TRACK) SCHEDULE
The Kermit Tipton Stadium will be closed all day Wednesday, July 4. For more information, please call Parks & Recreation at 423-283-5815.
FREEDOM HALL POOL JULY 4 SCHEDULE
The Freedom Hall Pool will be closed July 4. For more information, please call Recreation Services at 423-434-5749.