Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain Guide to July 4th Festivities for 2010!

The Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountain regions are active with 4th of July celebrations and festivities. Here is just a sampling of events this Independence Day!

Bryson City NC Freedom Fest
Celebrate the 4th of July in Bryson City with a full day of music, arts & crafts, pet show, kid's area and great music with the best fireworks show in the Smokies. Event takes place all day on Saturday, July 3, 2010.

Cherokee, North Carolina 
July 4th Fireworks

7/4/10
Cherokee Events Center
Contact: Cherokee Welcome Center - (800)438-1601 

Starts at dark

Pigeon Forge’s Patriot Festival
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (June 2010) – Country music stars Diamond Rio and a massive fireworks display will highlight Patriot Festival, Pigeon Forge’s annual community celebration of American independence, and cast members from the Grand Majestic Theater will offer a special salute to veterans.

This year’s Patriot Festival is Saturday, July 3, in Patriot Park. Activity begins at 2 p.m. and continues until dark, when fireworks will light up the night sky over the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Seven musical groups will perform through the afternoon and evening, food vendors will add a special flair and a Kids Karnival area will offer games and inflatables to entertain the youngsters.

Diamond Rio, winners of four Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year awards and members of the Grand Ole Opry, are the headline performing group. Their hits include “I Believe,” “One More Day” and “Mama Don’t Forget To Pray for Me” More music will come from

· Steve Azar, whose country hits include “I Don’t Have To Be Me Until Monday” and “Waiting on Joe”

· Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier, the popular Pigeon Forge bluegrass, country and mountain music group

· TelluRide, a new Nashville group

· Thompson Square, the country-rock husband and wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson

· Grafite, a local four-member pop and rock band, whose members are ages 9-11

· The Pigeon Forge Community Chorus

When dark arrives, fireworks will light things up to the accompaniment of music broadcast on Knoxville radio station WIVK-FM. Admission to all activities is free.

Information about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge is at www.MyPigeonForge.com; or by calling toll-free to 800-251-9100.

Fireworks Celebration at Lake Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Lake Marina in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

515 east to Windy Ridge Road (Conoco station & Kentucky Fried Chicken) go to flashing red light turn left, follow Old Hwy 76 to the Marina
Barbeque and live music from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Fireworks display at dusk.
For more information, call 706-632-2618