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📰 Bats, Gardens & Farmers Markets

📰 A Legendary LA Rock Band Stops at Open Chord Stage

🗓️ Book Besties & Co. Brings a Romance Author Signing to World's Fair Park

🗓️ Jason Isbell Comes to the Tennessee Theatre

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If you're the kind of person who thinks a guided bat walk at dusk sounds like the best possible way to spend a Friday night, you're going to want to clear July 18th!

Knox County Extension Master Gardeners have two great events lined up that week — and a whole network of weekly farmers markets running all summer long if you just want fresh-grown vegetables on a regular basis.

First up: the bat walk. On July 18th at Collier Preserve (off Paper Mill Road) from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Master Gardeners are leading a guided bat walk at dusk — a chance to learn about the species that call this preserve home and why bats matter so much to the local ecosystem. It's free and open to the public, but registration is required. More Info & Register

That same morning — July 18th, from 10:00 AM to noon — the Norwood Branch Library is hosting an Ask a Master Gardener session. Bring your plant problems, your gardening questions, or a photo of whatever's going wrong with your tomatoes. Master Gardeners are there to help with exactly this kind of thing, free of charge.

And for the farmers market regulars: Knox County Master Gardeners have booths running all summer at several local markets — Dixie Lee / Renaissance Farragut on Saturdays, Pavilion / Harden Valley on Tuesdays, and Ebenezer Road / Ebenezer United Methodist Church on Wednesdays. Stop by and ask questions while you shop.

LA Guns — the Los Angeles rock band originally formed by guitarist Tracii Guns that gave the world The Ballad of Jayne, and Never Enough — brings their Lucky MF'r Tour to Open Chord Stage (8502 Kingston Pike) on July 13th.

For fans who want to get closer than the crowd allows, VIP Meet & Greet packages are available. The VIP experience (5:30 PM–6:30 PM, before the show) includes an official laminate, a signed glossy photo, one personal item signed by the band, and a photo opportunity with LA Guns. Note that VIP does not include show admission — you'll need to grab concert tickets separately through Open Chord.

Whether you're going VIP or just showing up for the show, a band this far into their career still out on the road playing clubs is a reminder that some music just doesn't age. Show Tickets; VIP Meet & Greet

If you're a reader — especially of romance, contemporary fiction, or any of the genres that tend to live on BookTok — this is one of the biggest book signing events hitting Knoxville this summer.

Book Besties & Co. is hosting the 2026 A Meet (& Greet) Cute Author Signing Event on July 25th from 1:00 PMto 6:00 PM at the World's Fair Exhibition Hall (935 Worlds Fair Park Drive). The author lineup is stacked with names readers will recognize immediately: Kandi Steiner, Staci Hart, Holly Renee, Rebecca Jenshak, Julia Connors, Madison Wright, Willow Winters, Julie Olivia, Chelsea Curto, and dozens more — 35+ authors total, all in attendance for signings.

Vendors at the event include Good Girl Books, The Mellow Mug, Goodnight Rose, Page Turner Candle Co., Twisted Pagez, and more. Join the Facebook group "A Meet (& Greet) Cute Attendees" for preorder links and updates as the event approaches. Get Tickets

The North Alabama-born singer-songwriter, six-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most critically acclaimed voices in Americana and rock, plays two nights at the Tennessee Theatre (604 S Gay St) on July 17th-18th, both shows at 8:00 PM.

This run is part of Isbell's solo tour — just him, his voice, and an all-mahogany 1940 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar. The tour supports his newest record, Foxes in the Snow, recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. If you know Isbell from his work with the 400 Unit, or from his Academy Award-nominated appearance in Killers of the Flower Moon, the solo format is something else entirely — everything stripped to its core, nowhere to hide, just the songs and the room. More Info

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

Recurring events

🗓️ Now through July 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

🗓️ Now through July 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

🗓️ July 11th - Adopt a Golden Knoxville is holding their July Meet & Greet from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Zoom Room (10938 Spring Bluff Way). Some of their available dogs will be on hand, announced that week, and volunteers will be there in person to answer any questions you have about the adoption or foster process. To browse the full list of dogs currently available for adoption, visit this link: adoptagoldenknoxville.org

🗓️ July 11th - Holistically Rooted Health & Wellness is hosting their Grand Opening Celebration & Wellness Open House from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 116 Hotel Rd in Fountain City, and the whole event is designed for exploration.

🗓️ July 11th - The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Knoxville-First Flotilla invites all Jefferson County boaters to get a free vessel safety examination on Saturday, July 11th, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, at the boat launch at the Dandridge Municipal Park on Chestnut Hill Road and Public Drive.

