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In this Knoxville Insider Issue…

🌤️ Weather | Sunny with a High of 95

📰 A Knoxville Label Just Signed a Dutch Americana Artist

🗓️ RetroFlea Is Back at Retrospect with 25+ Vintage Vendors

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Record High 105 in 2012 | Record Low 52 in 1885

The Wild World of the Van Gogh Truthers

In 1990, after years of practicing medicine and reviewing Van Gogh’s case history via his hundreds of letters, Arenberg published a paper in JAMA diagnosing Van Gogh as suffering not from epilepsy, as the artist’s physician claimed a century earlier, but from Ménière’s disease, an inner-ear affliction that can cause vertigo, of which Van Gogh complained, and tinnitus, a persistent ringing in the ears. Ménière’s, to Arenberg, could better explain Van Gogh’s decision to slice off his ear. After retiring, in 2017, Arenberg recommitted himself to studying Van Gogh and became convinced that art historians had made an even more alarming mistake: Van Gogh had not committed suicide. He’d been murdered.

Read the article for free on Air Mail, a lively digital read for the world citizen, with stories both foreign and domestic that you won’t find anywhere else, written by some of the world’s finest journalists.

Free Car Washes, Haircuts, Oil Changes & More at Faith Promise’s Win the City Event

Faith Promise Church is hosting Win the City on July 11th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 5830 Haynes-Sterchi Road, and the community giveaway includes:

  • Free car washes

  • Free haircuts

  • Free hygiene bags

  • Free food

  • Free family portraits

  • Kids activities

  • Free oil changes (registration required for oil changes only — all other services are walk-up, no registration needed)

Just show up. Everything except the oil changes is first-come, first-served with no registration required. If you want to lock in a free oil change, registration is open now via the QR code on the flyer — those spots will go fast.

Win the City is Faith Promise's way of pouring into the Knoxville community — no strings attached, no pitch at the door. Just a Saturday morning full of practical help for families who can use it. Register for your free oil change

A Knoxville Label Just Signed a Dutch Americana Artist

TuskHead — the project of Dutch artist Patrick van Zandwijk — has just released his debut EP for Migrant Records, the Knoxville-based independent label, and it's called One Step Forward & Two Steps Back. The six-song project was recorded right here in Knoxville at Famous London Recording Studio, and it explores what van Zandwijk calls "Dutchicana": Americana, country, and heartland rock filtered through Dutch roots and written from both sides of the Atlantic.

The themes run deep. The songs deal honestly with depression, burnout, PTSD, and the grinding work of recovery — the push-pull of wanting to move forward while old patterns and past experiences pull you back. It's the kind of record where "introspective" actually means something, not just that the tempos are slow.

The EP also features Nashville songwriter Josh Morningstar, known for his work with Cody Jinks and Brent Cobb — two names that carry weight in the Americana world. His collaboration here adds a thread of genuine country authenticity to songs that are already earning attention.

Migrant Records founder Fred Kelly put it simply: "What stands out about this album is how real it feels. There's nothing fake. These are real stories, real emotions, and songs that mean something."

For Knoxville, the story is a reminder that this city is on the map for independent roots music in ways that don't always make the front page. A Dutch artist signing with a Knoxville label, recording here, and releasing music that's getting pickup overseas says something worth noting.

One Step Forward & Two Steps Back is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen & More Info

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The Kerbela Shrine Circus Brings Five Exciting Shows

The 2026 Kerbela Shrine Circus returns to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (1600 Phillip Fulmer Way SW) for a three-day run with shows Friday through Sunday, August 7th–9th. Acrobats, clowns, trapeze acts, magic, and the grand Shriner Parade before every performance — this is the real thing, and it's a tradition Knoxville families have been coming back to for generations.

