Fireworks, fabled history honor America 250
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Wes and Christy Drewry and family - Photos by Jake Nichols
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Piper, 7 - Photos by Jake Nichols
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Mandy Mays - Photos by Jake Nichols
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Rylan Smith, 4, rides his red, white and blue-decked bicycle. - Photos by Jake Nichols
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Ian Kolmos and his daughter play with bubbles - Photos by Jake Nichols
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Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs reads the Declaration of Independence to the crowd - Photos by Jake Nichols
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A little girl has her face painted during Celebration at the Cove - Photos by Jake Nichols
Just past 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, Glenn Jacobs stepped toward a microphone at Concord Park.
Only the Knox County mayor was not wearing his typical suit, nor was he wearing one of the outfits he donned for years as a professional wrestler.
Instead, he wore stockings, navy pants, a vest and a white wig, which sat just above the rounded spectacles he used to read the parchment within his grasp.
The colonial attire provided a fitting flashback as Jacobs read the Declaration of Independence, a prelude to the fireworks capping Saturday’s Celebration at the Cove to recognize America’s 250th anniversary at the Cove at Concord Park.
Presented by Visit Knoxville and Knox County, this event honored the United States’ rich heritage with a full day of family-friendly festivities, live music and a booming fireworks display over the water of Fort Loudon Lake.
“We started brainstorming this event probably around the first of the year, knowing the 250 would be a big year for us,” said Whitney Fitzsimmons, Knox County Recreation coordinator. “So we wanted to think of what we could do to have some kind of celebration on top of what was already on the calendar.”
Rain poured for a few minutes Saturday, but the weather otherwise held off as people enjoyed different booths and food trucks before settling in for a concert that evening.
Within the daytime activities, attendees could peruse booths of local artisans, historical exhibits and community partners with hands-on activities for children.
“Despite the weather, which is always our biggest nemesis, we have seen some really great interactions,” Fitzsimmons said. “When we plan, we want something for every age, ability and interest to have something for everybody.”
A patriotic bike parade took place at 1 p.m., and later, the stage served as a backdrop
for a reading of “Unfinished Revolution,” along with a pie-eating contest and history trivia.
From there, singer-songwriter Carson Beyer entertained the crowd in a 250th anniversary edition of the beloved Concerts at the Cove series, paving the way for Jacobs’ reading and the fireworks that concluded the event.
“It’s awesome,” Jacobs said before donning his unique garb. “It’s great to see so many people come out and have a good time. Back in the 18th century, they didn’t have internet or TV or radio or even telegraphs, so the decoration was spread through newspapers and public events. So we tried to replicate that here today.”