🗓️ July 11th - 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.

🗓️ July 11th - Faith Promise Church is hosting Win the City 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) Register for your free oil change

🗓️ 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 11th - Looking for a unique summer evening the whole family will enjoy? Mark your calendar for Knoxville Aerial Arts and Ijams Nature Center present the Whimsical Woodlands Aerial Circus from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets Here

🗓️ July 15th - Patricia Pasbrig, contemporary mixed media artist, is hosting "That One Friend" Paint & Sip Workshop at El Toro Bar & Grill (1938 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge) with two sessions to choose from - Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM; Evening Session: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. More Info & Register

🗓️ July 16th - The Big 3 Class returns to The Vault Room (2901 Tazewell Pike) at 6:30 PM for session #252 of what's clearly become one of Knoxville's most consistently popular whiskey experiences. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ 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 - The Cutting Edge Classroom is hosting The Basics of Artisan Bread Baking from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 150 N Martinwood Road, Suite 402 — a hands-on, three-hour session with Chef Kaitlyn that walks you through the full breadmaking process from start to finish. Get 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 20th - The Plant Trolley — Knoxville's mobile plant shop, popping up at breweries, markets, and festivals across East Tennessee since 2020 — is hosting a Wine Bottle Succulent Workshop on July 20th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Barleys (200 E Jackson Avenue). Tickets are $45 and include everything you need for the project. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ July 22nd - Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Knoxville is officially joining the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 10670 Parkside Drive, Suite 105, hosted by the Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce. Register

🗓️ July 25th - Crossroads Pharmacy is hosting their RX Kickoff Festival from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at their new location at 7404 Tazewell Pike in Corryton — and the whole community is invited to come shop, eat, and help them mark the occasion. Want a vendor table? Spots are $20 cash. Contact Maddie at (865) 399-9068 to reserve yours.

🗓️ 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 - Hook & Needle is hosting Stitch & Pitch at Covenant Health Baseball Park as the Knoxville Smokies take on the Pensacola Wahoos — and your $98 ticket comes with a lot more than a seat. Hook & Needle locked down concourse seating with indoor pub, patio, and stadium options, giving you actual elbow room to knit, crochet, or work on whatever's in your bag without fighting bleachers or the afternoon sun. Gates and the buffet open at 6:00 PM, first pitch is at 7:00 PM. More Info & Tickets

🗓️ 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 7th-9th - The 2026 Kerbela Shrine Circus returns to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (1600 Phillip Fulmer Way SW). 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 8th - O'Connor Senior Center is hosting a Crafters Yard Sale on August 8th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 611 Winona Street, and shoppers get in free. The sale features new and gently used craft supplies, handmade goodies, and the kind of unexpected treasures that tend to turn up when crafters clear out their stashes. Have a table full of craft supplies you'd like to sell? Vendors are still being accepted. Register online or contact Brenda directly for details ([email protected] or (865) 523-1135.

🗓️ 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 12th-15th - Statemint Maryville is bringing their Fall Pop-Up Adult Consignment to White Star Station (133 W Broadway Ave, Maryville). The shop carries women's and men's clothing, shoes, and accessories in sizes XS–4XL. 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 14th - Denise Kiernan — author of the instant New York Times bestsellers The Girls of Atomic City and The Last Castle — brings her latest book to the East Tennessee History Center (601 S Gay St) from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The event is presented in partnership with the Friends of the Knox County Public Library. More Info

🗓️ August 14th-16th - Tattoo enthusiasts, artists, and fans of creative expression won't want to miss the Knoxville Tattoo Convention at the World's Fair Exhibition Hall. More Info

🗓️ August 15th - The VW Drag Fest & Show comes to Knoxville Dragway (160 Raceway Drive, Maynardville) on August 15th from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM for a full day dedicated entirely to the VW community. This is a Volkswagen-ONLY event with car show judging, bracket drag racing, a swap meet, camping (Friday night), and 14 hours of everything a VW enthusiast could want. Gate & Car Show Registration · Vendor/Swap Meet · Camping

🗓️ August 15th - Celebrate summer at Loudon Riverfest at Riverside Park and Legion Park (201 Ferry St.).

🗓️ 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 29th - Flutter into a day of family fun and discovery at Stanley's Ninth Annual Butterfly Festival on from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free community event celebrates one of nature's most fascinating pollinators while offering activities and educational experiences for all ages. More Info

🗓️ 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

🗓️ September 26th - Friends of the Knox County Public Library is hosting the Book Fair for Adults on September 26th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S Gay St) — and it's free to get in.

See Recurring Weekly & Monthly Networking Events

🗓️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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