Experience the Cowboy Carnival at Hoof & Harness!

Issue #481

In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather  | Cloudy with a High of 84

📰 Dusk in the Dogwoods: A Garden Parlor Party!

📰 Tate’s School & Tate’s Camp Hayride & Open House

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

 Advertising Opportunities
 

Newsletter cut short in your email? If so,

Today’s Record High: 85 in 1946 — Record Low: 25 in 1992


The Knoxville Insider is for you, our readers. We encourage you to share your news, local hero stories, events, and more! Email us at [email protected].

Experience the Cowboy Carnival at Hoof & Harness!

Round up the whole family and join us for the Cowboy Carnival on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM! Gates open at 10:45 AM, so come early to explore all the fun waiting for you at Hoof & Harness (70 Judson Road, Strawberry Plains).

Enjoy a day filled with exciting activities:

  • Play on inflatables

  • Visit adorable farm animals

  • Explore interactive exhibits and exhibitions for all ages

  • Savor delicious food from multiple food-truck vendors

Supporting a Worthy Cause

Hoof & Harness provides free therapeutic horsemanship lessons to students with varying special needs, including those with Down syndrome, autism, seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, emotional trauma, and foster/adoptive backgrounds. Since 2015, H&H has delivered over 9,000 individualized lessons to students aged 5-60 and recently expanded to offer equine-assisted counseling.

Join the Fun and Make a Difference!

All proceeds from the Cowboy Carnival will directly fund lessons for H&H students. Come have fun while supporting an amazing program! More Info

Join Mabry-Hazen House for Dusk in the Dogwoods: A Garden Parlor Party!

Step back in time and celebrate spring in grand style at Dusk in the Dogwoods: A Garden Parlor Party, hosted by the Mabry-Hazen House on April 17th, from 6-9 PM. This enchanting evening serves as the museum’s annual spring fundraiser, supporting over three decades of historic preservation and educational programming while ensuring the legacy of Mabry-Hazen House continues for years to come.

Enjoy an elegant evening under the blooming dogwoods, complete with vintage charm, lively entertainment, and delightful refreshments. Sip on giggle water, swing to live music, and revel in the magic of a 1920s-inspired garden soirée!

A Night to Remember

This year’s Dusk in the Dogwoods will feature:

  • Signature cocktails, local beer, and wine

  • A silent auction showcasing items and experiences from local small businesses, artisans, and makers

  • Costume contests for Most Historically Authentic, Most Creative, and Best Spirit (costumes encouraged but not required!)

  • Heavy hors d’oeuvres

  • Live music from the Old City Buskers

  • Dancing and dance instruction

  • Yard games like croquet, bocce, and horseshoes

  • Historic house museum tours

What’s a Garden Parlor Party?

Imagine a stunning outdoor space furnished with vintage-inspired furniture, where you and your guests can relax in a private parlor setting or mingle among the many beautiful parlors across Mabry’s Hill. Guests have the option to reserve a private outdoor parlor space, which includes admission for the corresponding number of attendees. Upon arrival, you’ll be able to select an available private parlor, complete with a personalized sign.

Don’t miss this opportunity to step back into the Roaring Twenties and help support the preservation of one of Knoxville’s treasured historic landmarks. Mark your calendars and prepare for an evening of elegance, entertainment, and community spirit at Mabry-Hazen House! More Info

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

Step into a storybook world where whimsy and wonder come to life—all for a great cause! CASA of East Tennessee invites you to their Storybook Ball, an enchanting evening dedicated to helping children in need. April 4, 2025 Location: The Press Room Time: 6:00 PM More Info

The team at Zoom Room Dog Training in Hardin Valley is excited to invite you to our next Canine-Focused Business Networking Meeting on Friday, April 4 at 8:30 AM. Join us at our location: 10938 Spring Bluff Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932, for a morning of networking and collaboration with fellow pet-friendly businesses and professionals.

The Women of Lockerbie presented at St. Gregory Auditorium, Knoxville Catholic High School (9245 Fox Lonas Road). April 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 PM | April 5, 12, 13 at 2:30 PM Tickets & Info: Visit theater23.org

Get ready to kick up your heels—line dancing is back at RiverView Family Farm! Mark your calendars for April 5 and join Volunteer Line Dancing for a fun-filled Spring Barn Dance at one of Knoxville’s most scenic farm venues. More Info

Networking:

Veterans:

Free Veteran’s Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 14 free breakfasts for Veterans and guests on four Saturdays, monthly, Coffee line starts at 8am, Chow line starts at 8:30am. Locations and Dates

 Dykeman Stokely Lecture

Join us for an evening of compelling discussions on faith, struggle, resilience, and redemption at the Wilma Dykeman Stokely Memorial Lecture on April 16 at 7 PM at the East Tennessee History Center. This year’s event features two acclaimed Appalachian authors, Terry Roberts and Halle Hill, who will share their insights and literary perspectives.

The lecture is hosted by Friends of the Library and the John C. Hodges Society of UT Libraries. Admission is free, offering the community an opportunity to engage with thought-provoking narratives from two distinguished voices of the region.

Meet the Authors

Halle Hill – Author of Good Women, Hill’s debut novel explores the interconnected lives of 12 Black women across the Appalachian South. The book has been recognized as a 2023 Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, O Magazine, Electric Reviews, Book Riot, and Southwest Reviews. A native of East Tennessee, Hill brings a fresh and powerful voice to Southern literature.

Terry Roberts – An accomplished storyteller from Western North Carolina, Roberts is the author of A Short Time to Stay Here and That Bright Land. He is not only a celebrated novelist but also a lifelong teacher and educational reformer, currently directing the National Paideia Center in Asheville.

This special event celebrates Appalachian storytelling, culture, and history, offering attendees the chance to hear from authors whose works highlight the region’s depth and complexity. Don't miss this engaging evening of literature and discussion!

Tate’s School & Tate’s Camp Hayride & Open House

April 26, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Tate’s School (Entrance on N. Cedar Bluff Rd, next to Verizon)

Tate’s School and Tate’s Camp invite families to their 16th Annual Open House—the only day of the year the public gets to experience this one-of-a-kind campus!

What’s in Store?
  • Hayride tours of the 54-acre campus

  • Explore rustic log classrooms & outdoor learning areas

  • Zip lines, archery range, climbing walls & more!

  • Hands-on gardening activities in the Teaching Garden

  • Scavenger hunt for kids & a chance to win a FREE week of camp

  • Complimentary lunch with camp counselors

  • Homemade snacks from the chef

  • Check out the 200-foot hillside slide!

This year’s tour includes a brand-new 3-year-old preschool classroom, built after a tornado destroyed the previous structure. “Expanding our preschool is exciting, especially with such a long waiting list,” shared Tracy Long, Preschool Director.

With open-air classrooms, saltwater pools, and endless outdoor learning opportunities, Tate’s School has been redefining hands-on education for 57 years. Come see the magic for yourself!

Don’t miss this unforgettable day of family fun! More Info

We Want To Spotlight Local Businesses!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Knoxville area residents in an upcoming issue of Knoxville Insider? Apply Here. Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it - send us an email at [email protected]!

What did you think of today’s issue? (anonymous)

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.