🌤️ Weather | Scattered Thunderstorms with a High of 85

📰 Mahjong, Wine & a Good Cause - Sparrow Wine Bar Hosts a Mingling Night for The Restoration House

📰 A Powell Woman is Turning 100 and Loves Getting Mail - Let’s Fill Her Mailbox with Birthday Wishes

🗓️ Come Get Dirty for a Good Cause at the Marine Mud Run

🗓️ A Summer Full of Book Sales

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🗓️ Upcoming Events

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The Restoration House and Knox Tiles Mahjong are hosting Mahjong and Mingling! on July 19th from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Sparrow Wine Bar (137 West End Ave, Farragut) — an afternoon of open play that benefits one of Knoxville's most meaningful nonprofits.

Your ticket gets you into the open play session, two drinks of your choice, charcuterie boards, and a chance to win prizes. If it's been a while since you've played (or you've never played), don't let that stop you — register, then send a screenshot of your confirmation email to unlock a discounted Knox Tiles class before the event so you show up ready.

The event benefits The Restoration House, which has been walking alongside single mothers and their children since 2007. Through a 2–3 year strengths-based model, TRH provides everything from supportive transitional housing and family advocacy to trauma-responsive therapy and high-quality early education — a combination of programs unlike anything else in East Tennessee.

Seats are limited and tables of four are available if you want to make it a group outing. Reserve your spot

One hundred years. If there's anyone who deserves a mailbox full of love, it's Mamaw Johnnie. Johnnie Ellison of Powell turns 100 years old on August 12th, and her family is requesting birthday cards to fill her mailbox.

One of Johnnie's favorite things in life is opening the mail. Most days the box is full of bills and junk — but for her 100th birthday, her family wants to change that. They're hoping to fill her mailbox with birthday wishes, kind words, and reminders that she is loved by more people than she knows. Cards can be handwritten or store-bought. Anything counts. Anything brightens her day.

In 100 years, Johnnie Ellison has given a lot to the people around her — love, sass, lessons, and a way of making sure everyone she encountered knew they mattered. Her greatest joys these days are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her Chicken Soup for the Soul word search books, and the simple things. She is, by all accounts, the heart of her family.

Cards can be sent to:

Johnnie Ellison
PO Box 83
Powell, TN 37849

If you've been looking for the kind of race that requires a shower afterward, the Marines have you covered.

The Marine Mud Run returns to Harmony Family Center (4901 Montvale Road, Maryville) on September 12th, and this year they're shaking things up — new course layout, new obstacles, and new mud added to the classics. What stays the same: roughly 3 miles of off-road running through scenic trails, fields, hills, and mud pits, finished off with water. Wear old clothes and shoes. Showers are on site.

Registration: $70 through September 1st — price jumps to $85 after that, so register now if you're in. NEW this year, all food, coffee, and drinks are included in your registration fee. Every participant who signs up by September 1st also gets a commemorative 2026 USMC Mud Run t-shirt. Staggered wave starts begin at 9:00 AM.

Bringing the kids? The CPT Larry Winters Memorial Kid's Mud Run is a ~1 mile obstacle course for ages 12 and under, starting at 12:30 PM ($30 to register). Kids who sign up early get a customized medal, a free t-shirt, and free treats at the finish line. Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is online only — no paper entries. Online registration closes September 11th at 9:00 PM; on-site registration opens the morning of the race at 7:30 AM. Register; More Info

If you missed the big summer book sale preview, here's your updated calendar — because Friends of Knox County Public Library has a packed schedule coming up, and a couple of these locations will surprise you.

July 25th — Howard Pinkston Branch Used Book Sale (7732 Martin Mill Pike SW) Saturday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM at the Pinkston Branch Library. One day, one location, great prices. A solid Saturday stop.

August 11th–18th — Crafty Bastard Brewery – Emory Place (6 Emory Place) A full week of used books at the Emory Place location of Crafty Bastard Brewery, during business hours. Yes, you can browse books and grab a beer at the same time. No further justification needed.

August 11th–18th — Crafty Bastard Brewery – West (9937 Kingston Pike) Same week, second location — Crafty Bastard's West location runs its own sale simultaneously. Two chances to find something great at one of Knoxville's favorite breweries.

August 29th — Powell Branch Used Book Sale (330 W Emory Rd) Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM at the Powell Branch Library. One-day sale, all the good stuff.

September 11th–12th — Farragut Branch Used Book Sale (417 N Campbell Station Rd) Two days, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM each day. Go ahead and put it on the fall calendar now.

More Info

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Recurring events

🗓️ 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 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 17th - Karns Fair is introducing Sneak Peek 2026 — a brand-new preview evening on July 17th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, giving families a special first look at the fairgrounds before Saturday's full opening. The outdoor section opens up for a family-friendly evening with half-price rides, entertainment, live music, food, and games. More Info

🗓️ July 17th-18th - 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), both shows at 8:00 PM. More Info

🗓️ July 18th - The Norwood Branch Library is hosting an Ask a Master Gardener session from 10:00 AM to noon. 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.

🗓️ July 18th - The Bat Walk 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

🗓️ 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 - KnoxvilleRob.com is hosting a National Ice Cream Day celebration with Rob Howard from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Suttree Landing Park (1001 Waterfront Drive SE) — free to attend, with free parking too. Register

🗓️ 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 - Book Besties & Co. is hosting the 2026 A Meet (& Greet) Cute Author Signing Event from 1:00 PM to 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. Get Tickets

🗓️ 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 6th - 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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