Boomsday was an annual
fireworks
Fireworks are Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large numbe ...
celebration that took place on
Labor Day
Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...
weekend in
Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
. It was the largest Labor Day firework show in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
,
and was considered a top attraction in the region. The event was held on
Volunteer Landing and accompanied by live music and festivities.
Boomsday's firework display attracted over 325,000 spectators every year.
Fireworks were set off from the
Henley Street Bridge (to a lesser extent Baptist Hospital and the
Gay Street Bridge) and spectators could view the show from the riverfront, hillsides, or on boats from the
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is a long river located in the Southern United States, southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. Flowing through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, it begins at the confluence of Fren ...
. In 2006, Boomsday was expanded to a three-day event lasting through Labor Day weekend, causing Knoxville to lose money, and the city reverted to the one-day event in 2007.
The fireworks display was choreographed to music with one such selection being Madonna's Lucky Star in which all the bursts were star shaped. The Tennessee Volunteer's fight song with the bursts being the team's colors bursting in front of
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium ( ) is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several National Footba ...
was always a perennial crowd pleaser. Other musical selections included Smoke on the Water from Deep Purple, the theme from Jaws, and Born to Be Wild from Steppenwolf, just to name a few. The "waterfall" on the Henley Street Bridge marked the second half of the show.
In July 2015, organizers announced that 2015 would be the final Boomsday, stating that the city loses approximately $100,000 per year hosting the event.
Gallery
Image:Boomsday 2007.jpg, View from Calhoun's, 2007
Image:Boomsday 2007 .jpg, Orange and white, colors of the Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Colleg ...
Image:Boomdsday 2008.jpg, "Waterfall" from the Henley Street Bridge
Image:Boomdsday 2008 .jpg, Waterfall with extra bursts
Image:Boomsday 2008.jpg, 2008
Image:Boomsday 2008 Pro 1 (Medium).jpg, Grand Finale, 2008
References
External links
Official siteBoomsday Knoxville
{{coord, 35.957, N, 83.918, W, type:event, display=title
Festivals in Tennessee
Culture of Knoxville, Tennessee
Tourist attractions in Knoxville, Tennessee