🌤️ Weather | Scattered Thunderstorms with a High of 90

📰 TODAY at Ijams: Grayson Subaru Delivers on a Promise That's Been Years in the Making

📰 Celebrate UUNIK Academy at Grooves in the Garden

🗓️ WIVK's Inaugural Southern Life Expo

🗓️ Kuumba Festival - East TN’s Largest African-American Cultural Festival

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🗓️ Upcoming Events

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This morning at 11:00 AM, something worth celebrating is happening at Ijams Nature Center — and it's the result of a relationship that has quietly made East Knoxville a little more beautiful for nearly a decade.

Grayson Subaru will officially present Ijams Nature Center with a check from Subaru of America's 2025 Share the Love Event, gathered during last year's national campaign in which a portion of every Subaru sale went directly to local charities chosen by each dealership. Grayson Subaru selected Ijams as their hometown charity — not for the first time, but for the fifth time, having chosen Ijams in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. That's not a sponsorship. That's a commitment.

The funding will go toward Phase 2 of the Ijams Nature Playscape at the Grayson Subaru Preserve and an update to the beloved Mead's Quarry Lake swim area. The first phase of the Playscape — brought to life by previous Share the Love gifts — transformed 13+ acres adjacent to Mead's Quarry into a nature-inspired play space that incorporates the site's former limestone mining landscape: hills, valleys, and forest playrooms with climbing elements, musical and art pieces, and quiet wildlife-watching spots. Phase 2 is building on that, adding a new connected play area on the south side of the Mead's Quarry parking lot, along with a revitalized outdoor classroom. It's expected to open in spring 2027.

The check presentation takes place today at 11:00 AM on the Ijams Nature Center Visitor Center Plaza (2915 Island Home Ave.). It's a beautiful reminder of what local businesses and community institutions can build when they stick together over the long haul. More Info

Grooves in the Garden — the annual signature summer event of UUNIK Academy — returns to the stunning Knoxville Botanical Garden on July 18th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM for an evening of live music, great food, a DJ, and the kind of warm community energy that only comes when people gather behind a cause they genuinely believe in.

UUNIK Academy is a Knoxville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been empowering African-American youth in our city for more than 21 years. Through STEAMI learning institutes, ACT prep sessions, summer enrichment programs, and more, they've reached over 5,000 young people right here in Knoxville — building skills, confidence, and futures. Grooves in the Garden is their signature fundraiser, and every dollar raised goes back into those programs.

The setting alone is worth the trip. The Knoxville Botanical Garden (2743 Wimpole Ave) is one of the city's most beautiful outdoor spaces, and an evening there — with live music playing as the sun goes down and the garden glows — is exactly the kind of summer night you'll talk about later. Come for the music. Stay for the community. Leave knowing you helped.

Tickets and sponsorship information are available on UUNIK Academy's website. More Info

WIVK's Southern Life Expo, presented by Visit My Smokies, is coming to the Knoxville Expo Center on July 11th from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM — and the best part? It's completely free to attend.

This brand-new event is a Southern-life, maker's-market-style experience built around shopping, food, live entertainment, and community connection, and it's shaping up to be one of the summer's most fun all-ages days out.

Here's what you can expect to find inside: a curated marketplace of unique handcrafted items and specialty goods, homemade jams, sauces, seasonings, and Southern favorites, a variety of food trucks, and live entertainment throughout the day.

There will also be something extra special — the Kid Boss Market, where young entrepreneurs ages 5 to 17 will be set up and selling their own handmade products, baked goods, and creative ideas. If you've got a little one with a business mind, this is their moment.

Whether you walk away with a jar of something delicious or just spend the morning wandering and tasting, the Southern Life Expo is exactly the kind of day that makes a Knoxville summer feel worth celebrating. Mark your calendar — this inaugural event won't be one to miss. More Info

The Kuumba Festival — East Tennessee's largest African American Cultural Arts Festival — returns to Market Square for July 31st and August 1st, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a full, joyful, free celebration of culture, community, craft, and creativity in the middle of the city.

Founded by Nkechi Ajanaku and African American Appalachian Arts, the Kuumba Festival has been a Knoxville tradition for years, drawing thousands of attendees to experience traditional and contemporary crafts, clothing, foods, and music representing the rich heritage and living culture of African American Appalachian life. It's a festival that belongs to this place — grown here, rooted here, celebrated here.

The event is free and open to the public, held right in the heart of downtown at Market Square. Whether you've attended every year or have never been, this is Knoxville doing what Knoxville does best: gathering, celebrating, and making space for something worth showing up for. 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 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 12th-12th -The WordPlayers bring their production of Hairspray: The Musical to the Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay Street) for a three-day run. More Info

🗓️ June 12th-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 12th-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 12th-24th - Camp Webb 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 12th-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 13th - The Pokémon/TCG Show by Poké-Mart Events is back — bigger and better than ever — from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM at 8807 Kingston Pike. Admission is just $5 at the door, and kids 12 and under get in FREE. More Info

🗓️ June 13th - Knoxville Dragway (160 Raceway Drive, Maynardville) hosts the High School Horsepower Drag Race from 1:00 PM–11:55 PM — a full day and night of high-energy drag racing action featuring the next generation of motorsports talent right here in East Tennessee. 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 - If you've been looking for a reason to get outside, give back, and connect with good people — here it is. Faith N Friends Farm (8505 Corryton-Luttrell Road, Luttrell) is hosting a Community Farm Workday from 12:00 PM–3:00 PM — and whether you're a seasoned gardener or someone who just wants to show up and help, you are welcome here.

