May 2015
City People Home Tour
The 2015 City People Home Tour provides potential downtown residents with the opportunity to learn about urban living. Residents open their condos and lofts to showcase the historic buildings and amenities of living downtown. One ticket provides admission for both Friday and Saturday tours; a free trolley is available to reach all tour homes.
Find out more »City People Home Tour
The 2015 City People Home Tour provides potential downtown residents with the opportunity to learn about urban living. Residents open their condos and lofts to showcase the historic buildings and amenities of living downtown. One ticket provides admission for both Friday and Saturday tours; a free trolley is available to reach all tour homes.
Find out more »December 2015
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »March 2016
Behind the Scenes with Knox Heritage Spring Tour
Twice a year Knox Heritage hosts behind-the-scenes tours, and the spring edition will be an "Underground to New Sounds" tour led by David Dewhirst. Attendees will explore what's hidden beneath the sidewalks in the 100 block of Gay Street and get a sneak peek of two new venues that will be featured during the Big Ears music festival in the entertainment district that is developing along Depot Street and Fifth Avenue. The event is open to current and new members – join by clicking here or call 865-523-8008.…
Find out more »April 2016
Knoxville Opera: Puccini’s Tosca, 3 Acts, 3 Locations
The Knoxville Opera will present Puccini’s Tosca with four performances in one day. The artists, orchestra and audience will travel among three venues to simulate the character’s experiences. Act 1 will be presented in two performances because of limited seating at Church Street United Methodist Church. Times are 2 to 2:45 p.m. OR 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Act 2 will be performed from 7:30 to 8:20 p.m. at Knoxville Convention/Exhibition Center connected to the downtown Holiday Inn. Act 3 will take place from…
Find out more »May 2016
Southern Food Writing Conference
The Southern Food Writing Conference is part of the International Biscuit Festival, which was started in 2009 by a group of local biscuit lovers who wanted to share Knoxville’s biscuit heritage with the world. What began as a fun gathering for friends and family has grown into a nationally recognized food festival that attracts more than 25,000 people to downtown Knoxville.
Find out more »August 2016
East Tennessee Community Design Center Urban Home & Garden Tour
The East Tennessee Community Design Center will host a tour of select downtown homes.
Find out more »East Tennessee Community Design Center Urban Home & Garden Tour
The East Tennessee Community Design Center will host a tour of select downtown homes.
Find out more »December 2016
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »May 2017
Southern Food Writing Conference
The Southern Food Writing Conference is part of the International Biscuit Festival. The conference includes two days of selected speakers from all over the region, lunch catered locally both days, dinner at Blackberry Farm, a surprise field trip and tickets to the Biscuit Bash. Click on the registration page for more information. Early registration for $375 will be available in January.
Find out more »December 2017
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »May 2018
City People Home Tour
The 2018 City People Home Tour provides potential downtown residents with the opportunity to learn about urban living. Residents open their condos and lofts to showcase the historic buildings and amenities of living downtown. Email [email protected] for information. Additional details to come.
Find out more »July 2018
KMA Art House Graffiti Crawl
Hosted by Art House at the Knoxville Museum of Art, Graffiti Crawl is a walking tour paired with stops at downtown and Old City locations. For more information, email [email protected].
Find out more »December 2018
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »March 2019
Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival draws thousands of attendees from across the globe during its four-day run venues in downtown Knoxville. Big Ears is created and produced by AC Entertainment, recognized as one of the foremost independent promoters in the United States.
Find out more »December 2019
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »March 2020
Mardi Growl
Young-Williams Animal Center will host the Mardi Growl pet parade in downtown Knoxville. More than 15,000 participants and their pets will walk from the Old City to Market Square and Krutch Park to raise awareness of the lifesaving efforts of Young-Williams Animal Center and support for Knoxville's pet-friendly communities. During the festival, guests can visit more than 60 vendors, enjoy a bite from local food trucks and win prizes by entering costume contests. Mardi Growl is Young-Williams Animal Center’s largest…
Find out more »Knox Shamrock Fest for East Tennessee Kidney Foundation – CANCELED
(As a proactive measure against the COVID-19 virus, this event has been canceled.) The Knox Shamrock Fest, formerly known as the Irish Festival, kicks off Friday and spans two days. The event, which benefits the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation, includes green beer, live Irish music, Irish dancing, Irish vendors and activities for children. The Kidney Run is held at 10 a.m. Saturday. Festival times are 3-10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday.
Find out more »Big Ears Festival – CANCELED
(As a proactive measure against the COVID-19 virus, this event has been canceled.) The Big Ears Festival draws thousands of attendees from across the globe during its four-day run venues in downtown Knoxville. Big Ears is created and produced by AC Entertainment, recognized as one of the foremost independent promoters in the United States. Big Ears is a singular festival experience that explores connections between musicians and artists, effortlessly crossing the boundaries of musical genres as well as artistic disciplines.
Find out more »May 2020
City People Home Tour – POSTPONED UNTIL FALL
(As a proactive measure against the COVID-19 virus, this event has been postponed until the fall in 2020.) The 2020 City People Home Tour provides potential downtown residents with the opportunity to learn about urban living. Residents open their condos, apartments and lofts to showcase the historic buildings and amenities of living downtown. Email [email protected] for information.
