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Kingsport’s Red, White & Boom with Grand Funk Railroad

July 4 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Grand Funk Railroad

Kingsport’s fifth-annual Red, White and BOOM Independence Day Celebration returns on July 4th in Downtown Kingsport. This year’s event will feature food trucks, fireworks, live music and more! Red, White & BOOM will take place on Main Street in the Centennial Park area of downtown Kingsport.

Activities will take place throughout the afternoon and evening on Main Street. More than a dozen food trucks will line the street and many downtown restaurants will have modified hours to stay open longer. New this year, we’re excited to announce a hot dog eating contest, in partnership with Hot Dog Hut, and a kids’ watermelon eating contest. Stay tuned for additional details and times. Headlining this year’s free concert is Grand Funk Railroad. More entertainment will be announced soon. Kingsport’s Independence Day Fireworks will follow the performances, with an estimated start time of 9:45 p.m. The fireworks soundtrack with be livestreamed on Electric 94.9.

“We are so excited to be celebrating Red, White & BOOM’s fifth year in downtown Kingsport,” said Emily Thompson, Visit Kingsport’s Director of Fun Fest and Special Events. “This year is extra meaningful as we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. We can’t wait to honor the legacy of our country while making memories with our community.”

This year we are excited to welcome headliner, Grand Funk Railroad. Known as The American Band, Grand Funk Railroad continues to make their mark on rock music with hits like We’re an American Band, The Loco-Motion and Some Kind of Wonderful among others. Founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, and writer/singer of the iconic “We’re an American Band”) and Mel Schacher (bass, the thunder behind the groove) are joined by a lineup of all-star talent: guitar slinger and veteran of Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band, Mark Chatfield; and the ever-versatile Tim Cashion (affectionately known as “Dr. Tim”), who – in the past – has hit the road with Bob Seger, on keys. Since 1969, Grand Funk Railroad has sold more than 25 million albums, had 19 charting singles, earned seven gold and 10 platinum certifications and has had eight Top 40 hits.

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EVENT CALENDAR PURPOSE AND CRITERIA

A calendar has been created called the This is Kingsport events calendar which will serve as a non-public forum to provide citizens with information about social and organizational gatherings held within the city. The city will disseminate information to the public through this online calendar about social and organizational gatherings which are conducted or promoted by community partners with which the city currently has partnership agreements. Additionally, social or organizational gatherings held on city owned property to which the public at large is invited will be published on this calendar.

Each year the city enters into partnership agreements with multiple community partners some of whom in turn support the city by organizing events or promoting events of members and affiliates. By creating a common source for the dissemination of information about community events the city will be furthering its support of those community partners which in turn support the city. Moreover, the city wishes to and will benefit from highlighting gatherings which will be of benefit and enjoyment to the public.

Community partners may communicate their events or those which they promote to the city which will disseminate the information through the event calendar. Furthermore, the city of Kingsport will publish on the calendar those community events which are held on city property. In order to achieve the city’s goals only those events described herein will be published on the This is Kingsport event calendar which will be curated by city staff.