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📰 Tennessee Valley Fair Kickoff to Summer

📰 Water Lantern Festival

🗓️ What Every Home Buyer Should Know About Touring Homes

🗓️ Make Music Knoxville!

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🗓️ Upcoming Events

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Start your summer with a day of family fun at the 4th Annual Tennessee Valley Fair Kickoff to Summer on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center.

This free community event is packed with activities for children and adults alike and will take place rain or shine. Families can enjoy inflatables, crafts, giveaways, hands-on activities from local organizations, and the always-popular Touch-A-Truck experience.

Animal lovers won't want to miss visits with the Little Ponderosa Zoo & Rescue, while special appearances from Jasper the Rooster and the Tennessee Valley Fair Queens add to the festive atmosphere.

Guests can also enjoy face painting by Party WOW and custom airbrush art by Joyful Airbrush. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase from local favorites including Jimmy's on Wheels, Morning Dove Coffee Truck, and 4 Get the Scoop Ice Cream.

Whether you're looking for a fun family outing, a chance to connect with local organizations, or simply a way to celebrate the start of summer, the Tennessee Valley Fair Kickoff to Summer offers something for everyone.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Where: Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center
Cost: Free Admission

Bring your family, invite your friends, and kick off summer with one of Knoxville's favorite community events!. More Info

Experience an unforgettable evening of light, reflection, and community at the Water Lantern Festival on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Chilhowee Park. Beginning at 6:00 PM, this family-friendly event invites guests to gather along the water for a beautiful celebration filled with music, creativity, and connection.

Arrive & Explore
Upon arrival, attendees will check in, receive their lantern kits, and enjoy a vibrant festival atmosphere featuring live music, food vendors, and interactive activities.

Create & Connect
Participants can personalize their lanterns with messages, hopes, memories, or intentions before spending time with family and friends in a welcoming community setting.

Launch & Reflect
As the sun sets, thousands of glowing lanterns will be released onto the water, creating a breathtaking display of light and reflection. This shared experience offers a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of the moment.

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, honoring a loved one, or simply looking for a unique summer evening activity, the Water Lantern Festival promises a memorable night under the stars.

Don't miss this magical evening as the waters of Chilhowee Park come alive with thousands of floating lanterns illuminating the night. Tickets here

If you're thinking about buying a home, you may be surprised to learn that real estate rules have changed in recent years. Before touring homes with an agent, buyers are required to sign an agreement outlining how the agent will represent them.

For many buyers, this can feel intimidating—especially if they're just beginning their home search and aren't sure who they want to work with yet.

The good news is that not all buyer agreements are the same. Some are limited to a single property or a short period of time, while others may last for several months. Before signing any agreement, it's important to understand how long it lasts, what obligations it creates, and how it can be terminated if needed.

Your real estate agent should be willing to explain the agreement, answer your questions, and help you understand your options before you sign. Buying a home is a major decision, and it's important to feel comfortable not only with the home you choose, but also with the professional helping you navigate the process.

As always, if you have questions about buying a home in East Tennessee, we're here to help educate and guide you along the way. Because at SCH Real Estate, our philosophy is simple: No Sales. Just Service. schrealestate.net 865-393-9336

Get ready for a citywide celebration of music as Make Music Knoxville returns on Sunday, June 21! For one exciting day, music will fill the streets, parks, patios, stages, sidewalks, and public spaces across Knoxville, transforming the city into one giant free music festival.

From morning until night, musicians of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels will share their talents with the community. Whether you're a professional performer, a student musician, an enthusiastic amateur, or simply someone who loves discovering live music, there's a place for you at Make Music Knoxville.

The event embraces every genre and style, creating opportunities for residents and visitors alike to experience unexpected performances around every corner. Wander through downtown, explore neighborhood venues, or spend the day following the sounds that catch your ear.

Interested in participating? Community members can sign up to perform, host a musical act, or simply enjoy the festivities as audience members.

Best of all, Make Music Knoxville is completely free and open to all ages, making it the perfect way to kick off the summer season with friends, family, and fellow music lovers.