Beyond the main show, look for bounce houses, face painting, food, and the chance to meet performers. Proceeds from the Kerbela Shrine Circus support Shriners Children's hospitals, so every ticket is part of something bigger than a great afternoon. More Info

RetroFlea Is Back at Retrospect with 25+ Vintage Vendors

RetroFlea returns to Retrospect Vintage Store (108 W Anderson Ave NW) on July 11th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM — six hours of browsing more than 25 vintage vendors bringing deals across all eras and varieties of vintage goods. Clothing, housewares, records, collectibles, furniture, oddities — RetroFlea pulls in a rotating cast of vendors, so the mix is different every time.

Retrospect is already one of Knoxville's best stops for vintage finds on its own. When RetroFlea rolls in, the whole space expands with outside vendors setting up alongside the shop's regular inventory, which means more to dig through, more eye-catching stuff you didn't know you needed, and the kind of browsing energy that's hard to manufacture.

No admission fee. Just show up, bring your appetite for the hunt, and see what the vendors brought.

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🗓️ 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 1st - Kern's Bakery and BeLocal of K-Town are teaming up for a massive Bingo Night from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Kern's Bakery (2110 Chapman Hwy), and this month's proceeds benefit Relaunch.

🗓️ July 1st-31st - The "Where's Waldo?" Scavenger Hunt is returning to Downtown Knoxville, and it's free for the whole family. Starting July 1st and running all month long, Waldo will be hiding inside dozens of downtown businesses — shops, restaurants, museums, galleries, and more — just waiting to be spotted. More Info

🗓️ July 2nd - Playtime in the Plains (8537 Ashville Highway, Suite 101) is hosting a red, white & blue Story & Craft morning at 10:00 AM. This week's book: Corduroy's 4th of July — and kids will follow up story time by making their very own paper plate American flag craft to take home, perfectly timed for Independence Day. More Info

🗓️ July 2nd - The Zoo Knoxville Summer Concert Series is returning to the Boyd Foundation Boardwalk at Clayton Timber Loop (3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive), featuring The Alex Leach Band, performing bluegrass. More Info

🗓️ July 3rd - Clear Springs Baptist Church (7350 Tazewell Pike, Corryton) is hosting their annual Red, White & Blue Bash starting at 6:30 PM — and it's completely free.

🗓️ July 4th - The Knoxville Community Band performs at the Marble Pavilion at Lakeshore Park (5930 Lyons View Pike) at 12:00 PM, with a program of patriotic favorites timed perfectly for the nation's Semiquincentennial. The setting alone is worth the trip with the Marble Pavilion sitting on the banks of the Tennessee River.

🗓️ 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 9th - Zoo Knoxville's Summer Concert Series continues with a performance by the Tennessee Wind Symphony — and this one has some history behind it. The show was originally scheduled for June 18th but was rescheduled due to a storm forecast. More Info & Tickets (Free for zoo members)

🗓️ July 10th - Soundscapes at the Knoxville Museum of Art returns, with nationally touring saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Saxl Rose taking the stage at 7:30 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM). More Info

🗓️ July 10th - Movies Under the Stars returns for its 14th year at Ijams Nature Center, and the July screening is a classic that'll hit different under an open sky. All Dogs Go to Heaven screens at the Ijams Visitor Center Lawn (2915 Island Home Ave.) Doors open at 7:00 PM, and the movie begins at dark — roughly 9:00 PM in July. Arrive early to grab a good spot. More Info

🗓️ July 10th - GalFunction and Show Your Shine LLC are hosting a Friday Table Talk at The Hub Pro Studio (1104 Merchant Drive, Suite 103) from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM — an hour and a half of guided conversation, honest dialogue, and the kind of support that only comes from fellow female entrepreneurs who are in it alongside you.

🗓️ 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 - Tea & Treasures (4104 W. Martin Mill Pike) — a charming shop billed as "a unique collection of old and new" — hosts its 2nd Saturday Marketplace from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (weather permitting).

