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TODAY - Jazz on the Lake and a Free Sailing Open House
If you've ever been curious about sailing — or just want a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Fort Loudoun Lake — today is the day to show up.
The Concord Sailing Center is hosting a free Open House this afternoon from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Concord Yacht Club (11600 Northshore Drive). Come tour the waterfront facilities, meet certified instructors, see the training boats up close, and learn how you or your kids can get started on the water. Sailing education programs are available for all ages and skill levels, and the staff is there to answer every question, whether you're a first-timer or someone who's been thinking about it for years. Refreshments will be on hand, and the whole family is welcome.
Making the afternoon even better: the Jorge Variego Ensemble will be performing live jazz throughout the open house. Variego, a CYC member, leads the group through instrumental jazz and Great American Songbook standards — the kind of music that sounds exactly right drifting across a lake on a September afternoon.
Free admission.
The Knoxville Buddy Walk Needs Volunteers
The Knoxville Buddy Walk — an annual celebration supporting people with Down syndrome — is coming to the World's Fair Park Festival Lawn (963 World's Fair Park DrIVE) on October 25th, and the organizing team is looking for volunteers to help make it happen.
Volunteer shifts run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with specific shift times listed on the sign-up page. Help is needed with unloading and setup before the event, staffing stations throughout the walk (1:00 PM–4:00 PM), and loading up afterward.
If you love supporting the Down syndrome community and want to be part of one of Knoxville's most meaningful fall events, this is the place to be.
To sign up or for more information, contact Angie Holbert at (865) 202-8867 or [email protected].
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Paint a Barn Quilt Square for Breast Cancer Awareness
Cato (4247 Sam Walton Way) is doing more than selling clothes this October - they're going all in for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On October 11th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, Cato at 4247 Sam Walton Way is hosting a Barn Quilt Painting Class where each participant will create their own 10" x 10" barn quilt square. All materials are provided, patterns come pre-drawn on the boards, and no prior experience is required.
Tickets are $25 per person, with 100% of proceeds donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Spots are limited — reserve yours by registering in store or calling (865) 922-9369.
Beyond the class, Cato will be accepting donations for Breast Cancer Awareness throughout the entire month of October, and both the Clinton Highway and Halls locations will have silent basket auctions set up in-store all month long.
UTK is Hiring - Career Fair at the UT Creamery
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Human Resources team is hosting a Fall 2026 Career Fair on October 2nd from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the UT Creamery (2712 Neyland Drive) — and it's open to the public.
Recent graduates, current employees, and anyone who's ever thought about making Rocky Top their workplace are all welcome. Departments from across campus will be on-site to share insights, answer questions, and discuss open positions face-to-face. Bring your résumé.
Participating colleges and departments include the Baker School, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication & Information, College of Social Work, Haslam College of Business, Division of Student Success, Division of Enrollment Management, Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, Rocky Top Recruiters, Shared Services & VolTravel, Digital Learning, and the University of Tennessee Police Department.
Free onsite parking is available. Attend and you'll be entered for a chance to win a UT gift bag.
To browse open positions ahead of the fair, visit hr.utk.edu/staff-positions.
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🗓️ September 20th - Concord Yacht Club (CYC) and the Concord Sailing Center are hosting a Community Open House on September 20th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 11600 S. Northshore Drive — and the public is warmly invited. Whether you've always been curious about sailing, you're looking for a meaningful community to get involved with, or you just want to spend a September afternoon on the shores of Fort Loudoun Lake, this is your moment to walk through the gates and see what 75 years of volunteer spirit looks like up close.
🗓️ September 20th - Vintage Market Days® of Knoxville returns to the Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Hwy) for a full weekend (Friday and Saturday from 10 AM, Sunday wrapping at 3 PM) — with the theme "An American Story." More Info
🗓️ September 20th - Clarence Brown Theatre presents Jeffrey Hatcher's electrifying adaptation of Dial M for Murder — opening night September 2nd at 7:30 PM at the Clarence Brown Theatre on the UT campus. The show runs through September 20th, with performances most Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ September 20th Get ready for romance, ridiculous misunderstandings, and plenty of theatrical chaos when the Tellico Community Players present Ken Ludwig's hilarious farce, Moon Over Buffalo, September 3–20 at the Tellico Community Playhouse in Loudon. More Info
🗓️ September 20th - The Tennessee Valley Fair opens at Chilhowee Park — ten days of everything that makes a real county fair: agricultural competitions, carnival rides, fair food, exhibits, and the kind of community atmosphere that only shows up once a year. Over 125,000 visitors from across the region will make their way through the gates before it's over. More Info
🗓️ September 27th - If you have kids in your life — or just love a good story told well — Knoxville Children's Theatre's production of Charlotte's Web opens this Thursday and runs through the weekend. More Info
🗓️ September 20th - October 11th - Prost! One of Knoxville's favorite fall traditions is back as Schulz Bräu Oktoberfest 2026 returns with weeks of authentic Bavarian fun, live entertainment, and unforgettable festivities.
