The City of Knoxville kicks of the holiday weekend with the community’s largest Independence Day celebration – Festival on the 4th – on Friday, July 4, 2025, 5-10 p.m. at World's Fair Park. The event will be held rain or shine.

Festival on the 4th is a family-friendly event including activities like axe-throwing, mini-golf games and paddle boats. Food vendors will be located on both lawns.

Entertainment takes place on three stages – and in the sky: 

• Matt Stillwell performs 5:45-7:45 p.m. on the Festival Lawn stage 

• 12Eleven Band performs 6-7:45 p.m. on the Performance Lawn stage

• Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performs the 41st Annual Free Lawson Family Foundation Independence Day Concert at 8 p.m. in the Tennessee Amphitheater

• Fireworks launch from the Henley Bridge at approximately 9:45 p.m.

Video of KSO’s performance will be broadcast on screens located on the Performance and Festival lawns. 

Please leave alcohol, pets and personal tents/canopies at home. Bring your own water bottles to fill at the water station located next to the Performance Lawn entrance or the Knoxville Utilities Board’s water station on the Festival Lawn. 

Free parking will be available in the nearby 11th Street garage, World's Fair Park and Blackstock parking lots. All on-street metered parking and parking in City-owned garages will be free on July 4. This includes: Locust Street, Walnut Street, State Street, Main Street and Market Square garages. Additional ADA parking is available in the Fort Kid lot. 

Support for Festival on the 4th comes from Visit Knoxville, Home Federal Bank, Regal, Krystal, Herrera Still PLCC, WBIR Channel 10, Classic Rock 93.1, Hot 104.5, 100.3 The Wolf and Crowne Plaza. 

 Be aware of the following event-related road closures: 

• World's Fair Park Drive between Clinch and Grand avenues and Clinch Avenue between Henley and 11th streets will be closed 2-11 p.m. 

• Henley Street and Bridge, between Sevier and Hill avenues, will be closed 4 p.m.-midnight. 

For more information about Festival on the 4th and other events produced by the City’s Office of Special Events, including sponsorship opportunities, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/events or call 865-215-4248.