Find out more »October 2020
5th Annual Big Heights Rooftop Crawl – POSTPONED TO SPRING 2021
(As a proactive measure against COVID-19, this event has been canceled in 2020 and will take place in spring 2021.) Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee will hold its fifth annual Big Heights Rooftop Crawl, presented by FirstBank. The event, which will have a Halloween theme in 2020 and include costume contests, will take place on the rooftops of downtown Knoxville with food, drinks and music. Attendees in costume will receive an additional drink voucher. There will be prizes…
Find out more »March 2021
Knox St. Patrick’s Parade – CANCELED
(The 2021 event has been canceled because of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.) The Knox St. Patrick's Parade, a benefit for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, will begin at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. A "Cel-O-Braghtion Block Party in the Festival District (Clinch Avenue & Market Street) will immediately follow the parade with live music, libations, games and more. The parade is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., and route information is available HERE.
Find out more »October 2021
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Big Heights Rooftop Crawl – POSTPONED
(This event has been postponed until 2022.) Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee will hold its annual Big Heights Rooftop Crawl. The event, which will have a Halloween theme in 2021 and include costume contests, will take place on the rooftops of downtown Knoxville with food, drinks and live music. A ticket includes appetizers, four drinks, music and Halloween-themed fun. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes - attendees who do so will receive an additional drink voucher - and…
Find out more »December 2021
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street.
Find out more »March 2022
Knox St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Knox St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and proceed west to Gay Street, turn north onto Gay Street and continues to the intersection of West Jackson Avenue, where the parade will turn into the Old City and conclude under the viaduct at East Jackson and Willow avenues. Setup starts at 11 a.m., and roads along the parade route will be closed 12-3 p.m. Singer Chris Blue will serve as the 2022 grand marshal. Proceeds…
Find out more »Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival draws thousands of attendees from across the globe during its four-day run venues in downtown Knoxville. Big Ears is created and produced by AC Entertainment, recognized as one of the foremost independent promoters in the United States. Big Ears is a singular festival experience that explores connections between musicians and artists, effortlessly crossing the boundaries of musical genres as well as artistic disciplines.
Find out more »Big Ears Festival Parade and Street Fair
The Big Ears Festival Parade and Street Fair is a free, all-ages event on Saturday, March 26, being held as part of the four-day Big Ears Festival. The New Orleans-inspired, second-line-style parade, including the Cattywampus Puppet Council and Preservation Hall Jazz Band, will begin at 1 p.m. at East Jackson and Willow avenues in the Old City. The route will follow Willow to North Central Street, Central to West Jackson, Jackson to North Gay Street and Gay Street to Depot…
Find out more »May 2022
Historic Suffrage Parade
In recognition of the 102nd anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the Suffrage Coalition is hosting the Historic Suffrage Parade in downtown Knoxville. Participants are asked to wear period attire like hats, dresses, suits and other related items. Banners are available for purchase for $15 and banners with the name of the group and a standard to carry are $50. Sashes, buttons and pins will also be available to purchase. Lineup will take place between 3-3:30 p.m. with a 5 p.m.…
Find out more »September 2022
Knox Pride Parade
The annual Knox Pride Parade will start at Mary Costa Plaza at Knoxville Civic Coliseum, proceed on Gay Street and end in the Old City. The parade is part of Pridefest 2022.
Find out more »October 2022
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Big Heights Rooftop Crawl
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee will hold its annual Big Heights Rooftop Crawl. The event will take place on the rooftops of downtown Knoxville with food, drinks and live music. Additional details to come.
Find out more »December 2022
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street. The parade will start on Church Avenue near the Civic Coliseum, turn right onto Gay Street and end at Magnolia Avenue.
Find out more »March 2023
Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival draws thousands of attendees from across the globe during its four-day run at venues in downtown Knoxville. Described as “one of the most quietly earth-shattering, subtly luminous festivals the world over” by the Oxford American and “one of the world’s greatest music bashes” by The New York Times, the Big Ears Festival has established itself over the past decade as one of the most exciting and imaginative cultural gatherings anywhere.
Find out more »April 2023
Rossini Festival
The Rossini Festival is Knoxville Opera's annual International Street Fair that celebrates the global impact on the music, food, art and culture of East Tennessee. Now in its 20th year, the Rossini Festival is the largest of its kind in the local area and the only such free-admission community event presented by an opera company in the United States. The gathering transforms parts of Gay Street, Market Street, Market Square and adjoining streets into a European-style pedestrian street mall. Over…
Find out more »October 2023
Knox Pride Parade
The annual Knox Pride Parade will be held in downtown Knoxville as part of PrideFest 2023. The 2023 PrideFest Theme is “Celebrate. Pride. Protest.", so the annual parade also will serve as a march for equality.
Find out more »December 2023
WIVK Christmas Parade
The annual Christmas parade takes place in downtown Knoxville and features floats and decorated vehicles, marching bands and dancers and a special appearance by Santa Claus. Several streets downtown will be closed to traffic, including Gay Street. The parade will start on Church Avenue near the Civic Coliseum, turn right onto Gay Street and end at Magnolia Avenue.
Find out more »March 2024
Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival draws thousands of attendees from across the globe during its four-day run of venues in downtown Knoxville. Founded in 2009, the Big Ears Festival is the organization's flagship event. It explores the influences that inspire and connect musicians and artists, crossing the boundaries of musical genres as well as artistic disciplines. Every spring, Big Ears presents nearly 200 concerts, talks, workshops, film screenings, residencies and more in over a dozen venues across downtown Knoxville.
Find out more »April 2024
Rossini Festival
The Rossini Festival is Knoxville Opera’s annual International Street Fair that celebrates the global impact on the music, food, art and culture of East Tennessee. The festival features non-stop entertainment on four outdoor stages showcasing opera, classical, jazz, gospel, ethnic music, ballet, modern and ethnic dance. Attendees can purchase from scores of food vendors and more than 75 artisans throughout the day, while The Y FunZone keeps children entertained. Admission is always free.
Find out more »