Calendar of Events

THE 1ST ANNUAL KNOXVILLE BOOK FESTIVAL WILL BE APRIL 5TH & 6TH AT THE KNOXVILLE CONVENTION CENTER FEATURING NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS CHARLAINE HARRIS AND JAMES DASHNER.
The Knoxville Book Festival is a two-day celebration of literature for both authors and readers featuring more than 75 local and regional authors, publishers and booked themed vendors and will be open to the public on Saturday, April 5th & Sunday, April 6th for panel sessions, workshops, discussions and readings with a wide variety of topics.
Every category for adult book fans will be represented from Romance & Romantasy, Sci-Fi, Action Adventure, Suspense Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Horror, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction and more!
“We are thrilled to begin the Knoxville Book Festival. It has been a dream for several years and now we get to bring it to life!” said Jennifer Johnsey, part-owner of Right Brain Productions, LLC. “We wanted to create an event for adult readers and authors to gather in one place and enjoy books of every topic, along with educational sessions, craft workshops, special interest panels and more.”
Meet Charlaine Harris! #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasy series that inspired True Blood. She’s also known for the Gunnie Rose, Aurora Teagarden, Midnight Texas, the Cemetery Girl series—and more!

Meet James Dashner! #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner and The Maze Cutter series, including the upcoming The Godhead Complex. He’s also known for The 13th Reality and Mortality Doctrine series—and more!

Join this two-day celebration of literature, featuring bestselling authors, inspiring panels, and a vibrant community of readers. Explore books, connect with creators and let your imagination soar!

Early Bird Admission is $15 per person for a one-day ticket or $25 for two-day admission through March 15th. After March 15th, admission is $20 for one-day admission and $30 for two-day admission.

For more information visit knoxvillebookfestival.com and follow us on socials. On Facebook @knoxvillebookfestival or Instagram @knoxvillebookfestival
Tickets at: https://knoxvillebookfestival.com/product/tickets/

Knoxville, 18 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA
Artists Working: 8AM-5PM
Award Ceremony: 7PM (Market Square Stage)

Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square. Chalk Walk features over 300 artists and collaborative teams working on-site from 8am-5pm to complete their artwork. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded to select artists who have created imaginative and inspiring artworks in their age division.

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Health & Fitness Expo Health & Fitness Expo
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 5,
World’s Fair Exhibition Hall
935 World’s Fair Park Drive. Knoxville, TN 37902.

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Health & Fitness Expo will be a fun, high-energy event that features exhibitors of running and fitness apparel, shoes, and other supplies, as well as other products and services in fitness, sports, and nutrition. We will also have exhibitors in other areas of interest to our participants, families, and friends.

Ryan Hall, a retired U.S. long-distance runner, record-holder and renowned coach, will be the featured speaker for the Health & Fitness Expo, part of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon.

For more information and to register for the 2025 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon races, visit knoxvillemarathon.com.

Caswell Park, 570 Winona Street

We’re thrilled to announce our first-ever Tree Fest fundraiser event on April 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Caswell Park in East Knoxville! We will be planting 50 trees, giving away 200+ saplings, and engaging over 20 partner organizations. Tree Fest t-shirts, Trees Knoxville hats and stickers, and tasty food will be up for purchase, plus we'll have games, prizes, music, and more! EVERYONE is invited to come celebrate trees with our community!

Whether you’re there for the tree planting, the free tree giveaway, or just to have fun, there’s something for all to enjoy. Share the news with your friends and followers, and we'll see you there!

www.treesknoxville.org/tree-fest

April 5, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Ijams Nature Center (2915 Island Home Ave)

Join Ijams Nature Center, UTK Sources of Strength, and Contact Care Line for Spring Into Hope, a vibrant and uplifting mental health awareness festival! As spring brings renewal, this special event will focus on hope, resilience, and support for ourselves and our community.
• Community Resources – Learn about mental health support and services.
• Art & Hands-on Activities – Creative ways to express and heal.
• Nature Walks – Connect with nature to restore balance.
• Breakout Sessions & Discussions – Conversations to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
• Listening Lounge – A safe space for open conversations with trained listeners.

