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Appalachian HorrorFest Returns to Knoxville
Get ready for a day of spooky stories, live music, folklore, and Halloween fun as Appalachian HorrorFest returns to the Holiday Inn–Cedar Bluff for its fourth year!
Following a record-setting 2025 season, the festival is back with more than 7,000 square feet of immersive programming celebrating the storytelling, music, and creative spirit behind Appalachian horror.
Throughout the day, guests can enjoy a curated lineup of master storytellers, live music, family-friendly activities, and Vendors Village, featuring handcrafted goods, spooky artwork, and seasonal treasures.
At the heart of the festival is the tradition of Appalachian storytelling—from ghost tales shared with the feel of a front porch gathering to fireside folklore that has been passed down through generations. It’s a chance to experience the thrill of a good scare while celebrating the people and stories that make the region unique.
More than just a Halloween event, Appalachian HorrorFest celebrates storytelling, community, and the creative force of horror.
October 10 | 12 p.m.–8 p.m. | Holiday Inn–Cedar Bluff, Knoxville
Come spend the day enjoying unforgettable stories, music, local vendors, and plenty of Appalachian Halloween spirit! More Info
2nd Annual Scruffy Roots Festival
Get ready for a fun-filled day celebrating Knoxville’s local creative community at the Second Annual Scruffy Roots Festival!
The festival will bring together local artists, vendors, music, and family-friendly activities for an afternoon and evening of fun at The Lawn at Kern’s Bakery. Browse the market, discover local creatives, enjoy live music, and let the kids burn off some energy in the bounce house.
For those looking for a little extra adventure, axe throwing will be available from 2–6 p.m. Whether you're there to shop, listen to music, enjoy the activities, or simply spend time with friends and family, there will be plenty happening throughout the event.
October 11–12 | 3 p.m. – 1 a.m. | The Lawn at Kern’s Bakery
Come out and support Knoxville’s talented artists, makers, and creative businesses while enjoying a night of music, food, fun, and community!. More Info
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Trick-or-Treat Trails at Ancient Lore Village
A little autumn magic is coming to Ancient Lore Village with Trick-or-Treat Trails, a whimsical Halloween experience created especially for younger adventurers!
Little ghouls and goblins can wander a charming, not-too-spooky trail through the Village, stopping at 10 candy stations hosted by costumed characters. Along the way, families will find plenty of sweet treats, playful characters, photo opportunities, and just the right amount of Halloween magic.
The fun continues beyond the trail with games, character encounters, seasonal treats, and a festive fall atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. The trail itself takes about 20 minutes, but families are encouraged to stick around for closer to an hour to explore and enjoy everything the Village has to offer.
The experience is designed to be short, sweet, safe, and perfect for little legs, making it a great way for young children to enjoy Halloween without the scares.
Thursday, October 22 & Friday, October 23 | 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Guests will choose an entry window when reserving tickets:
4:30–6:15 p.m. — Entry between 4:30–5:00 p.m.
6:30–8:30 p.m. — Entry between 6:30–7:00 p.m.
Come dressed in your Halloween best, bring your candy bag, and enjoy an evening filled with sparkle, smiles, costumes, and fall fun! More Info
Calling All Chocolate Lovers!
If chocolate is your love language, mark your calendar! The Chocolate Lovers Event is coming up on October 10, bringing together dozens of talented local handcrafters and plenty of delicious chocolate treats.
Whether you prefer milk, dark, or white chocolate, there will be something tempting to satisfy your sweet tooth. Indulge in dreamy chocolate pudding, handmade chocolate candies, decadent cakes and cupcakes, French Silk Pie, rich brownies, gourmet chocolate chunk cookies, and more.
October 10 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Field of Dreams Activity Center (1145 Treadway Drive, Dandridge)
Come hungry, browse the work of talented local crafters, and enjoy a day dedicated to one of life’s greatest treats—CHOCOLATE! More Info
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🗓️ 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 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 10th - Ready for something a little different? The Oddities & Art Market is making its Knoxville debut on Saturday, October 10, bringing a wonderfully weird day of art, curiosities, and unique finds to the World's Fair Exhibition Hall 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 18th - Spend a beautiful fall afternoon enjoying nature, music, and family fun at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum! Family Garden Day takes place Sunday, October 18, from 1–5 p.m. This free community event invites families to get outside and explore the Garden with hands-on activities, lawn games, and plenty of opportunities to discover the beauty of the season. 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 22 & October 23 | 4:30–8:30 p.m. A little autumn magic is coming to Ancient Lore Village with Trick-or-Treat Trails, a whimsical Halloween experience created especially for younger adventurers! 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
Recurring:
🗓️ 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
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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