Festivals & Events
Events are listed alphabetically. Click on the event title to go directly to the website.
Be sure to visit the Arts & Culture Alliance's event calendar for more events!
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Alive After Five
Friday nights, year-round
Music series to help Knoxville "come alive after five”.
Auto Show
April
See the best that Knoxville and local car dealers have to offer. Produced by the Knoxville News Sentinel and KnoxCars.com.
Bark in the Park
April
Fund-raiser for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley, featuring thousands of dogs and their two-legged companions.
The Bearden Village Festival of Art
April
Street fair featuring music, songwriters and storytellers, food and beverages, crafts and art activities and children's events.
Boomsday
September
Food, beverages, and entertainment at one of the biggest single-day events in the state of Tennessee and the largest fireworks show in the southeast United States.
Brewer's Jam
October
This annual regional Craft Beer Festival on the lawn of World's Fair Park features unlimited craft beer samples from regional brewers, great entertainment and fantastic local food.
Cherokee Heritage Days
August
The Cherokee demonstrate tomahawk throwing, blow gun weaponry, and chores associated with everyday life. Experience friendship, dancing, storytelling, crafts, face-painting, and open-hearth cooking.
Christmas in the City
November–December
Two-month celebration featuring the annual Riverlights Festival's Boat Parade, Fantasy of Trees, performance of The Nutcracker by the Appalachian Ballet and the Santa Claus Parade.
Country Market Days
August
Kick off fall as you explore over 50 craft dealers, view historic craft demonstrations, and listen to local music - a full weekend of baked goods, antiques, used books, flower arrangements, and more.
Davy Crockett's Birthday Party
August
Each year the East Tennessee Historical Society hosts a birthday party fit for a "King of the Wild Frontier”. The party promises something for family members of all ages with hands-on crafts and games, storytelling, and, of course, birthday cake.
Dogwood Arts Festival
April
One of the largest and finest annual festivals in America and featuring dogwood trails, open gardens, arts and crafts shows, food, music, and family fun.
Dogwood Arts Parade
April
Annual parade including entertainers, musicians, floats, balloons, and clowns.
Along Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville.
Dogwood Village House and Garden Show
February
Enjoy creative ideas and resources for home and garden. Presented by the Dogwood Arts Festival.
Earthfest
Featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts, environmental exhibits, and food.
Fantasy of Trees
November
A wonderland of holiday decorations and lights featuring entertainment, children's activities, and shops. Presented by the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
Farmers’ Market
Saturday mornings, June - October
Wednesday evenings, June - Octobe
A producer-only open-air market featuring regional and organic produce, dairy and meats when available, as well as baked goods, canned goods, and live plants.
Feast with the Beasts
August
Sampling of food and beverages, live music, and silent auction to benefit Knoxville Zoo.
Festival on the Fourth
July 4
A traditional community memorial celebration featuring entertainment by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Knoxville Symphony Festival Choir, refreshments, games, and a fireworks display as the finale.
Foothills Craft Guild Show
April and November
The Spring Show is coordinated with the Dogwood Arts Festival. The Fall Show features the work of more than 120 well-known craft artists from East and Middle Tennessee as well as shopping, music performances, and craft demonstrations.
Foothills Fall Festival
October
This family event offers music from local and famous entertainers, works from over 75 artists and crafters, petting zoos, clowns, magicians, entertainment, face-painting, giant slides, games, and more.
Fountain City Festival
April
Part of the Knoxville Dogwood Arts Festival. Crafts, music, entertainment and dogwood trails.
Fourth of July Celebration and Anvil Shoot
July 4
A celebration featuring music, crafts, demonstrations, and a traditional anvil shoot within a complete "living replica" of a pioneer village.
Friday Night Lights on the Waterfront
Friday nights, July-August
Live music beginning at 7pm followed by fireworks at 10pm. Free to the public. Free parking at Volunteer Landing and along Hill Ave.
Grainger County Tomato Festival
July
Great Taste Festival (formerly the Ragin’ Cajun Cookout)
June
Cajun cuisine and more with a wide variety of music entertainment, sponsored by Safe Haven.
At Market Square
Greek Fest
August
Enjoy authentic Greek cuisine, live Greek music and folk dancing and shop for imported Greek items.
