Stars Over Aspire
Free celebration honors America’s 250th
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The Pearl at Aspire serves as the centerpiece of the 370-acre outdoor destination in Clinton, where Aspire will host a daylong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary on Saturday, June 27. The free event will feature live music, food vendors, family activities and a patriotic drone show, with a $10 per-vehicle parking fee. - Tony Cox
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In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, local outdoor destination Aspire will host an entire day of festivities on Saturday, June 27, at its 370-acre property in the heart of Clinton.
The event, which will kick off at 10 a.m., will include vendors, live music and various family-friendly activities, and culminate with a patriotic drone show at 10 p.m.
“The whole day is designed to get people here and keep them entertained leading up to the drone show,” said Andrew Smiddy, Aspire administrator.
“So, for example, as soon as gates open and people start arriving, we’re going to have some first responders, as well as some military personnel with a fire truck, and a few other military implements for kids to climb on and learn about things like that throughout the day.”
Then, at 11 a.m., attendees will have the opportunity to attend a “table-dump” seafood boil and visit beverage vendors at Aspire’s open-air pavilion known as The Exchange.
Smiddy said that menu options like burgers and tenders will also be available for attendees to enjoy at The Launch, along with kayaks, paddleboards and tutorials from Oak Ridge-based River Run Outfitters.
“We’ll be offering kayak and paddleboards and we’ll also have live music going on down there,” he said, noting that more beverage vendors and a bar will be available as well.
At Aspire’s main building — the Onward and Upward Center — guests will also have the chance to hear a lineup of local disc jockeys, including University of Tennessee icon Sterling L. Henton, otherwise known as Sterl the Pearl.
“He’ll be here all day,” Smiddy said of the former Vols quarterback who now hypes up fans during Tennessee games at both Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena.
“We’ve also got four other DJs who are going to play off and on throughout the day with him, but Sterl the Pearl will do the last two-and-a-half-hour set leading up the drone show itself.”
A full barbecue-style meal, complete with ribs, baked beans and coleslaw, will also be available at the park’s Onward and Upward Center, ensuring attendees can access a wide variety of food options to accommodate different dietary needs.
Additionally, Smiddy said that an array of vendors, from Budweiser and Xul Beer to Monster Energy and Coca-Cola, will be on site throughout the day, with live remote broadcasts planned from local radio stations Star 102.1 and WIVK.
“Some of those folks are setting up tents and giving out some swag and other free activities to try to help people stay interactive and entertained throughout the day,” he said, noting that the Grit’N Bank It pump track and other amenities will also be open to the public during the event.
“Obviously all of Aspire is always open to the public to enjoy, so hiking, biking, fishing, bird watching, playgrounds or whatever you want to do will also be available.”
The drone show, orchestrated by Northern Colorado-based entertainment and production company Glyphix Drone Shows, will provide guests with a one-of-a-kind experience that celebrates Clinton, East Tennessee and America.
“The goal of Aspire’s 250th Independence celebration of our great nation is to tell a themed storythat all patrons can relate to,” Smiddy said.
“We hope that all guests will recognize visual representations in the sky that are near and dear to our hearts.”
While the event is free, Smiddy noted that Aspire will be charging a $10 specia-event fee per vehicle entry; however, attendees are encouraged to find overflow options at nearby parking lots or walk from downtown, as up to 10,000 people are expected.
“Because of the pure nature of our parking and the way everything is, any vehicle that comes in will be charged $10 at the gate,” he said.
“But our hope is that anyone who wants to come is welcome to, regardless of how many people there are here.”
For more information about Aspire, the largest privately held public park in the Southeast that’s also free to the public, visit alwaysaspire.com or call 865-457-7777.
