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📰 Knoxville's Akima Club Just Gave Away More Than $100k - and That's Just the Beginning

📰 Find Your New Local Favorites at the Discover Knoxville Expo

🏦 The Credit Card Trick That Can Add 40 Points to Your Score Overnight

🗓️ Runway on the River - Fleurish Sustainable Fashion Show at Ijams

🗓️ East Tennessee's Favorite Storyteller - Paul Thorn at the Bijou

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🗓️ Upcoming Events

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When a community shows up for its own, the ripple effects are enormous — and Knoxville's Akima Club just sent a very big ripple.

The Akima Club of Knoxville has announced that its May 2026 grant awards to local nonprofits totaled $112,507 — funds generated by the wildly successful Akima Cabaret 2026, held in February. The 43rd production of Akima Cabaret broke records, raising $215,343 — enough to fund grants in both 2026 and 2027.

Of the 76 applications received, 67 met the criteria for funding and were approved. Even more impressively, 17 of those 67 agencies received full funding — meaning Akima was able to meet their entire stated financial need. Beyond the dollars, Akima's members contribute thousands of volunteer hours annually to nonprofits across the community.

It's the kind of quiet, consistent generosity that makes Knoxville such a special place to call home. To see the complete list of grant recipients or learn more about Akima and how to get involved, visit the link below. More Info

Whether you just moved to Knoxville or you've been here for years and want to rediscover what your community has to offer, this expo was made for you.

The Discover Knoxville Expo comes to the Hardin Valley Event Center (2620 Willow Point Way) on May 30th from 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, presented by BeLocal K-Town. With 50+ local vendors showcasing the businesses, services, and resources that make this community feel like home, plus a live local band and BeLocal Bingo to keep things lively, it's part community fair, part discovery experience, and all Knoxville.

Whether you're searching for your new favorite restaurant, a trusted local service provider, or just want to connect with what's happening in your own backyard, this is the place to be on May 30th. More Info

Fashion, nature, and a whole lot of Technicolor - this year's Fleurish might be the most stunning one yet. Fleurish, Ijams Nature Center's annual sustainable fashion show, returns on June 14th from 6:00–9:00 PM on the Ijams lawn.

Now in its fifth year, the event brings together local designers, hair stylists, and makeup artists who transform discarded and sustainable materials into breathtaking runway looks — all under the open sky at one of Knoxville's most beloved nature spaces.

This year's theme: Technicolor. A cocktail hour kicks things off, the runway show follows, and a meet-and-greet with designers closes out the evening. Every dollar raised supports Ijams Nature Center. More Info

Paul Thorn, the Mississippi-born singer-songwriter beloved for his warm, witty, deeply human take on life, love, and the South, comes to the Bijou Theatre on June 11th at 8:00 PM - presented by local music legend WDVX.

His live shows are equal parts concert and conversation, filled with the kind of storytelling that makes you laugh, tear up, and feel like you've made a new friend, all in the same song. More Info

We've been spending some time inside Mikey Caloca's community, Mikey's Money House - he runs multiple live classes a week on credit, debt, and saving - and a few things keep coming up that don't show up in normal money advice. Three quick ones:

1. Pay your credit card down before the statement closes, not after. Utilization is reported to the bureaus once a month. If your card hits the statement at 70% used, that's what gets reported — even if you pay it off the next day. Pay it down early and your score can jump 20-40 points without doing anything else.

2. Pick the debt strategy you'll actually finish. Avalanche (highest interest first) wins on a spreadsheet. Snowball (smallest balance first) wins in real life because momentum is real. The "best" plan is the one you don't quit.

3. A side hustle that takes 20 hours a week is just a second job. The good ones use a skill or asset you already have — so the second hour pays as well as the first.

Mikey covers stuff like this on rotating live calls every week, plus there's a full curriculum and 75 hours of past classes already in the library. Members can also DM him directly with questions.

→ See what's inside Mikey's Money House

Interested in learning about how a VIP Pass can help your business? Reach out to [email protected] for more information!

Recurring events

🗓️ May 5th - Turning Point USA at UTK is hosting Pick Up the Mic at 6:00 PM in the Student Union Ballroom 272 B/C at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The event features U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, collegiate swimming champion and women's sports advocate Riley Gaines, and Josh Thifault. It's free and open to those who want to attend.