Halloween events
October
Knoxville has several spooky events in October: Boo! at the Zoo with the Knoxville Zoo, Ghosts & Ghouls Walking Tours with Blount Mansion, Hearth Scares Walking Tours with James White’s Fort, and KPD's Safety City Halloween event provide alternatives for Halloween fun.
Head of the Tennessee Regata
October
Honda Hoot Rally
June
More than 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts zoom in for five days of events including riding, product testing, entertainment, and more.
Jubilee Festival
March
This festival is a celebration of Appalachian musical traditions and is sponsored by the Laurel Theatre and Jubilee Center.
Kuumba Festival
June
African American Appalachian Arts presents a showcase of visual art, folk art, dance, theater, music, storytelling, and ethnic cuisine that celebrates the shared heritage among African Americans.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January
Celebration includes a parade, memorial service, a Black Inventors Exhibit and a tribute featuring the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Choir by the Knoxville Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.
Nativity Pageant of Knoxville
December
A professionally-directed pantomime drama that combines a cast of over 90, moving narration, realistic sets, authentic costumes, and live animals to create a beautiful and powerful presentation of the Christmas story.
Raccoon Valley Bluegrass Music Festival
October
Bringing the best in bluegrass music to Powell, a few miles north of Knoxville. Features nationally known artists as well as regional and local artists.
Rossini Festival
May
This annual festival combines two opera productions, art exhibitions, wine tastings, and a wide variety of other community events with a vibrant Italian Street Fair on Saturday, April 9, in which downtown Knoxville’s Gay Street is transformed from a busy downtown thoroughfare to a festive European festival with six stages featuring a range of entertainment options, an upscale Artisan’s Market, the smells and tastes of authentic Mediterranean foods and beverages, and a special children’s area with entertainment, fun and games.
Shakespeare on the Square
July - August
Festival of Shakespeare’s plays presented annually by the Tennessee Stage Company.
Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival
September - October
Every fall the Great Smoky Mountains come alive with a burst of color. This countywide festival, which includes cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge, features decorating contests, special events, local craft shows, and much more.
SpringFest
March - June
Enjoy springtime activity as the city celebrates with outstanding entertainment, unique special events, and city streets overflowing with baskets of beautiful blooms and flowering bulbs.
Statehood Day Festival
May - June
A celebration of Tennessee's birthday, held at the actual site of Tennessee's birth as the 16th state in 1796 and featuring period crafts, skills demonstrations, and 18th century tavern food.
Sundown in the City
Thursday evenings, April-June
Outdoor concert series featuring local, regional and national bands.
Tennessee Fall Homecoming
October
This annual festival, a very extensive and authentic American cultural festival, features hundreds of people engaged in old-time, pioneer, mountain, and rural activities, along with over 200 traditional folk, early country and bluegrass musicians.
Tennessee Valley Fair
September
The fair features daily entertainment, includinga midway, children's rides, rodeos, livestock events, tractor pulls, a demolition derby, concerts, beauty contests, performing arts shows, contests of many types, and competitive exhibits. Daily fireworks are a favorite of all fair goers.
Tulip Festival
April
More than 20,000 tulips will be in bloom during this fifth annual springtime event.
U.S. Constitution Week
September
Blount Mansion, a National Historical Landmark and home of a signer of the U.S. Constitution, hosts a series of special events in honor of U.S. Constituion Week.
Veterans Day Parade
November 11
Honoring the Veterans of America and featuring local bands, military units, floats, and more parading. Along Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville
Waterfest
May
Waterfest is an annual, day-long festival for area students that focuses on environmental and water quality education and outdoor activities. An activity of the Water Quality Forum.
WinterFest
November - February
Winterfest is an annual winter celebration filled with special events, light displays, and Southern hospitality to keep the whole family happy during the holidays.
At Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg
Women Today Expo
March
Busy, affluent, active women come to the Women Today Expo to watch fashion shows, sample gourmet fare, attend seminars, explore new products, consider career options, participate in cooking classes and more. They're here to find the products and services they need for themselves, their families and their companies.
Festival news in Tennessee: http://festivalnews.info/links.html#tn
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