The festival kicks off at 12:00 PM on the plaza at Ijams. Come be part of a welcoming, supportive space to connect, learn, and grow. Together, we can Spring Into Hope and promote positive well-being for all!
https://www.ijams.org/event-details/special-event-spring-into-hope-2025-a-mental-health-awareness-festival

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Children’s art activities and dance performances will be among the activities planned for the first-ever Creative Kids Fest from 10 am - 4 pm on Saturday, April 5, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Dr. Activities will be based in the museum’s gym and the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens. Flamenco Dance Academy of West Knoxville and Creative Edge Dance Studio of Oak Ridge will perform in the gym. Individual art activities in the gym include flower crowns, bird nest mixed media, thumbprint collages, crazy hair self-portraits, henna hand art, and birthday cake washi tape collages. Collaborative art activities in the gym include a flower mural, Kandinsky circles, squish painting, a 3D mobile sculpture, and decorating a museum bench. Activities in the Kids Go Green! Environmental Center and Gardens include music, en plein air painting, and flower seed spreading to help the museum’s pollinator garden. Exhibits will be open throughout the Museum. A low sensory area will be provided by Xander’s Place.

As part of the Week of the Young Child celebrated April 5 - 11 across the country, the Children’s Museum is honoring young children and all those who make a difference in children’s lives. The Creative Kids Fest is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

The Creative Kids Fest is free with Museum admission: $10 for adults, $9 for veterans, $8 for children 3 - 17, $5 for seniors 62 and older, and $5 for educators with school I.D. Children 2 and younger, Children’s Museum members, and Museums for All participants receive free admission.

The Children’s Museum, offering children and families the opportunity for learning through play, is open from 10 am- 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 - 4 pm Sunday. For more information, see the Children’s Museum website at https://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/ or call (865) 482-1074.

It's fun, free, and easy! The Hike-a-Thon is free to register and you can participate from anywhere in the world. This month-long competition in April supports the protection of our lands and waters—where people and nature can thrive. https://campaigns.tenngreen.org/event/hike-a-thon2025/

TennGreen Land Conservancy empowers landowners and communities to protect large, connected natural areas that support diversity of life, inspire appreciation of nature, and spark action to protect the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land that sustains us all. To learn more, visit tenngreen.org.

2025 Featured Dogwood Trails: Holston Hills & Morningside. The Dogwood Trails are open annually from April 1-30th, just in time to showcase the beauty of spring in East Tennessee! Knoxville’s iconic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. Take a drive, a walk, or a bike ride and enjoy the scenic natural beauty of our region.

No RSVP required. Please email vbaumgartner@dogwoodarts.com or call (865) 637-4561 with questions or concerns.

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

Storyteller Laura Still helps you live the stories of pioneers, soldiers, outlaws, and even fictional characters who walked these streets before you.

Knoxville has a rich history full of colorful characters and famous, and infamous, figures whose lives have been the inspiration for books, movies, and works of art. Take a stroll through history in beautiful downtown Knoxville while listening to true tales of the heroes, heels, and hardened criminals that are part of the hidden lore of this unique East Tennessee town.

A portion of the proceeds for downtown tours go to help fund the work of the non-profit Knoxville History Project. Many stories are based on the books and stories of award-winning journalist and writer Jack Neely. Knoxville Walking Tours opens a window to Knoxville’s varied past and leads you on a journey through both hard times and high times of a city growing through over two centuries of history.

Tours include:
• Knoxville: The Early Years
• Misbehaving Women
• Civil War
• Gunslingers
• Musical History
• Literary Heritage
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours
• Knoxville Botanical Garden
• Old Gray Cemetery
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours

Tour on Your Schedule! Rather than posting a calendar, we’re letting you pick the tour and time — subject to availability. Call (865)309-4522 or visit https://knoxvillewalkingtours.com/