Basic Boomsday 2009 Information

What: Evening fireworks end Labor Day weekend celebration that includes wakeboarding rail-jam demonstrations, family fun area, food, contests, Navy Band "Freedom" performances

When: 1-10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6; Fireworks start 9:30 p.m.

Where: Along Volunteer Landing and Neyland Drive from Walnut Street to Lake Loudoun Boulevard; closed streets make pedestrian area

Admission: Free; charges for food, beverages, games, parking

First aid: Volunteer Landing on east tower's east side; under Henley Bridge on north side of Neyland; north side of Neyland across from Bridgeview Grill

Star 102.1 Radio: Broadcasts Boomsday soundtrack simulcast with fireworks

More information: www.boomsday.org or 865-342-9191 hotline

Boomsday Events

1 p.m. Sept. 6: Food vendors open; Family Fun Zone opens with games, inflatables, petting zoo, rides; charges for both

1, 3, 5 & 8:15 p.m.: MasterCraft/American Boat Center Rail Jam demonstrations, west end Neyland Drive

2 p.m.: Karaoke Cafe Community Stage opens

2, 5 & 8 p.m.: Navy Band "Freedom" performs from Fort Loudoun Lake barge at Volunteer Landing steps

9:30 p.m.: Fireworks begin, show is estimated at just under 19 minutes

Road/Bridge Closings

Henley Bridge closes 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5; reopens 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7

Neyland Drive westbound lanes from Walnut Street to Lake Loudoun Boulevard close 8 p.m. Sept 5, open 6 a.m. Sept. 7

Neyland's eastbound lanes from Walnut to Lake Loudoun close 10 p.m. Sept. 5, open 6 a.m. Sept. 7

Access to Neyland from Central Street and Hall of Fame Drive ends 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, opens 6 a.m. Sept. 7

Gay Street Bridge closes 9 p.m. Sept. 6 for pedestrian traffic, 9:15 p.m. to vehicle traffic (15 minutes before fireworks start)

Pedestrian bridge from City/County Building across Neyland Drive to Volunteer Landing closes 7 p.m. Sept. 6

Parking/Traffic

Special event parking at Main Street Garage, Dwight Kessel Garage (900 State St.), City/County Building garage (400 Main St.), Locust Street (540 Locust St.), $5

Free parking at Market Square (406 Walnut St.) and State Street (520 State St) garages

All UT Parking lots/garages open, $10

Parking areas accessible only by Neyland are closed for parking since Neyland closed

New free valet bicycle parking by Knoxville Regional Bicycle Program, southwest corner of Lot S7 along Second Creek (between World's Fair Park and Neyland)

City/County Building Garage opens 9 a.m. Sept. 6; L-3 open air deck reserved for ADA accessible viewing and parking with appropriate vehicle permit

Parking maps at www.cityofknoxville.org or www.Boomsday.org

Boats

No wake zone from orange railroad trestle to South Knoxville Bridge starts three hours before University of Tennessee-Western Kentucky Sept. 5 game until midnight Sept. 6

No general public shore access at steps of Volunteer Landing

City of Knoxville/UT docks available for temporary mooring only after noon Sept. 6; boats may park temporarily until 8 p.m. Sept. 6 but one person must stay on boat

Docking at Calhoun's docks along Fort Loudoun Lake monitored by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for access to Tennessee River channel. Owner of privately owned docks determines who can moor there. Limited space can be reserved at Volunteer Landing Marina, 865-633-5004

Boats must be in place at least by 9 p.m. Sept. 6; river's main channel closed from 9 p.m. until after fireworks end

Mooring at city/UT docks opens after fireworks with TWRA directing largest vessels into place first

Boaters may be ticketed if navigational lights aren't working, children under 13 years aren't wearing life-jackets, fire extinguishers don't work or not enough flotation devices

Don't Bring

Motorized vehicles or scooters (KDP personnel decide if needed for those with disabilities)

Backpacks (all other bags subject to search)

Picnic supplies/coolers/refillable containers

Cans/ bottles

Outside food/beverage

Alcohol

Pets

Skateboards/ skates/skate shoes

Tents/canopies/umbrellas

Firearms/laser-pointing devices/any weapons

Do Bring

Sunscreen/ hat/comfortable shoes

Blankets/lawn chairs

Portable radio (if desired)

Cash for food, games, parking

Boomsday, Bluegrass & BarbeCue

What: Mabry-Hazen House hosts house tours, dinner, music and watching Boomsday from historic house lawn

Where: Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave., Knoxville

When: House tours 6 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Adults $50; under 18 free with a ticket holder; for tickets 865-522-8661

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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