New Year's party: Mark New Year's Eve in Knoxville, Smokies with fireworks, music, hikes

Hayley Choy, Knoxville News Sentinel

With another year almost done, many of us are ready to embark on a fresh adventure in the new year ahead. The New Year's holiday is not only a time to reflect on 2023, but offers up a clean slate to set goals for 2024 if that's something you like to do - or simply a good reason to celebrate!

This year, New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday, starting the week and the year off anew with New Year's Day that Monday.

Welcome 2024 with friends and loved ones this New Year's holiday around Knoxville. Bring in the new year with these vibrant festivities and celebrations. Cheers!

Sunsphere's New Year's Eve Celebration

  • Bring in 2024 at the World's Fair Park with food trucks and free activities

  • A silent disco will be at 9 p.m., with Knox Vegas DJs on the main stage. Live music with WIMZ Garage Band will be 10-11:55 p.m., with the ball drop from the Sunsphere at midnight.

  • Free parking is available all day in all city-owned garages. For a map of available garages and lots, visit downtownknoxville.org/parking.

  • The event will be held rain or shine. You're welcome to bring your own seating, but tents, canopies and alcohol are not allowed

Pretentious Beer Co.'s New Year's Eve Silent Disco

  • Celebrate the new year with drink and dance at Pretentious Beer Co.'s annual New Year's Eve Silent Disco. Multiple DJs will play a variety of music to hear through headphones, with three channels of music going at once.

  • This 21+ event starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $20.

  • Limited space and headphones available.

The Island in Pigeon Forge's New Year's Eve Celebration

  • Join the New Year’s Eve celebration at The Island in Pigeon Forge. The Island is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve free concert featuring headliner Stephen Goff and The Royals.

  • The celebration will include midnight fireworks with the soundtrack simulcast on Knoxville ratio station WIVK 107.7. The Island’s rides, retail and dining establishments will operate as scheduled, including the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel.

  • The Island in Pigeon Forge will be open 10 a.m.-midnight.

Gatlinburg's New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show

  • Gatlinburg will ring in the new year under the cover of the iconic Gatlinburg Space Needle for its annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show. This family-friendly free event will include a band, drone show and fireworks.

  • Masterpiece Band ATL will take the stage in Shade Tree Lot at 120 Airport Road, playing contemporary rock, disco, hip-hop, soul, pop, jazz, and more beginning at 9:30 p.m.

  • Adding a new element to the festivities, eventgoers can enjoy an illuminating drone show beginning around 11:50 p.m. The drones will light up the night sky above the Gatlinburg Convention Center, featuring displays that pay homage to the area. The show will lead into a fireworks finish to ring in the new year.

  • For those who can't attend in person, the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau will host a livestream broadcast of the drone show and fireworks finale on the Visit Gatlinburg Facebook Page.

The Free Medical Clinic's New Year's Eve 2024 Countdown

  • The Free Medical Clinic invites the community to their New Year's Eve 2024 Countdown at AK Bissell Park in Oak Ridge at 9 p.m.

  • The park will open at 7 p.m. for the free event.

  • Live bands, food trucks, hot air balloons and a kids area will be present.

Seven Islands State Birding Park's New Year's Eve Sunset Cocoa Hike

  • Join Ranger Stephanie for an easy stroll down Kelly Lane Greenway at Seven Islands to the Green House where participants will watch the sun set over the French Broad River one last time in 2023.

  • Enjoy the beauty of the sunset from the porch area of the Green House as hot chocolate is served. Participants will learn about the history of the park and the work that park staff do year-round.

  • The total round-trip distance of the hike will be approximately 2 miles and will be entirely along the paved Kelly Lane Greenway. Participants can listen and look for birds along the way. Participants should plan on meeting Ranger Stephanie at the Bluebird Barn by the main entrance off Kelly Lane by 4:30 p.m. The event will last until 6:30 p.m.

  • Pre-registration is required for this program and is $8 per person (children under 6 are free).

New Year's Eve Salsa Party at Marble City Market

  • Dance the rest of the year away with HaCha Latin Dance Company's New Years Eve Salsa party at Marble City Market. The event will have you enter the new year dancing salsa, bachata and more.

  • Admission includes appetizers by Seoul Brothers and a champagne toast at midnight.

  • The event starts at 8:;30 p.m. and costs $20, with an intro dance lesson included, no partner required.

Knoxville Track Club's New Year's Day 5K Run/Walk

For any additions or revisions to the New Year's holiday events on this list, contact Hayley Choy, Hayley.Choy@KnoxNews.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Where to celebrate New Year's Eve around Knoxville

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