🗓️ September 20th - November 7th - Walnut Springs Winery in Strawberry Plains is launching their Wine Maze experience — A Night of Pour Decisions. The concept is exactly what it sounds like: you wander through the corn maze with wine in hand, discovering five tasting stations tucked into the twists and turns, each one bringing a new pour and a new vibe. Boots are encouraged. Getting a little lost is part of the fun. More Info & Tickets
🗓️ September 21st - The UT Creative Writing Program presents a free public reading by Natalie Scenters-Zapico at 7:00 PM in the Lindsay Young Auditorium of John C. Hodges Library on the UT campus. Scenters-Zapico is a fronteriza poet from El Paso, Texas, and the author of three collections — including My Perfect Cognate (Copper Canyon Press, 2025) and Lima :: Limón (Copper Canyon Press, 2019).
🗓️ September 22nd - The Farragut Museum's History Hour speaker series continues on September 22nd at 11:00 AM at Farragut Town Hall (11408 Municipal Center Drive). The featured speaker is Dr. Chris Magra, Professor of Early American History at the University of Tennessee and Director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans and War. Dr. Magra will present on the military history of the Declaration of Independence.
🗓️ September 23rd - Film Fest Knox continues its year-round free screening series with "The Best Years of Our Lives" — William Wyler's landmark 1946 film, screening at 7:00 PM at the Regal Riviera in celebration of the film's 80th anniversary. More Info
🗓️ September 23rd - The Blount County College Fair returns to Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College (502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville) from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Representatives from more than 50 colleges, universities, technical schools, and art schools will be on hand for students and families to meet in person, ask questions, and explore options — all in one place, all in one evening. More Info
🗓️ September 23rd - The Kraken's Cup Tearoom and Schakolad Chocolate Factory have teamed up for A Chocola-TEA Experience: Tea and Chocolate Pairing — a guided flavor adventure at 6 PM at The Kraken's Cup (4815 N Broadway, Suite 107). More Info
🗓️ September 24th - The Vault Room (2901 Tazewell Pike) is hosting Bourbon Class #255: The Whiskey Row Region on September 24th at 6:30 PM. More Info & Tickets
🗓️ September 24th - The Knox County Master Gardeners are hosting a Garden Classroom session on Native Plant Use from 10:00 AM to noon at New Harvest Park Community Center (4775 New Harvest Lane). The class covers how to incorporate native plants into your yard and garden — the species that support local birds, pollinators, and wildlife while requiring far less maintenance than non-native alternatives. To sign up, email [email protected] with your name, email address, and number attending.
🗓️ September 25th - Lakemoor Hills Garden Club is turning 70, and they're inviting the Knoxville community to celebrate with them at their 70th Anniversary Celebration from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Lakemoor Legacy Park and Gardens. More Info
🗓️ September 25th - Some workweeks call for something extra at the end of them. The Casual Pint Northshore is delivering that with their 9 to 5: A Rhinestone Clock-Out Party at 5:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ September 25th - Muse Knoxville's Free Family Night happens on the 4th Friday of every month from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The children's museum at Chilhowee Park (516 N Beaman Street) opens its doors to the public at no charge, inviting families to come explore, play, and discover together. No tickets, no admission — just two hours of hands-on fun with the kids. More Info
🗓️ September 25th - Scruffy City Orchestra presents their Fall Concert: Nordisk Skjønnhet (Nordic Beauty) at 8:00 PM at 711 S. Northshore Drive — a program named in honor of Johan Svendsen's magnificent Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major, which closes the evening. Admission is free, but reservations are required. More Info
🗓️ September 25th - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, PG) @ Blount Mansion · blountmansion.org
🗓️ September 26th - Samanvaya: Dialogue Between Bharatanatyam & Kathak brings together two of India's most celebrated classical dance forms in what organizers describe as a first-of-its-kind performance in Knoxville at 4:00 PM–5:30 PM at the Clayton Performing Arts Center, Pellissippi State Community College (10915 Hardin Valley Rd). More Info
🗓️ September 26th - The 2nd Annual Irwin Street Gallery Children's Art Exhibition opens at 4:00 PM at Irwin Street Gallery (929 Irwin Street). The exhibition celebrates the creativity of Knoxville's young artists, featuring original artwork by local children displayed in the gallery's welcoming space in the Old City neighborhood.
🗓️ September 26th - The Lenoir City Kids Fun Fair sets up at Central Park (East Broadway Street, Lenoir City) for two days only — from 1:00 PM–8:00 PM and September 27th from 1:00 PM–6:00 PM. Look for the big carousel and you'll know you're in the right place.