🗓️ June 13th - The 2026 Knoxville Hamfest & ARRL Tennessee State Convention returns, starting at 8:00 AM at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church (701 Merchant Drive) — and this year carries an extra distinction: it's the official ARRL Tennessee State Convention for 2026, making it a major milestone in the local ham radio community. 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 17th - Ancient Lore Village (7107 Sevierville Pike) is hosting a Starlight Movie Night featuring Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone from 7:00 PM–10:00 PM at their enchanting property — and the setting alone makes this an unforgettable evening. 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 19th-20th - Mabry-Hazen House presents "...And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House" — a special series of guided tours held in the Julia-Meek Guest House on the Mabry-Hazen campus, exploring the stories of enslaved African Americans connected to this historic property and their many paths to freedom. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Knoxville AnimeDay 2026 (Summer Edition) — the 17th installment — runs from 10:00 AM–6:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Knoxville West – Cedar Bluff (9134 Executive Park Drive), and it's everything you love about anime conventions without the price tag. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Powerhouse Diesel is throwing a Dads Day Out celebration from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at 7664 Maynardville Pike — and whether you're a diesel devotee, a proud dad, or just a family looking for a great Saturday outing, this event has something for everyone. More Info

🗓️ June 20th - Founding Fathers Fest: Grilling and Games in the Park is from 3:00 PM–7:00 PM at the Rustic Pavilion on the east side of Lakeshore Park (6014 S Northshore Drive) — and it's completely free and open to everyone. 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 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 21st - Looking for a Father's Day that's a little more epic than brunch? B&B Indoor Foam Dart Arena (6709 Maynardville Pike) is making it easy to give Dad an unforgettable day with their Father's Day Special from 11:00 AM–8:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ June 21st - Get ready for a citywide celebration of music as Make Music Knoxville returns! 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. More Info

🗓️ June 21st-27th - Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp celebrates its 30th Annual Bluegrass Week June 21st–27th at Maryville College — and it's widely considered one of the finest acoustic music camps in the country. More Info

🗓️ June 23rd - The Farragut Museum's History Hour continues at 11:00 AM at Farragut Town Hall (11408 Municipal Center Drive, Farragut) — and this month's featured speaker is someone who really knows his history. Tim Holder — author, radio host, and history professor — will take the audience through the lives and legacies of the nation's first six presidents in what promises to be an engaging, accessible, and genuinely fascinating hour. 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 - The 2026 AAU Girls Basketball World Championships comes to Knoxville from June 24th–28th, with games taking place at the Knoxville Convention Center (701 Henley Street) and the adjacent World's Fair Exhibition Hall. 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 Third Annual Blackberry Festival and 5K takes over 2910 W Emory Road in Powell from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, hosted by Powell Presbyterian Church — and the lineup is everything a perfect summer Saturday should be. 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

🗓️ July 1st - Josiah & The Bonnevilles bring their Redline North American Tour to the Bijou (803 S. Gay Street) at 7:30 PM — and if you haven't heard this band yet, you're in for a treat. More Info

🗓️ July 4th - The City of Knoxville's Festival on the 4th returns to World's Fair Park Performance and Festival Lawns from 5:00 PM–10:00 PM — and with free admission, free parking, live music, and fireworks over the downtown skyline, this is the quintessential East Tennessee Fourth of July. More Info

🗓️ July 10th-12th - FanBoy Expo takes over the Knoxville Convention Center (701 Henley Street) for three action-packed days — and with over 30,000 fans attending each summer event, this is one of the biggest and most electric weekends on the Knoxville calendar. More Info

🗓️ July 11th - Mark your calendar: the America's 250th Anniversary Celebration at the Cove comes to The Cove at Concord Park for a full day of free, family-friendly festivities presented by Visit Knoxville and Knox County, starting at 11:00 AM. More Info

🗓️ July 29th - One of the most celebrated voices in rock history is coming to Knoxville. Graham Nash brings his Live on Tour 2026 to the Bijou on July 29th at 7:30 PM — and with a career spanning more than six decades, this is as close to a living history of contemporary music as you can get in one evening. More Info

🗓️ July 31st-August 2nd - CreepyCon 2026 celebrates its 10th Anniversary at the Knoxville Convention Center (701 Henley Street) from July 31st through August 2nd — and Tennessee's biggest Halloween and horror convention has never looked better. More Info

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

🗓️ June 10th - The Vine Network hosts its monthly Faith Based Business Boost meeting from 8:30 AM–10:00 AM at 4900 Horsestall Drive — and it's completely free, no membership required.

🗓️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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