When: Sunday, June 21, 2026
Where: Various locations throughout Knoxville
Cost: Free

Mark your calendar and join Knoxville's biggest community-powered music celebration! More Info

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

Recurring events

🗓️ 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 1st-24th - Camp Webb runs June 1st through July 24th and offers more than 70 summer camps - welcoming kids from age 4 (Camp Wonderoo for pre-K) through rising 7th graders for a summer packed with adventure, sports, specialty skills, and memories. 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 2nd-July 30th - Concerts on the Square, presented by First Century Bank, returns to Market Square for its summer series of free Jazz Tuesday concerts, running every Tuesday in June and July from 7:00 PM–9:00 PM. 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 4th - It's not just bourbon with a different label — and this class will prove it. Tennessee Whiskey 202 is coming to The Vault Room at 6:30 PM, presented by Liquor Vault and Whiskey University - and this isn't your average tasting. You'll sample six Tennessee whiskeys side by side, with a shared appetizer included to complement the experience. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ June 5th - First Friday ArtWalk transforms the streets, galleries, and shops of downtown Knoxville into a free, walkable arts experience on the first Friday of each month. The festivities kick off around 5:00 PM and run through the evening, with galleries and creative spaces staying open late, local artists displaying their work, and performance art popping up throughout the district. More Info

🗓️ June 5th - Used Book Sale at the Corryton Branch Library (7733 Corryton Road, Corryton) | 1:30–5:00 PM More Info

🗓️ June 5th-6th - Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in Oak Ridge — and this landmark year's lineup is genuinely special. The festival brings together four of the country's most acclaimed storytellers: Sheila Arnold, Josh Goforth, Bil Lepp, and Elizabeth Ellis, making her very first Flatwater Tales appearance. More Info

🗓️ June 5th-6th - Rhinestone Fest takes over Knoxville's Historic Old City 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 5th - 7th - Shoppers and vintage lovers are invited to experience a weekend of unique finds and local flair as Vintage Market Days® of Knoxville returns June 5–7 with its spring event, “The Vintage Passport.” More Info

🗓️ June 5th-21st -If you have ever dreamed of stumbling upon a Golden Ticket, now's their chance to live it. Knoxville Children's Theatre is staging a live production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory running June 5th-21st. More Info

🗓️ June 5th-21st -Knoxville Children's Theatre is presenting The Hobbit — Patricia Gray's stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved classic — with multiple showtimes throughout the run. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:00 PM, Saturdays at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM, giving families plenty of chances to catch it. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (2743 Wimpole Avenue) is hosting A Garden's Story: Mindful Photography from 10:00 AM–11:30 AM — a hands-on workshop that will change how you look at the world around you, camera or phone in hand. More Info/Register

🗓️ June 6th - The Saving Grace 5K takes place at Victor Ashe Park (4901 Bradshaw Road) on June 6th — and whether you're a seasoned racer or someone who just wants to walk a mile for a meaningful cause, there's a distance for you. More Info & Signup

🗓️ June 6th - Marble City Opera is bringing its beloved annual Opera in the Park concert to Lakeshore Park (6410 S. Northshore Drive) from 6:00 PM–8:00 PM — and admission is completely free. Food trucks will be on-site to round out the evening, making this a true community gathering in one of Knoxville's most beautiful outdoor settings. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - Fountain City Town Hall, in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and HawgMolly Fishing, is hosting Bobby Wilson Fishing Day at the Fountain City Lake "Duck Pond" from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM — and it is completely free to attend. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - Margo Price — the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who has become one of the most celebrated voices in American roots music — brings her tour to the Bijou Theatre. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - The Knoxville Ice Cream Festival returns to the World's Fair Park Festival Lawn from 11 AM–6 PM — and it's completely free to attend. This is the kind of event that checks every box for a perfect summer day out: cold treats, sunshine, live entertainment, and something fun for every member of the family.

🗓️ June 6th - Grammy-Nominated, award-winning country artist Brandon Maddox - a Nashville songwriter with a catalog of around 2,000 original songs and a sound that's pure, down-home country - is performing at Iron Works Grille on the River (1641 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains), running 6:00 PM–9:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ June 6th - Blount Mansion Association invites you to Martinis at the Mansion - their annual garden party fundraiser - at 5:30 PM at the Blount Mansion Visitors Center (200 W. Hill Ave). 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 10th - Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Got the Moves comes to the Tennessee Theatre (604 S. Gay Street) at 6:00 PM — an interactive live stage show that puts kids right in the middle of the action from the very first moment. More Info

🗓️ June 11th - New2Knox's Friendship Speed Dating event takes over Hi-Wire Brewing (2020 Barber Street) on June 11th from 6:30 PM–8:00 PM — and the concept is exactly as fun as it sounds. More Info

🗓️ June 11th - 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 at 8:00 PM - presented by local music legend WDVX. More Info