🗓️ September 26th - The 6th Annual Good Neighbors Community Fair & Block Party is happening September 26th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Danny Mayfield Park (700 College Street).
🗓️ September 26th - Friends of the Knox County Public Library is hosting the Book Fair for Adults 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.
🗓️ September 27th - If you've ever watched the Olympics and thought "I could do that" — here's your shot. The Great Smoky Mountains Curling Club is hosting a Learn to Curl session from 4:00 PM–6:00 PM at the Ice Chalet (100 Lebanon Street - behind the Fresh Market in Bearden). Register - curlknoxville.com
🗓️ September 27th - The season kicks off with a Sunday Lawnchair Concert featuring DREAMS: A Fleetwood Mac Experience — a tribute act bringing the timeless catalog of Fleetwood Mac to the outdoor stage at 2620 Willow Point Way in Knoxville.
🗓️ September 27th - The Green Thumb Gala returns to the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum for an unforgettable evening celebrating the beauty of the Garden and the community that helps it thrive. More Info
🗓️ September 29th - Trustegrity is hosting a Guns and Networking Fall Event on September 29th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Windrock Shooting Range & Training Center (720 Windrock Rd, Oliver Springs) — a full afternoon of shooting sports, fresh mountain air, and the kind of relaxed conversation that only happens when you're not standing around a hotel conference room with a lukewarm cup of coffee. More Info
🗓️ September 30th - Sarah Jarosz brings the 10 Years of Undercurrent Tour to the Bijou Theatre (803 S. Gay Street) at 7:30 PM — an evening that promises to be part anniversary celebration, part concert, and entirely worth your time. More Info
🗓️ October 1st - Synergy HomeCare of Knoxville-Morristown is hosting Knoxville Dining with Dementia, a free educational Lunch & Learn focused on dementia awareness, caregiver support, and practical resources for families and loved ones. It's happening from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at The Church at Sterchi Hills (904 Dry Gap Pike NE). RSVP
🗓️ October 2nd - Brew at the Zoo returns to Zoo Knoxville — an adults-only evening (21+) of craft beer, live music, food, and after-hours access to the animals. Local and regional breweries will be pouring a wide selection of craft beers, cocktails, and specialty brews while you wander the zoo under the stars with live entertainment and food trucks throughout. More Info
🗓️ October 2nd - The Knoxville History Project (KHP) presents The Road to Knoxville, a symposium at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street), developed as part of America's 250th anniversary year. More Info
🗓️ October 2nd - Ghostbusters (1984, PG) @ Marble Springs State Historic Site · marblesprings.net · Presented by Borderland Tees
🗓️ October 3rd - Knoxville's literary community comes together at the Hardin Valley Event Center (2620 Willow Point Way) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for the Literary Legends Fall Book Fest — a full day of books, authors, food, and a lineup that somehow also includes axe throwing.
🗓️ October 3rd - The Chic Flips Community Market comes to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (6632 Chapman Hwy) on October 3rd from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and admission is free. Hosted by Chic Flips Home Transitions, the event brings together local makers, vintage finds, handmade goods, jewelry, clothing, crochet, candles, plants, and more — plus food trucks for lunch (and probably dessert).
🗓️ October 3rd-4th - The Gem • Mineral • Fossil Collector Showcase, presented by Knoxville Rocks, Fossils, Minerals and Gems, takes over the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff Show Room (216 Peregrine Way) 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days. Admission and parking are both free.