🗓️ July 11th - WIVK's Southern Life Expo, presented by Visit My Smokies, is coming to the Knoxville Expo Center from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM — and the best part? It's completely free to attend. 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 16th - IBN Masterclass will be held from 8:45 AM to noon at Bearden Banquet Hall (5806 Kingston Pike), Incredible Business Networking — co-hosted by Jennifer Maizel of Marvelous Maizel Marketing. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ July 18th - Rain Barrel Workshop at 9:00 AM at 100 Monterey Rd, Oak Ridge. For $50, instructors will teach you how to transform a standard 55-gallon barrel into a functioning rain barrel for your garden — and you leave with the finished product in hand. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ July 19th - Knoxville Social Circle is heading to Augusta Quarry (520 Augusta Ave) at 12:00 PM for an afternoon of swimming, floating, relaxing, and soaking up some summer sun. Whether you want to jump in, lounge by the water, or just hang out and chat, the format is as low-key as a summer afternoon should be.

🗓️ July 25th - Blitzfire — the quarterly signature event at B&B Indoor Foam Dart Arena (6709 Maynardville Pike) — is happening from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and it's unlike anything else in our area. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ July 26th - Sonny's Original Southern Pub and Nicks Moto are hosting a group ride to the legendary Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum. and you're invited to roll with them. The day kicks off with breakfast at Sonny's (2613 Adair Dr) at 8:00 AM, with kickstands up at 9:30 AM sharp. Come with a full tank of gas, and bring your own water and snacks — there's no food or drink available at the museum, though the group will be stopping at nearby restaurants along the way.

🗓️ 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 1st - The Kuumba Festival — East Tennessee's largest African American Cultural Arts Festival — returns to Market Square, 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. 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

🗓️ August 8th - Tea & Treasures (4104 W. Martin Mill Pike) — a charming shop billed as "a unique collection of old and new" — hosts its 2nd Saturday Marketplace from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (weather permitting).

🗓️ August 8th - Irish Fest on the Hill returns at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in downtown Knoxville, from 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM. The event honors Knoxville's deep Irish heritage through an afternoon of live Irish bands, traditional Irish dancers, kids' games, and classic Irish food — the kind of spread that leaves everyone happy and full. More Info

🗓️ August 9th - Old City Market transforms West Jackson Avenue into an outdoor showcase of Knoxville makers, artists, bakers, and crafters on the 3rd Sunday of every month from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM — additional markets are on Sept 20th, Oct 18th, and Dec 13th. More Info

🗓️ August 9th - The Back-to-School Bash at B&B Indoor Foam Dart Arena (6709 Maynardville Pike) is happening from noon to 4:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ August 13th-15th - The Flexible Jewelry Event at Fountain City Jewelers (2802 Essary Drive), and it's exactly what it sounds like: a special showcase of bracelets and rings crafted from genuine 14K gold, diamonds, and natural gemstones. The event runs all three days during regular store hours — Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. No appointment needed. Stop in anytime August 13th–15th. More Info

🗓️ August 15th - History Hootenanny returns to the East Tennessee History Center (601 S Gay St) and Krutch Park, running 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM — and the best part is that it's completely free and open to the public. More Info

🗓️ August 22nd - GermanFest Knoxville returns to First Lutheran Church (1207 Broadway) from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM — a full nine hours of German culture, Southern hospitality, and the kind of sheer, wholehearted fun that you can only find at a festival that includes competitive dachshund racing. More Info

🗓️ August 28th - Appalachian Arts Craft Center is hosting Appalachian Voices: Stories, Laughter & Creativity — a special community luncheon celebrating creativity, storytelling, and the rich culture of Appalachian life. The event takes place at the Oak Ridge Conference Center (1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge) from 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ August 30th - The 13th Annual Knox Asian Festival takes over World's Fair Park and the Knoxville Museum of Art from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Presented by the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, this is one of the most genuinely immersive cultural events in the entire state — and it's right here in Knoxville. More Info

🗓️ September 16th - Big Kahuna Wing Festival at World's Fair Park; Thousands of pounds of wings; Competitive wing cook-off; Wing eating contest; Live entertainment; Kids activities; Pyro musical fireworks show. More Info

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Veterans:

🗓️Free Veterans’ Breakfast: The United Veterans Council of East Tennessee presents 20 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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