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📰 Hops for Hounds Beer Fest - Craft Beer, Doggy Bowling, and a Good Cause

📰 35th Annual Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show

🗓️ Comedy Sphere - Standup, Poetry & Music at The Pink Cactus

🗓️ A Hike to Help Pets - Tails on Trails Returns to Baker Creek Preserve

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The Hops for Hounds Beer Festival takes over Hops & Hounds — the off-leash dog park and beer garden at 317 Belgrade Road in Oak Ridge — on October 3rd from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The lineup includes unlimited craft beer tastings from Southeastern breweries, food trucks, live music, and local vendors. Dogs are not just welcome — they're the whole point.

One hundred percent of ticket profits and general proceeds go directly to local dog rescues and shelters across East Tennessee. So you're not just having a good afternoon — you're actively helping animals in the area find homes. More Info

The Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society has been putting on its annual show for 35 years, and this one keeps getting better.

The 2026 Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show runs October 16th-18th at the Rothchild Conference Center (8807 Kingston Pike) — three days of vendors, specimens, and everything the mineral world has to offer. Jewelry in every style. Rare fossils. Minerals and gemstones in every color and size. Meteorites. Lapidary and jewelry equipment. If it came out of the earth and someone finds it beautiful, it's probably here.

Show hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday and Saturday (October 16–17) and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday (October 18th).

Admission is $8 per day for adults, or $15 for a weekend pass that covers all three days. Children under 12 are free. The Society is a nonprofit, and a portion of show proceeds goes to earth science scholarships at the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University. More Info

Every last Tuesday of the month, The Pink Cactus (1147 Sevier Avenue) turns into Knoxville's most welcoming variety show — and it doesn't cost a thing.

Last Tuesdays is a free standup, poetry, and music showcase produced by The Comedy Sphere's Joel Palilla and Sadie Izo, built around the idea that local performing artists deserve a real room and a real audience. Doors open at 7:30 PM and the next show kicks off at 8:00 PM on September 29th.

This month's lineup: Joel Palilla, Katelyn Hillen, Kyree Brown (Soi), Kristiana McCombs, and Mara.

Scott Colby started the Nomar & Mia Compassion Fund at the University of Tennessee in memory of his cats — to help pet families in East Tennessee who are facing unexpected veterinary costs. Every year, he takes it outside.

Tails on Trails is back on October 24th at Baker Creek Preserve — a 3-mile community hike with live acoustic music, coffee, s'mores, and activities woven throughout the morning. Dogs are very welcome (it's a hike for pets, after all), but they're not required.

This year's event also includes the Golden Paw Awards, recognizing local veterinarians, vet techs, and veterinary staff who go above and beyond for pets and the people who love them.

The 2026 goal is to raise $10,000 toward fully funding the $25,000 endowment. More Info

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

🗓️ 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 26th - 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 26th - 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 27th - The Silk Jazz Festival rolls into Market Square for a full day of live jazz — free, open to the public, and welcoming to all ages. The evening doesn't end when the last set wraps on Market Square. The party continues with a late-night jazz and blues jam hosted by Love People Jazz Streaming at Scruffy City Hall (32 Market Square) — an open jam session to close out the night. 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 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 - The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Human Resources team is hosting a Fall 2026 Career Fair from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the UT Creamery (2712 Neyland Drive) — and it's open to the public. To browse open positions ahead of the fair, visit hr.utk.edu/staff-positions.

🗓️ 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 - from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Scruffy's is hosting a Mini Pumpkin Painting Workshop — and every participant gets two baby pumpkins to turn into whatever their heart desires. Paint them. Bedazzle them. Drench them in glitter. Give them tiny faces. Make them completely unhinged. More Info

🗓️ 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 - On October 8th at 10:00 AM, the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Tuckaleechee Garden Club, TFGC District IV will formally dedicate a Red, White and Blue Garden to Honor Veterans at the Ivan Racheff House and Gardens (1943 Tennessee Avenue) — part of the national Plant America 250 initiative celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

🗓️ 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 - Cato at 4247 Sam Walton Way is hosting a Barn Quilt Painting Class from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, 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.

🗓️ 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 - Trenditions Hair Studio (6822 Maynardville Pike) is hosting Beauty for a Brighter Tomorrow from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — a fundraising event with services, food trucks, and vendors, all in Lecia's honor. Spots are filling up fast — call the salon at (865) 922-0452 Tuesday through Friday to book yours before they're gone. Food trucks and vendors will also be on-site.

🗓️ October 24th - Karns Branch Used Book Sale (7516 Oak Ridge Hwy) 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

🗓️ October 25th - 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), and the organizing team is looking for volunteers to help make it happen. To sign up or for more information, contact Angie Holbert at (865) 202-8867 or [email protected].

🗓️ 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

🗓️ Tuesdays - Knoxville Dodgeball has been running weekly drop-in games at the Farragut Community Center Gym every Tuesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM since April 2025, and the doors are open to anyone 18 and up. More Info

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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