In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Mostly Cloudy with a High of 72

📰 Spark Curiosity at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair

📰 Beardsley’s First Friday Garden Art Gala

📰 Dirt Poor Farm Strawberry Festival

📰 Knoxville Museum of Art Presents “Electricity for All”

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

Berry Good Fun Awaits at the Dirt Poor Farm Strawberry Festival

Grab your sun hat and your sweet tooth—Dirt Poor Farm’s Strawberry Festival is back and riper than ever! Join the Sweetwater community on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 10 AM to 3 PM at 184 County Road 323, for a good ol’ fashioned day of farm-fresh fun.

This family-friendly event celebrates the height of strawberry season with fresh-picked berries, live bluegrass pickin’ and singin’, and tons of activities for the kiddos. You’ll also find local vendors selling handmade goods, and delicious eats from food trucks to satisfy every appetite.

Admission is just $5 for adults — and kids get in free!

Whether you’re coming for the strawberries, the music, or just a slice of country life, this festival is sure to be a “berry” good time for the whole family. Bring the kids, come hungry, and stay awhile! More Info

Celebrate Creativity and Community at Beardsley’s First Friday Garden Art Gala

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening of art, music, and togetherness at Beardsley Farm’s annual First Friday Garden Art Gala, happening Friday, June 6 from 5–7 PM. This free community event brings people of all ages together to celebrate creativity in the heart of nature.

This year’s gala is extra special, as Beardsley Farm teams up with Knox Pride to honor both artistic expression and Pride Month. It’s a joyful collaboration that embodies the spirit of inclusion and connection. Enjoy garden-inspired mocktails, popsicles, and light snacks as you take in the sights and sounds of visual and performing artists set against the beautiful backdrop of Beardsley’s urban farm.

Dress Code? Anything goes! From comfy casual to your fanciest farmwear—whether it's overalls or garden-party chic, you’re encouraged to express yourself.

Want to join in as an artist? Beardsley is still accepting applications for both visual and performance art participants. Visit their website to apply.

Come celebrate creativity, diversity, and community under the open sky—everyone is welcome at the Garden Art Gala! More Info

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

Meet Bestselling Author Jeff Zentner – May 9th at the East Tennessee History Center; Zentner, known for The Serpent King, In the Wild Light, and Colton Gentry’s Third Act, will share stories behind his writing, insights into his creative process, and answer your questions in an engaging Q&A. Union Ave Books will be on-site with titles available for purchase and signing. More Info

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

Spring is in full bloom, and there’s no better way to welcome the season than with Maifest at Schulz Bräu Brewing Company, happening May 9th through May 11th in the heart of Knoxville! This beloved three-day festival is a cheerful blend of traditional German celebration, local flavor, and good old-fashioned fun. More Info

Game On! A LEGO® Camp Adventure for Young Gamers; From May 26th to May 30th, campers ages 5–11 will dive into exciting building challenges and hands-on activities inspired by their favorite video game characters—all designed to boost creativity, problem-solving, and STEM skills through the magic of LEGO® bricks. 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

Spark Curiosity at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair

Get ready for an afternoon of imagination, innovation, and inspiration at the AMSE Foundation Book Fair, happening Saturday, May 17 from 1–5 PM at Barnes & Noble!

This exciting, family-friendly event invites readers and curious minds of all ages to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through engaging demonstrations, hands-on activities, puzzle challenges, and door prizes.

Whether you’re a young explorer, a passionate educator, or simply love learning, you’ll find something to enjoy—and every purchase supports a great cause! Mention AMSE at checkout in-store, or enter Bookfair ID 12823167 when shopping online, and a portion of your purchase will help the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation continue its mission of inspiring future innovators.

Come shop, learn, and support the future of STEAM education. Let’s build bright futures—one book at a time! More Info

Knoxville Museum of Art Presents “Electricity for All” – A Powerful Exploration of Technology, Power, and Progress

The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) invites the public to experience Electricity for All, an immersive new exhibition running from May 16 through August 17, 2025. Inspired by the bold promises and complex legacy of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—a New Deal initiative that brought electricity to the region in the 1930s—this exhibition examines how innovation shapes lives, landscapes, and power structures.

Drawing its name from a TVA slogan, Electricity for All features thought-provoking works by over a dozen contemporary artists, including Nam June Paik, Trevor Paglen, Petra Cortright, Lynn Hershman Leeson, and more. Through installations, digital media, sculpture, and film, these artists explore themes such as surveillance, displacement, utopian futures, and the poetic potential of information systems.

Opening Reception – May 15, 2025

Join KMA for a free public opening celebration:

• 5:30 PM: Members-only hour and curator’s tour

• 6:30 PM: General public reception opens

• 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 PM: Live performances by Ignite! Powered by Dancers Studio
  Enjoy food by Silver Queen Catering, a cash bar, and a specialty beverage crafted for the event.

Collaborative Film Screenings with Central Cinema (Free to KMA Members)

• May 20, 6 PM – PLAYTIME with talk by artist Sam van Strien

• June 18, 6 PM – The Moon Was the First TV with a dance performance by Ignite!

• June 27, 2 PM – FernGully featuring work by Nam June Paik

• July 25, 2 PM – Wall-E featuring work by Nam June Paik

• August 13, 6 PM – Blade Runner with artist talk by Jered Sprecher

Second Sundays at the KMA (Free & Family-Friendly)

• June 8, July 13, August 10

  • Art activities from 1:00–4:00 PM

  • Docent-led tours from 2:00–3:00 PM

Curated by Kelsie Conley, KMA’s Assistant Curator, Electricity for All was made possible through support from the Thoma Foundation, bitforms gallery, City of Knoxville, and Tennessee Arts Commission.

For more details, visit knoxart.org.

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