In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Light Rain with a High of 90

🗓️ 44th Annual Bluegrass Festival!

📰 16th Annual Irish Fest on the Hill

🗓️ Stanley’s Ninth Annual Butterfly Festival

📰 Once Upon a Breakfast: Heroes & Villains Unite at Ancient Lore Village

🗓️ Upcoming Events

📣 We Want to Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

✅ Advertising Opportunities
 

  Get Ready for a Toe-Tappin’ Good Time at the 44th Annual Bluegrass Festival!

Mark your calendars for a true East Tennessee tradition! Join us on Friday, August 15th from 6:00 to 10:00 PM at Big Ridge State Park for the 44th Annual Bluegrass Festival—an evening filled with music, community, and summer fun under the stars.

This beloved event brings together the best of the region with live bluegrass performances, local craft vendors, and mouthwatering food trucks serving up your favorite festival bites. Whether you're a long-time bluegrass fan or just discovering the genre, the soulful sounds of Appalachian fiddles, banjos, and harmonies will have your toes tapping and your spirit soaring.

What to Bring:
🪑 Lawn chairs or blankets
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The whole family
🍴 Appetite for great food
💃 Your dancing shoes (or just a love for great music)

Admission is free, and all are welcome. Come celebrate a summer night the East Tennessee way—with great music, good food, and community spirit at Big Ridge State Park! More Info

Discover all upcoming events on our Community Events page

Upcoming Events:

The Tennessee Stage Company proudly presents the 35th Shakespeare Festival, Knoxville Shakespeare, featuring two of the Bard’s most beloved plays:

• Love’s Labour’s Lost
  July 17, 19, 25, 27, 31; August 2, 8, 10
  7:30 PM nightly; 2:00 PM indoor matinee on July 27

• Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
  July 18, 20, 24, 26; August 1, 3, 7, 9
  7:30 PM nightly; 2:00 PM indoor matinee on August 3

Get ready for an arctic adventure as the award-winning children’s theater company, Broadway Center for the Arts, brings Disney’s Frozen JR. to the Clayton Center for the Arts this July! July 25th - July 27th Tickets here

Boom Bash is back—and bigger than ever! Join Grace Baptist Church for a fun-filled evening the whole family will love. From food to fireworks, this is the summer celebration you won't want to miss! Date: July 26th, festivities begin at 5:00 PM at Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Hwy
Admission: FREE and open to the public For more info, email: [email protected].

Calling all cheese lovers, curious cooks, and DIY foodies! Get ready to roll up your sleeves, dive into some dairy, and discover the magic behind one of the world’s most beloved cheeses. The Art and Science of Making Homemade Mozzarella Cheese workshop is happening on July 31, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Maryville College Downtown Center (118 E Church Ave, Maryville)—and it’s going to be grate. More Info

Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars at Seven Islands State Birding Park as we shine a light on one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures—bats! This family-friendly program is perfect for curious minds ages 6 and up and will explore the fascinating biology, habits, and critical role bats play in Tennessee’s ecosystems. July 31st Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Meet at the Bluebird Barn Cost: $10.00 per adult | FREE for kids under 5 Pre-registration is required More Info

Join us for a fun and flavorful morning at your local Rural King Farmers Market ( 945 McCammon Ave, Maryville)! On Saturday, July 26th from 8 AM to 12 PM, come shop fresh, shop local, and enjoy big savings all in one place. 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

Stanley’s Ninth Annual Butterfly Festival – A Celebration of Nature’s Gentle Wonders

Mark your calendars and bring the whole family to Stanley’s Greenhouse on Saturday, July 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for a magical day celebrating one of our planet’s most enchanting pollinators—the butterfly!

This beloved community tradition is free and open to the public, offering a perfect blend of fun, education, and natural beauty. From hands-on children’s crafts to a meadow scavenger hunt, there's something for everyone to enjoy!

 Festival Highlights:

•  Children’s Butterfly Craft Stations (10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon)
  Kids of all ages can drop by a variety of fun craft tables and create butterfly-inspired art. No registration or supplies needed—just show up and let the creativity fly!

•  Local Artisan Market (10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon)
  Browse handcrafted treasures made by talented local artisans. Whether you're looking for early holiday gifts or something special for yourself, you’ll find plenty to love.

•  Butterfly Gardening Seminar (10:30 a.m.)
  Join us inside the greenhouse for “Beneficial Plants that Attract Butterflies to Your Garden.” Discover the best plants to support the butterfly life cycle, followed by a walking tour to see these plants in action.

•  Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour of Monte’s Meadow (11:30 a.m.)
  Explore the beautiful Davenport-Stanley Farm during a guided walk through Monte’s Meadow—a butterfly haven full of native plants. Don’t miss the chance to spot butterflies in their natural habitat while learning about this historic property, parts of which date back to the early 1800s.

This is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of nature, community, and the small things that make a big impact. Bring your family, meet new friends, and experience the wonder of butterflies up close.

 Join us, and let your spirit take flight! More Info

Once Upon a Breakfast: Heroes & Villains Unite at Ancient Lore Village

In a land not so far away, nestled at the edge of a whimsical wood, there lies a magical place called Ancient Lore Village. And on the morning of August 9 at 9:00 AM, something truly enchanting is set to unfold: the Heroes & Villains Character Breakfast.

For one special day, the gates of the Village will swing open to welcome brave superheroes, glittering fairies, mischievous elves, and clever villains of all ages. Whether you're wearing a cape, crown, or mask, this storybook event invites you to step into a world where fantasy becomes real and breakfast is served with a side of magic.

Guests will feast on a delicious hot breakfast buffet, then dive into a morning of hands-on crafts, playful character interactions, and picture-perfect photo ops. Every nook of the Village will sparkle with excitement as families make memories to last long after the final bite.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for children (including a seat and breakfast), and costumes are highly encouraged—because in this tale, you are the main character.

So, gather your heroes, villains, and tiny adventurers, and prepare for a morning where stories come to life… only at Ancient Lore Village. More Info

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• Hero or section banners

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• and more…

Reach out to us at [email protected].

We Want To Spotlight Local Businesses!

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