🗓️ June 12th-13th - Summer Book Fest, presented by Knox Social Club, is bringing a full weekend of literary fun to Crafty Bastard Brewery (6 Emory Place). More Info

🗓️ June 12th-13th - Used Book Sale at the Cedar Bluff Branch Library (9045 Cross Park Drive) | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM More Info

🗓️ June 13th - Cowboy Junkies: Celebrating 40 Years and Beyond comes to the Bijou Theatre at 8:00 PM — a milestone anniversary tour from one of the most quietly influential bands of the last four decades. More Info

🗓️ June 13th - The Water Lantern Festival — voted the #1 Festival in the World by USA Today — is coming to Chilhowee Park and Exposition Center (3301 E Magnolia Ave), with gates opening at 6:00 PM and the lantern launch happening from 9:00 PM–10:00 PM. Get Tickets

🗓️ June 13th - The Red, White & Bloom Makers Market takes over the Hardin Valley Event Center Pavilion (2620 Willow Point Way) from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, bringing together 70 local artisans, bakers, and crafters under one roof - plus food trucks. More Info

🗓️ June 14th - Summer Movie Magic: Spaceballs at the Tennessee Theatre. More Info

🗓️ June 14th - Summer Movie Magic: Wizard of Oz at the Tennessee Theatre. More Info

🗓️ June 14th - 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 from 6:00–9:00 PM on the Ijams lawn. 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 - at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge. More Info

🗓️ June 18th-28th - PAT, the acclaimed one-woman play written and performed by Lisa Soland, returns for a limited engagement, now making its debut at the Jenny Boyd Theatre on the campus of the University of Tennessee - UT's newly opened performance space. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ June 19th - The Annual MLK Jr. Parade/March and Juneteenth Celebration returns with a full day of community, history, and joy honoring the end of slavery in the United States. The parade steps off at 10:00 AM from Chilhowee Park and makes its way to Dr. Walter Hardy Park (2089 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave), where the Juneteenth Celebration runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM with live music, dancing, food, local vendors, and more. More Info

🗓️ June 19th - Dancing Machine: A Tribute Band to the Jacksons takes the stage at Market Square from 7:00 PM–9:00 PM as part of the City of Knoxville's Variety Thursdays – Concerts on the Square series. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Solstice Forest Bathing takes place at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (2743 Wimpole Ave) from 6:00 PM–8:00 PM — a guided evening of shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of mindful immersion in nature that has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and restore a sense of calm. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Taste of Summer: Wine and Food Festival returns to the Knoxville Museum of Art (1050 World's Fair Park Drive) from 5:00 PM–9:00 PM — an elegant, immersive evening where the culinary scene takes center stage. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - RiverView Family Farm (12130 Prater Lane) is throwing a Barn Dance on from 6:00 PM–9:30 PM - an open-to-the-public evening of live line dancing instruction, great food, and the kind of genuine good time that's hard to find. Admission is just $10 per person, and children under 5 get in free.

🗓️ June 20th - Celebrate summer in full bloom at the Lavender Festival from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Jackson Square. This free, family-friendly event transforms the historic district into a vibrant day of shopping, music, food, and fun. 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

🗓️ June 23rd - Used Book Sale at the Carter Branch Library (9036 Asheville Highway) | 1:00–7:00 PM More Info

🗓️ June 24th-27th - Nief-Norf SYNNERGY comes to Knoxville - a four-day contemporary music festival and conference that's genuinely unlike anything else happening in East Tennessee this summer. Think cutting-edge new music performed live by world-class artists, with 12 free public concerts woven throughout the week. No ticket required. Just show up and listen. More Info

🗓️ June 25th - Music for Seniors: Love Notes - A Musical Afternoon of Romance comes to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension (800 S. Northshore Drive) from 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, presented by the acclaimed Knoxville Opera. More Info

🗓️ June 26th - Kathleen Madigan - The Day Drinking Tour comes to the Bijou Theatre at 7:00 PM — and if you've ever caught her on a late-night show, her Netflix specials, or heard her on the radio, you already know what you're getting: razor-sharp, relatable, laugh-until-it-hurts comedy delivered by someone who has been doing this at the highest level for three decades. More Info

🗓️ June 27th - The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony comes to the Tennessee Theatre (604 S. Gay Street) — one of the most prestigious nights in women's basketball, and it happens right here in Knoxville, home of the WBHOF. More Info

🗓️ June 27th - Used Book Sale at the Karns Branch Library (7516 Oak Ridge Hwy) | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM 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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