🗓️ May 5th - B&B Indoor Foam Dart Arena (6709 Maynardville Pike) is hosting Empire Strikes Fifth from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ May 6th - Kraken's Cup is hosting Sips & Songbirds: Crafting China Bird Feeders at 6:00 PM — a hands-on crafting event in partnership with Doing Dishes, where you'll transform beautiful vintage China into one-of-a-kind functional bird feeders. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 7th - moe. rolls into The Mill & Mine on May 7th at 8:00 PM as part of their Born to Fly Tour. Note: this is an 18+ event. More Info

🗓️ May 9th - The Muse Knoxville (516 N Beaman St) is hosting a Teddy Bear Tea Party from 12:30–1:30 PM — a magical afternoon of tea, crafts, and cuddly fun designed for little ones and their grown-ups. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 9th - This one is going to fill up fast — and for the best possible reason. Kitten Yoga for a Cause is coming to Breezeway Yoga (4830 Kingston Pike) on May 9th from 1:00 PM–2:00 PM. More Info & Register

🗓️ May 9th - Tea & Treasures (4104 W. Martin Mill Pike) hosts its 2nd Saturday Marketplace from 11 AM to 4 PM. Come for the live music, stay for the food truck, and browse the outdoor vendors.

🗓️ May 9th - Tea & Treasures (4104 W. Martin Mill Pike) hosts its 2nd Saturday Marketplace from 11 AM to 4 PM. Come for the live music, stay for the food truck, and browse the outdoor vendors.

🗓️ May 10th - Abita Brewing presents the 10th Annual Trailhead Crawfish Boil at Trailhead Beer Market starting at 4:00 PM. For around $40, you get all-you-can-eat crawfish with all the fixings, plus $3 Abita cans all afternoon. More Info

🗓️ May 11th - WWE Monday Night RAW comes to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (1600 Phillip Fulmer Way) at 7:30 PM. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 12th - The New Orleans hip-hop icon Juvenile brings his Boiling Point Album Release Tour to The Mill & Mine (227 W Depot Ave) on May 12th at 7:00 PM, performing alongside his longtime backing group The 400 Degreez Band. More Info

🗓️ May 13th - Andrew Marlin and Josh Oliver — the duo behind the beloved Americana band Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) — have been playing and writing together for over a decade. But on May 13th at 7:30 PM at the Bijou Theatre, they're doing something they've never done before: hitting the road as a standalone duo under the Andrew Marlin Stringband banner. More Info

🗓️ May 14th - Music for Seniors brings its Lighting Up Lives Free Daytime Concert Series to the Concord Yacht Club & Sailing Center (11600 S. Northshore Drive) on May 14th from 1:00–2:00 PM, featuring the Flashback Rhythm Section. More Info

🗓️ May 14th-15th - The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra presents Marsalis Swing Symphony on May 14th-15th at 7:30 PM at the Tennessee Theatre (604 S. Gay Street). More Info

🗓️ May 16th - Killer Queen - A Tribute to Queen comes to the Bijou Theatre (803 S Gay St) on May 16th at 8:00 PM, headlined by Patrick Meyers, a Freddie Mercury look- and soundalike who has been doing this for over 25 years. More Info

🗓️ May 16th - Growing Hope with the GFPD returns for its 2nd Annual event on from 1:00 PM–4:00 PM at the UT Gardens Friendship Pavilion — a beautiful outdoor gathering benefiting the Global Foundation for Peroxisomal Disorders, the organization doing critical research and support work for families affected by these rare conditions worldwide. More Info

🗓️ May 16th - LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue takes over The Open Chord (8502 Kingston Pike), starting at 6:15 PM, benefiting Happy Paws Kitten Rescue — a 100% volunteer-operated, foster-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing homeless and abandoned cats across East Tennessee. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 16th - One of Knoxville’s most beloved family traditions is back—and bigger than ever. The Children’s Festival of Reading will celebrate its 20th anniversary on from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at World’s Fair Park. More Info

🗓️ May 16th - Start your morning with purpose and connection at the upcoming Women Build Brunch, happening from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at The Mill & Mine in Knoxville. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 17th - The 2026 Marquee Awards take place at 3:30 PM at the Tennessee Theatre (604 S Gay St), celebrating the best of East Tennessee high school musical theatre. More Info

