The nation will celebrate America's 236th birthday on Wednesday and the City of Knoxville is doing its part with an old-fashioned Festival on the Fourth, presented by OneMain Financial.
Festivities get underway at 2 p.m. with a Patriotic Bike Parade for ages 3 to 12 at World's Fair Park, where most of the day's activities will take place.
Parking for the day is free at all downtown parking garages, and ADA parking is available at Fort Kid. World's Fair Park Drive will be closed at 1 p.m.; the Clinch Avenue viaduct will close at 2.
City officials are asking the public to follow these restrictions:
No pets No alcohol No tents
The public is encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and plenty of sunscreen. The event will be held rain or shine.
The daylong festival will feature the Regal Star-Spangled Kids Zone with inflatables, a giant slide, face painting and more. At approximately 7:30 p.m. the Tennessee Air National Guard will perform a KC-135 Military Flyover in a tribute to the Armed Forces. Afterward, brave members of the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff's Office will take part in a dramatic presentation over the skies at World's Fair Park.
This year's Festival will also include a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the World's Fair. For a complete list of activities visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/4th.
Fourth Festival sponsors are: OneMain Financial, Pilot, Regal, WBIR, Kroger, Tennova, WDVX, WOKI, Knoxville News Sentinel, Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, Hosenfeld Chiropractic and Wood Printing.