• Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations kick off at midnight tonight (12AM July 4th) in Gatlinburg with the nation's first parade. 100,000 people are expected to attend. Fireworks are scheduled for Friday, July 4th at 10PM, and will be visible along the Parkway through downtown Gatlinburg.

• The City of Knoxville presents Festival on the 4th at the Worlds Fair Park. Opening ceremonies are at 2PM in the Amphitheater. There will be live entertainment beginning at 3PM on the WDVX Stage. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will present their 24th Annual Free Independence Day Concert on the south lawn main stage at 8PM, and fireworks begin at 9:35PM.

• Kingston Parks and Recreation over in Roane Co. will be "Smokin' the Water" beginning at noon with drag boat races, followed by a parade, a car show at Roane County High School, a homemade raft race, a home run derby at Byrd Field, live music at City Park by Tall Paul, vendors at the Gravel Pit and City Park, and finishing off with fireworks over Watts Bar Lake at 9:30PM.

• In case you don't get enough fireworks, Lenoir City will be Rockin' the Docks, Saturday July 5th at the Lenoir City Park-Cove on the banks of Fort Loudoun Lake, with live music starting at 3PM, food, children's play area, and fireworks at 10PM.

NOTE: Please be careful with fireworks. Ongoing drought conditions plus fireworks equals a big fire hazard. There's also the safety risk to yourself and others, and fireworks are illegal in most jurisdictions. Be safe, leave the fireworks to the pros.

SEE ALSO: Event roundups at the Knoxville News Sentinel and WBIR (including local fireworks regulations).