Chattanooga's Pops on the River ends in fireworks over Coolidge Park the Thursday before July 4. The 2027 details are not out; this is the 2026 plan.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year. The 2027 plans have not been announced; the details below are from the City of Chattanooga’s America 250 announcement of June 1, 2026, and its Pops on the River listing. We will replace them when the city posts the 2027 dates.

Chattanooga’s Fourth of July fireworks are the finale of Pops on the River, the city’s riverfront celebration at Coolidge Park. It has run for more than 30 years and is traditionally held on the Thursday before July 4. In 2026 it ran 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 2. Call the city’s events office at 423-643-7866 with questions.

Who to call

  • City events: 423-643-7866
  • Event listings: the City of Chattanooga calendar
  • Road closures: the city’s special event closures map and weekly closure releases
  • Emergencies: 911

Pops on the River

  • Where: Coolidge Park, 150 River St., on the North Shore.
  • When: in 2026, 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 2, with the fireworks at the end of the night.
  • What: live music, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, a Homegrown Vendor Market, food trucks and a Kids Zone, closing with a large fireworks show.

The park sits on the North Shore, across the Tennessee River from downtown, with the Walnut Street Bridge beside it.

The 2026 America 250 series

For the country’s 250th birthday, the city added a run of free events around Pops on the River:

  • June 28: Democracy Speaks, poetry and music at Renaissance Park.
  • July 2: Pops on the River at Coolidge Park.
  • July 3: Hamilton in the Round, a free outdoor sing-along screening of the musical at Renaissance Park, 7 to 10 p.m.
  • July 4: the United 250 Mayors’ Finale Celebration on the Chattanooga Riverfront, produced with Hamilton County: Riverfront Nights from 2 p.m., a 500-drone show over the Tennessee River at 10 p.m. and a 1,000-foot pyrotechnic waterfall from the Market Street Bridge.

The city called the drone show the largest in Chattanooga’s history. It was built for the semiquincentennial, so do not count on it in 2027.

Getting there

Downtown streets near the riverfront close for big events; the city posts the closures in its weekly latest news releases. Riverfront Parkway between Chestnut Street and Power Alley closes for Riverfront Nights on summer Saturdays. For parking and transit, see our getting around guide.

Fireworks at home

Before you set off your own fireworks, check the rules in the Chattanooga city code and any burn ban in effect, or call the city at 311 (423-643-6311).

What this means for you

  • Plan for the Thursday before July 4; in 2027 that is Thursday, July 1, if the city keeps the tradition. We will confirm when the city announces it.
  • Arrive early for a spot on the Coolidge Park lawn, and expect downtown closures.

Related guides: parks and trails, things to do this month and getting around Chattanooga.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Chattanooga Fourth of July fireworks?

The city’s fireworks close Pops on the River at Coolidge Park, traditionally held on the Thursday before July 4. In 2026 it ran 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, July 2. The 2027 date has not been announced.

Is Pops on the River free?

The city lists it as a community event with live music by the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, a vendor market, food trucks, a kids zone and fireworks. It did not list an admission charge in 2026.

Where is Pops on the River?

Coolidge Park, 150 River St., on the North Shore across the Tennessee River from downtown.

Was there a drone show in Chattanooga on July 4?

Yes, in 2026. The city and Hamilton County held the free United 250 Mayors’ Finale on the riverfront with a 500-drone show at 10 p.m. and a pyrotechnic waterfall from the Market Street Bridge. It was part of the America 250 series and may not return.