37th ANNUAL PEPSI INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS
Presented By Food City
Thursday, July 4th, 2024
PepsiCo Beverages North American of Johnson City and the City of Johnson City are pleased to announce that the 37th Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration will return to the grounds of Freedom Hall Civic Center on Thursday July 4th. “This annual event has always been Pepsi’s way to say thank you to the community, and our customers. We have so many reasons to celebrate and we anticipate that this year’s event will be even bigger and better than last year,” Rex Henley, PepsiCo unit general manager states.
Everyone is invited to join in the festivities. Since several thousand people attend the event each year, an early arrival is strongly encouraged. The evening’s festivities will kick off at 4 pm with food service, Kid’s craft area, and a kid’s zone. The first musical act of the night, Noah Spencer, will take the stage at 6 pm, followed by Drew Baldridge at 7:10pm, and rounding out the evening with Tigirlily Gold at 8:25pm. The fireworks will begin at 10:05pm.
New to this year’s event, in partnership with Appalachian Banner Academy, will be a “calm-down sensory space” provided in the Auxiliary Gym for those with autism and other sensory processing challenges. This designated quiet area will be staffed with therapists and volunteers to ensure the event is inclusive for individuals with autism and other sensory processing challenges. Additionally, there will be an outdoor firework viewing space in close proximity to the calm space. We anticipate this initiative will help families impacted by special needs feel comfortable attending and enjoying this wonderful event.
Johnson City Parks and Recreation will continue their partnership by providing the Kids’ Zone area again this year. It will include games and crafts in the auxiliary gym, as well as on the tennis courts. The tennis courts will house Carnival Cove where kids can win prizes while playing carnival style games. Yard Game Alley with giant versions of popular yard games, and the Toddler Turf with games specifically for our younger participants. Cotton candy and popcorn will also be given out while supplies last. Turn to the Auxiliary Gym to escape the summer sun and have fun making your own flag or wand to wave during the firework show!
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on the grounds of Freedom Hall and enjoy the festivities. Due to safety regulations, personal pop-up canopies/tents are not allowed on the grounds during the event.
There will not be a rain date for this event. The fireworks time could be delayed if there is inclement weather that evening. Visitors may be moved inside the Freedom Hall arena temporarily in the event severe weather. Please be aware of the signage placed on the grounds and announcements throughout the event to guide you in a smooth evacuation if inclement weather arrives.
Johnson City Transit bus service will not be available for this event.
Schedule of Events:
- 4:00pm: Food Truck and Kids Activities Start
- 5:00 – 7:00pm: On-site registration for a chance to win prizes
- GRAND PRIZE – 1 year supply of groceries ($10,000 value from Pepsi, presented by Food City)
- FIRST PRIZE – 1 year supply of gas ($2,000 value)
- SECOND PRIZE – 1 year supply of Pepsi ($1,000 value)
- 5:30-6:00pm: WXBQ DJs / Announcements / Military / Pledge
- Color Guard and National Anthem
- Pledge of Allegiance by Miss JC & Miss Food City
- 6:00pm: Music by Noah Spencer (“Used To”)
- 7:10pm: Music by Drew Baldridge (“She’s Somebody’s Daughter”)
- 8:25pm: Music by Tigirlily Gold (“Shoot Tequila”)
- 9:40pm: Food City Grand Prize Drawing on stage
- 10:00pm: Fireworks Introduction by Mayor, Dr. Todd Fowler
- 10:05pm: Fireworks by Pyro Shows of LaFollette
- Live remote of event by WJHL-TV Channel 11 with WXBQ 96.9 broadcasting of fireworks music.
*SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
CHARCOAL GRILLS OR ANY OTHER INCENDIARY DEVICES ARE PROHIBITED
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PROHIBITED ON THE GROUNDS – A Beer Garden will be located at the pool side of the building from 4:00 – 9:55pm. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited outside the beer garden area.
PETS SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ANIMALS AND ATTENDEES.
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PATRONS
- Handicapped parking passes and instructions may be obtained by calling Freedom Hall no later than Friday June 28th at 423-461-4884 weekdays from 10:00am-4:00pm.
- Portable restroom facilities for the physically challenged will be located on-site
PERSONAL VEHICLES AND PROPERTY
- Patrons driving personal vehicles to Freedom Hall are encourages to remember to leave all valuables (cell phones, laptop computers, money, jewelry, purses, wallets, CD’s, shopping bags, etc.) at home.
- Any valuables left in personal vehicles should not be leave in plain site and vehicles should remain locked at all times.
TRAFFIC ADVISORIES
- No thru vehicle traffic will be allowed at the Science Hill Vocational School; pedestrian traffic will be allowed access from the Vocational School Parking Lot 1 to the entertainment areas.
- No thru traffic will be allowed on Guaranda Drive, Longview Drive, North Gilmer Park, Lacy Street, Wells Street, Mullins Street, Belmeade Drive, and Baron Drive. Only those showing drivers’ licenses with home addresses will be allowed access.
- Residents of these street inviting guests to fireworks parties should provide police officers blocking the roads with a copy of their invitation list - all other will not be allowed access.
- Pedestrian Traffic will be stopped on Guaranda Drive at 8:45 pm and resume at 10:45pm.
- Pedestrian Traffic will be stopped on Liberty Bell Blvd at 8:45 pm and resume at 10:45pm.
- Following the fireworks, one-way traffic only will be allowed on Sundale Drive, Longview Drive, and Guaranda Drive.
- Use the Knob Creek – State of Franklin connection to get between Bristol Highway, I-26, and Freedom Hall.
- When leaving the fireworks, use 1-26 (rather than Kingsport and Bristol Highways), State of Franklin Road and Highway 381.
KERMIT STADIUM (TRACK) SCHEDULEThe Kermit Tipton Stadium will be closed all day Thursday July 4, 2024.
For more information, please call Parks & Recreation at 423-283-5815.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
- Ambulances will be located around the periphery of the Freedom Hall site
- Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel will be posted at the command post location in Parking Lot G.
- EMS personnel on bicycles and golf car mini-med will circulate throughout the crowd.
- Johnson City Fire Department personnel will be able to travel into the crowd via specially equipped golf cars to delivery emergency medical and fire suppression service.
PERSONAL FIREWORKS ARE PROHIBITED
The best fireworks show in town will begin at 10:05 pm. Please do not endanger yourself or others in the crowd by bringing your own fireworks.
Johnson City code- Sec 16-43 Fireworks
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, or keep in stock or give away, within the city, or one (1) mile thereof, any firecracker, cannon cracker, torpedo, Roman candle, sky rocket, pin wheel or any fireworks of any nature whatsoever, or any toy pistol or cannon, discharged by percussion caps or by percussion caps and gunpowder or other means.
(b)No person shall sell, possess or use fireworks of any description within the city; provided, that this section shall not apply to wholesale dealers and jobbers who may possess fireworks for sale to merchant and dealers outside the city and sell same to such outside dealers and merchants; provided, further, that this section shall not apply to fairs, shows and exhibitors who desire to give fireworks displays for the amusem*nt of the public; provided, that such displays shall be given under the joint supervision of the exhibitor and city police department so as to protect the health and welfare of the public, but no such fireworks display shall be given without a permit from the city recorder.(Code 1964,21-32)
FREEDOM HALL POOL JULY 4 SCHEDULE
The Freedom Hall pool will be closed July 4.
For more information, please call Parks & Recreation at 423-434-5749.
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