First 4th of July Parade in U.S.

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 03:37 AM

The first 4th of July Parade is in Gatlinburg TN stepping off at 12:01 a.m. on July 4. Here is a photo of the Knoxville Pipe Band on July 4, 2011. Maybe more photos later of other units (no other pipe bands).

**Spartan Tartan** · 6th July 11, 03:40 AM

Awesome! I would have LOVE a parade at 12:01a...it was 105 degrees (F) here during our parade. It was pretty unpleasant due to heat. That looks like a fun parade and unique too. How was the attendance? A lot of people show up at midnight?

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 05:18 AM

Starting in the morning, people show up all day and set up lawn chairs all along the parade route. We got there @ 5:00 in the afternoon and were in the second row of chairs in toward the end of the parade. The last of the parade went past us at 1:25 a.m. It was our friend, Santa Pat (photo to be posted later)

For those not aware of Gatlinburg TN, it is tourist town just inside the Smoky Mountains National Park about 7 miles from Pigeon Forge TN. After the parade, traffic is in gridlock getting out of parking lots and out of town. It took us an hour to get back to Pigeon Forge.

**piperdown** · 6th July 11, 06:10 AM

What a great idea... I would like to experience that firsthand.

**Andy Proffitt** · 6th July 11, 08:01 AM

I thought I saw you in town Wally. I was helping the Boy Scouts at the first half of the parade.

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Andy Proffitt

I thought I saw you in town Wally. I was helping the Boy Scouts at the first half of the parade.

We arrived in town about 5:00 p.m., set up our chairs and we watched the parade from in front on the convention center.

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 06:13 PM

Some additional midnight parade photos:

All service branches were represented. The U.S. Army float:

Uncle Sam:

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 06:20 PM

Space Shuttle balloon.

Pigeon Forge entertainment theater with service representatives.

**Santa Wally** · 6th July 11, 06:39 PM

U.S. Coast Guard

The parade ended with our friend Santa Pat on the last float. Unfortunately, in my photo, the float's spotlight is TOO bright on his patriotic suit, a replica of artist Thomas Nast's drawing of Santa visiting the Union troops during the Civil War. Santa's suit was red and white striped pants with a blue coat with white stars.