🗓️ October 4th - The 3rd Annual Spook-tacular Tea Party, hosted at The Kraken's Cup Tearoom (4815 N Broadway St #107), takes place from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Come dressed as your best witch, wizard, sorcerer, or warlock (family-friendly costumes, please) and settle in for an afternoon tea buffet, a selection of teas, a fortune teller, and a raffle with a spooky-themed tea basket up for grabs. More Info
🗓️ October 4th - Intrepid Nitro Coffee and Tea Bar and Bowman Studios are teaming up again for a Fall Brush n Brew — a paint-and-sip class where you pick your canvas, build your palette, and walk away with something you actually made. It's happening from 2:00 PM–4:00 PM at Intrepid Nitro (11432 Hardin Valley Road). More Info
🗓️ October 5th - 31st - Wicked Cool returns to downtown — a citywide Halloween celebration organized by Downtown Knoxville that turns Gay Street, Market Square, and the surrounding blocks into something genuinely special. Flying ghosts, spooky photo ops, and creepy-crawly installations go up throughout the area, and local businesses lean all the way into the season with Halloween-themed cocktails, specials, and décor. More Info
🗓️ October 6th - This one is part history lecture, part storytelling. The East Tennessee Historical Society's Brown Bag Lecture Series welcomes historian Amy Laurel Fluker at noon at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street) for a talk based on her book Haunted by Memory: Ghost Stories of the American Civil War, October 6th from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ October 6th - Firepits and S'mores Galore with Fairy House Building A perfect fall night at the quarry — firepits, s'mores, and the creative magic of building tiny fairy houses in the woods. More Info
🗓️ October 7th - Up (2009, PG) @ Historic Westwood · knoxheritage.org/westwood
🗓️ October 8th - The Friends of the Knox County Public Library, in partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society, presents "Zenith Man: A Talk by McCracken Poston Jr." at 6:00 PM at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street). Free and open to the public. More Info
🗓️ October 9th - Be Aware and Paint Your Pair is a breast cancer awareness paint night coming to Splatter Oak Ridge (1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 105, Oak Ridge) from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ October 10th - Get ready for an electrifying experience at the 2026 Knoxville Drive Electric Festival from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. More Info & Sign Up
🗓️ October 10th - Scruffy's Cafe (1015 N. Broadway) has partnered with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to host Story Time with the Cats from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ October 10th - Organize Your Genealogy takes place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street), led by Brandie Ledford, a Reference Assistant in the McClung Historical Collection. More Info
🗓️ October 10th - Halls Branch Used Book Sale (4518 E Emory Road) 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
🗓️ October 10th - Hola Festival 2026 takes over World's Fair Park on October 10th from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM — a full day celebrating the art, music, food, and culture of Latin America and the Hispanic community right here in Knoxville. More Info
🗓️ October 11th - Amadeus Concert Ensemble opens with PIANO PASSIONS at 5:30 PM, featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Dr. Chih-Long Hu, Professor of Piano at UT Knoxville. More Info
🗓️ October 15th - Archives After Dark, part of Knox Heritage's Suppers & Such series, transforms the firm's storied office space at 6:00 PM into an evening of clandestine cocktails, jazz, and whispered history at 505 Market Street, Suite 300. More Info
🗓️ October 15th-18th - Board Game Days 2026 — Knoxville's premier tabletop convention — across two downtown venues. More Info
🗓️ October 16th - Unshattered is a black-tie evening for exactly 120 people — one night, never repeated — coming to The Standard in Knoxville, doors at 6:30 PM. Created by three-time founder and local event architect Preston Garland, the evening unfolds across four movements. More Info
🗓️ October 17th - The Knoxville Reptile Expo presented by Show Me Reptile Show takes over the Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Hwy) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. More Info
🗓️ October 17th - The October Sky Festival returns to Oliver Springs on from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM — a free, all-day community celebration of the town's rich heritage and its place in American cultural history. Oliver Springs was the filming location for the beloved 1998 film October Sky, based on Homer Hickam's memoir about a coal miner's son who fell in love with rocketry and went on to work for NASA. More Info
🗓️ October 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th - The Museum of Appalachia Fall Heritage Days returns for four days — at the museum's stunning 35-acre grounds in Norris. This is the region's most immersive celebration of early Appalachian life at harvest time, with skilled artisans and educators demonstrating the crafts, foods, and traditions that defined this corner of the mountains. More Info
🗓️ October 24th -The 5 Love Languages Family Conference comes to First Baptist Knoxville from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, led by Dr. Gary Chapman himself. The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller will spend the day walking through five sessions designed for parents, grandparents, and anyone building or hoping to build a family. More info & Register
🗓️ October 24th - The East Tennessee Holistic Health Fair is happening from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 2931 Kingston Pike. presented by the East Tennessee Wellness Directory, brings together local practitioners, wellness businesses, and community members for a full day of exploration, education, and connection. More Info
🗓️ October 24th - Karns Branch Used Book Sale (7516 Oak Ridge Hwy) 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
🗓️ October 25th - The Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade & Pet Expo returns to the UT Gardens from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM — an afternoon celebration of dogs, costumes, fall, and the very good people who love both. More Info
🗓️ October 27th - Knox MAHJ Social Club is hosting Tiles for Tatas from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens Carriage House — an American Mahjong event benefiting Breast Connect and the work of Stephanie Buchanan Ewers in the fight against breast cancer. To reserve: text or call Stephanie at (865) 809-2636.
🗓️ October 30th - November 1st - The Foothills Craft Guild's 60th Annual Fine Craft Show takes over the Knoxville Expo Center (5441 Clinton Highway). Friday and Saturday run 10 AM–6 PM; Sunday is 10 AM–4 PM. More Info
🗓️ October 31st - Monsters at the Museum returns to the East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street) on October 31st from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a full day of free, family-friendly Halloween fun. More Info
🗓️ October 31st - Trick or Treat on the Square takes over Market Square and Union Avenue from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM — a free, family-friendly evening where downtown shops, restaurants, and businesses hand out candy to kids making their way through the square. Free trick-or-treat tote bags are available while supplies last at the Downtown Knoxville table at 17 Market Square (between Kabuki and Not Watson's). More Info
Networking:
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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