In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Heavy Rain with a High of 67

📰 VOLS Orange & White Game

📰 City Nature Challenge 2025: BioBlitz Weekend

📰 FrankenCon Returns for a Killer Weekend of Horror Fun!

📰 Give Your Outdoor Space a Fresh New Look with Container Gardening!

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

Tennessee’s Orange & White Game Returns to Neyland Stadium – April 12 at 2 PM

Get ready, Vol Nation! The Orange & White Game, presented by Cherokee Resorts & Entertainment, kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 12 at historic Neyland Stadium. While the stadium continues its exciting renovations, seating capacity will be limited to approximately 45,000 fans.

Gate Info:
Gates 2, 21, 21A, 23, and 24 will be open to general admission ticket holders. Fans with tickets for the Transcard Premier Club and sections R-W should enter through Gate 21B. Gates open at 1 p.m., and the clear bag policy will be enforced.

There will be no live TV broadcast, but you can catch all the action via Vol Network radio affiliates, the Tennessee Athletics app, or UTsports.com.

Don’t Miss Vol Village!
Starting at 10:30 a.m., Vol Village will be the place to be with live bands, food trucks, Spirit Squad appearances, VFL Sterl The Pearl, sponsor booths, and family-friendly fun. No ticket required!

Don your orange, bring your clear bag, and get ready to celebrate the future of Tennessee Football! TICKETS HERE

City Nature Challenge 2025: BioBlitz Weekend

Join Ijams Nature Center and an incredible lineup of partners—including Zoo Knoxville, Discover Life in America, Sierra Club, Seven Islands State Birding Park, and the City of Knoxville—for a weekend of exploration, discovery, and community science as part of the global City Nature Challenge 2025!

This exciting weekend of FREE BioBlitz workshops invites participants of all ages to explore local biodiversity across fungi, birds, flowering plants, insects, and more. The goal? To identify and record as many wild organisms as possible using the iNaturalist app—a global citizen science tool.

What to Expect:

• Learn from expert naturalists and scientists

• Explore specific topics like birding, bugs, fungi, trees, and pollinators

• Record observations using the free iNaturalist app

• Participate in a global initiative to document local wildlife

• Contribute to scientific data while having fun outdoors!

Workshop Schedule:

April 25 @ Ijams Nature Center (Schedule Here)

• Ijams After Dark: BioBlitz Edition (7:00–10:00 PM)

April 26 @ Ijams Nature Center

• Spring Birding (Two sessions: 8:00 AM)

• Trees & Flowering Plants (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)

• Fungi, Ferns, & Mosses (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)

• Bugs & Grubs (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)

• Pollinator Palooza (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)

• Aventura en Español: Edición BioBlitz (1:00–3:00 PM)

April 27 @ Seven Islands State Birding Park
Seven Islands (Schedule Here)

 Important: All participants are asked to download and set up the iNaturalist app before attending. While workshops are free, they are part of a larger community-driven effort to catalog life around us—so come ready to observe, record, and discover!

Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP in advance. Let’s show the world what incredible biodiversity East Tennessee has to offer!

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

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

Join us for an inspiring and transformative afternoon at Pixies & Pinterest, an uplifting event focused on community, connection, and women’s empowerment! Hosted by A Girl Guide to Thrive, this special kick-off fundraising event will take place on April 6th, at 11 AM at The Kraken’s Cup. More Info

The UT Creative Writing Program is excited to present a reading by debut novelist Chukwuebuka Ibeh, named one of the “Most Promising New Voices of Nigerian Fiction” by Electric Literature. April 7 at Lindsey Young Auditorium, John C. Hodges Library More Info

History comes to life through music in Violins of Hope, a powerful exhibition and concert experience that honors the stories of violins played during the Holocaust. Each violin holds a story, and every note carries a legacy of resilience and survival. April 8, 2025 | 7:00 PM at Historic Tennessee violinsofhopeknox.com

Join us at The Kraken's Cup as we welcome local author Stephanie Edwards for a special author event! April 9, 2025 | ⏰ 11:00 AM More Info

Step into the dazzling world of the Roaring Twenties with the World Ballet Company’s brand-new production of The Great Gatsby Ballet! This stunning adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel brings the glitz, glamor, and tragic romance of Gatsby’s world to life LIVE on stage. April 10 | 7:00 PM at the Civic Auditorium-Coliseum

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Bourbon & Bowties Gala, benefiting the Rocky Top Veterans Foundation. This elegant event promises to be a night of celebration, charity, and incredible experiences—all in support of our veterans. Date: April 11, 2025 | Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Skyview at Broadway Social More Info

Get ready for a knightly adventure at Ritterfest 2025, Knoxville’s premier German Knight’s Festival! Now in its third year, this medieval celebration transforms Schulz Bräu into a lively medieval village, complete with battling knights, minstrels, merchants, and more.  Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 20 at Schulz Bräu Brewing Co.  No Ticket Required – Free Admission! More Info

Networking:

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

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

FrankenCon Returns for a Killer Weekend of Horror Fun!

May 9 | 4:00 PM – May 10 | 8:00 PM (Doors open at 3:30 PM)
 Hilton Knoxville Airport, 2001 Alcoa Highway

Get ready to scream (with excitement)! FrankenCon is back for its fourth year, bringing horror fans from all over together to celebrate all things creepy, crawly, and cult-classic cool. Whether you’re a slasher superfan, creature feature connoisseur, or nostalgic for '80s horror gems—this is the weekend for you.

What to Expect:

• 60+ vendors featuring horror-themed art, collectibles, apparel, and more

• Costume contest and two full panel rooms for nonstop entertainment

• Movie screenings, scene breakdowns, live Q&A panels, and surprises galore

• A star-studded celebrity guest lineup you won’t want to miss!

Meet Celebrities From Your Favorite Horror Franchises:

• Dee Wallace – Cujo, E.T., The Hills Have Eyes, Critters, The Frighteners

• Danny Pintauro – Cujo, Who’s the Boss

• Joe Bob Briggs – The Last Drive-In, MonsterVision

• Darcy the Mail Girl – The Last Drive-In

• Michael Berryman – The Hills Have Eyes, Weird Science, The Devil’s Rejects

• Kelli Maroney – Night of the Comet, Chopping Mall, Fast Times at Ridgemont High

• Brian Bremer – Pumpkinhead, Silent Night, Deadly Night 5

• Adam Cesare – Clown in a Cornfield author

• Rhonda Shear – USA's Up All Night

• Scott Tepperman – Ghost Hunters International

Whether you're there for the panels, the nostalgia, or just to hang with fellow horror lovers, FrankenCon 2025 is guaranteed to be an experience to die for. More Info

Give Your Outdoor Space a Fresh New Look with Container Gardening!

Saturday, May 3 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Stanley’s Greenhouse, 3029 Davenport Rd

Looking to spruce up your front porch, balcony, patio, or deck? Whether you have limited space or just want a simple and beautiful garden refresh, container gardening is the perfect solution!

Join the experts at Stanley’s Greenhouse for a free, hands-on seminar designed to help you create a vibrant and lasting container garden just in time for spring. One of Stanley’s talented plant specialists will walk you through how to design and plant the perfect container to bring color and charm to your outdoor space all season long.

🌼 What You’ll Learn:

• Container design tips and tricks

• Best plant combinations for long-lasting color

• How to care for and maintain your container garden

• Solutions for small spaces and sunny or shady spots

This event is free and open to the public—no registration required! Just bring your enthusiasm and love for gardening.

Questions? Call Stanley’s Greenhouse at 865-573-9591 for more info. More Info

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