🗓️ May 17th - The Knoxville Opera Guild's Annual Croquet Tournament returns on May 17th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the UT Recreation Fields. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 17th - Open Streets Knoxville returns this spring - Imagine walking right down the middle of Gay Street with no cars in sight — music playing, food vendors lining the sidewalks, neighbors biking and dancing and exploring together. That's exactly what's coming to Knoxville from 2:00–6:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ May 18th–24th - One of Knoxville’s premier sporting events is back this spring as the Visit Knoxville Open returns to Holston Hills Country Club. More Info

🗓️ May 20th - Sevendust and Atreyu co-headline a massive rock night at The Mill & Mine at 6:50 PM, joined by Fire From The Gods and American Adrenalin. More Info

🗓️ May 20th–24th - Disney's Beauty and the Beast comes to the Tennessee Theatre (604 S. Gay Street), with multiple performances throughout the week, including matinees and evening shows to fit your schedule. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 23rd - Katie Holt visits Good Girl Books (7685 South Northshore Drive) on May 23rd at 7:00 PM for an Author Chat & Signing celebrating her brand new novel, The Last Page — her second book, releasing May 12th. RSVP to [email protected] to save your spot. More Info

🗓️ May 23rd - BBQ lovers, this is one event you won’t want to miss. The first-ever TMG Fest: Block Party & Demo Day is coming to Knoxville from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM, bringing together live-fire cooking, top pitmasters, and a full day of food and fun. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ May 25th - Fountain City Town Hall presents Honor Fountain City Day in the Park from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM at Fountain City Park — a free, family-friendly community celebration honoring the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who gave their lives in service of our country. More Info

🗓️ May 29th-30th - Comedian Heather McMahan is bringing The Bamboozled Tour to the Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay Street) for two nights, at 8:00 PM - and both shows are being filmed as her live comedy special. More Info for May 29th | More Info for May 30th

🗓️ May 30th - The Marble City Opera 2026 Summer Festival opens at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with Josephine — a stunning one-woman opera by composer Tom Cipullo. More Info

🗓️ May 30th - Knoxville's Largest Kids' Party returns to the World's Fair Park Performance Lawn from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM — and it lives up to the name. More Info

🗓️ May 30th - Knoxville Margarita Festival - Get ready to raise a glass at the third annual Knoxville Margarita Festival on May 30th at The Mill & Mine. This lively evening event invites guests to sample creative margaritas from some of the area’s favorite restaurants as they compete for the title of Best Margarita in Knoxville. More Info

🗓️ June 1st - This day marks Tennessee's 230th Statehood Day, commemorating the day in 1796 when Tennessee became the 16th state in the union — a moment that happened at Blount Mansion in downtown Knoxville. More Info

🗓️ June 2nd - Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening comes to the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 PM — a full night of Zeppelin's greatest music performed with the reverence, power, and authenticity that only Jason Bonham can bring. More Info

🗓️ June 3rd - The City of Knoxville's Kid A' Riffic Fun in the Park series launches from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Chilhowee Park, kicking things off with Touch-A-Truck, kazoo fun, hands-on arts and crafts, and a food truck on site. More Info

🗓️ June 5th-6th - Rhinestone Fest takes over Knoxville's Historic Old City on June 5th–6th for a free, family-friendly celebration of all things Dolly Parton. Expect a Dolly-themed marketplace packed with handmade and fabulous finds inspired by the glitz, glamour, and charm of the one and only, alongside live music on the main stage. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - The Knoxville Firefighters Association presents Long Run Rocks — A Tribute to the Eagles at Chilhowee Park at 8:00 PM. Expect a full night of Eagles classics — "Hotel California," "Take It Easy," "New Kid in Town," and more — performed live in one of Knoxville's most iconic outdoor venues. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - Marble City Opera heads outdoors for its beloved annual Opera in the Park — a free concert at Lakeshore Park. More Info

🗓️ June 18th, 20th - The season closes with two performances of The Tragedy of Carmen — a 90-minute adaptation of Bizet's iconic Carmen — on June 18th and 20th at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Knoxville Brewfest returns to World's Fair Park, with 60+ local and regional breweries pouring from 4:30 PM–8:30 PM — including gluten-free and non-alcoholic options. Live music, local food vendors, and a beautiful outdoor setting make this one of Knoxville's most beloved annual events. More Info

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

🗓️Free Veterans’ Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 17 free breakfasts for Veterans and guests on four Saturdays, monthly. Coffee line starts at 8am, Chow line starts at 8:30am. Locations and Dates

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