Calendar of Events

We are honored that these Knoxville residents have opened their properties to the public as a part of our annual celebration of East Tennessee's natural beauty! Properties for our 2025 Spring Featured Gardens are still TBD.

This event is free though a $5 donation per garden is suggested. Tours are self-guided; although Dogwood Arts staff and volunteers will be on-site for questions. No tickets are required.

NOTE: There is limited parking at each garden, and guests will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis. Comfortable or hiking shoes are recommended. No pets allowed.

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

Join us for Knoxville Opera’s annual Rossini Festival, an international street fair celebrating the music, food, art, and culture that shape East Tennessee! This beloved event transforms downtown Knoxville into a vibrant, family-friendly celebration with non-stop entertainment, delicious food, and local artisan vendors. April 12 & 13, in Downtown Knoxville Admission: Always FREE!
• Live Performances on Four Stages – Enjoy opera, jazz, gospel, classical, ballet, modern, and ethnic dance for 11 hours each day!
• Food & Drink Vendors – Savor delicious international and local flavors!
• 75+ Artisans & Vendors – Discover handmade jewelry, clothing, home décor, and more from talented creators across East Tennessee.
• The Y FunZone – A special area packed with activities to keep the kids entertained!

For over 20 years, the Rossini Festival has been a must-attend event, bringing together more than half a million visitors to experience the arts and culture of Knoxville. Don’t miss this fun, family-friendly celebration—there’s something for everyone at the Rossini Festival!

Knoxville Opera: 865-524-0795, https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/rossini/

CARLY PEARCE: HUMMINGBIRD TOUR with CARTER FAITH
SATURDAY, APRIL 12 | 7:30PM

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

STEPHEN WILSON JR.
SON OF DAD TOUR 2025
SATURDAY, APR 12 | 8:00PM

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/

Thermal Label Warehouse/The Shaw Family Pops Series
Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.
Knoxville Civic Auditorium

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and special guests celebrate one of rock ‘n roll’s most important bands. An evening of vinyl masterpieces including “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon,” “Dreams,” and “Landslide.”

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

April 12: Sequoyah Branch Used Book Sale, 10:00-5:00

https://www.knoxfriends.org/book-sales/

Saturday, April 12, 2025
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Save the date for our Spring Plant Sale! KBGA members and neighbors are invited to an exclusive preview sale on Friday, April 11th.

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914. Hours: Gardens open daily from sunrise to sunset. Information: 865-862-8717, www.knoxgarden.org

WDVX Kidstuff Live, free radio show every 2nd Saturday of each month at 10am from the stage at Visit Knoxville.
On 4/12 Sarah Pirkle brings an hour of fun and real live music for the whole family.

WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

April 12 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Zoo Knoxville

HEAR me Roar returns to Zoo Knoxville on April 12! The fun starts at 6:00PM. Come visit dozens of your favorite costumed characters during this special afterhours event that supports Waiting to Hear and our local programs that help deaf kids HEAR! The event will be held rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hear-me-roar-zoo-knoxville-2025-tickets-1224370447969

At 800 North 4th Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917

Come enjoy psychedelic jam band Big Dog at the Birdhouse on April 12 at 7:00 pm! Your $10 ticket includes a couple drinks for those who are 21+.
https://www.simpletix.com/e/big-dog-at-the-birdhouse-tickets-208204

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s 57th Spring Plant Sale will take place on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th. The public sale will be held on Saturday, April 12th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the UT Arboretum at 901 S. Illinois Ave. (Hwy. 62) in Oak Ridge. The Society’s “Members Only” sale will be on Friday evening, April 11th from 4-7 p.m.
Society memberships or membership renewals may be purchased on Friday evening for this “early bird” shopping opportunity. By joining UTAS on Friday night, people can enjoy the membership benefit of having the first pick of our beautiful selection of plants, some of which sell out that evening. Checks, cash and credit cards will be accepted. You may also join UTAS online before the sale.

The three vendors for the sale are Tennessee Naturescapes from Clinton, Riverdale Nursery from Knoxville, and East Fork Nursery from Sevierville. Tennessee Naturescapes is an all-native plant nursery and will be offering a varied selection of all native shrubs, small trees, grasses, and perennials. Riverdale Nursery will feature a variety of harder to find shrubs and small trees for landscaping, perennials, annuals, and vines as well as culinary herbs, vegetable starts, berries and brambles. East Fork Nursery of Sevierville, one of the premier native azalea growers in the country, will be bringing a wide selection of those azaleas and also offers an array of unusual conifers. These three vendors offer something for everyone!
UT Arboretum Society members will be on hand to help answer questions. Red wagons will be available to help load plants.
The UT Arboretum Society celebrates its 60 anniversary in 2025. To learn more about the UT Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org.

The Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024. It is one of the ten University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee. The Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the UT Herbert College of Agriculture, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension offices, with locations in every county in the state.

Gallery 1010, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 114, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Reception Thu 5-7 PM, Sat 10 AM – 1 PM, or by appointment. Information: https://gallery1010.utk.edu/

Gallery 1010 is a contemporary art exhibition space located at 100 S. Gay Street in Suite 114 of the Emporium Center of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. As one of three University of Tennessee School of Art galleries, Gallery 1010 is the only fully student-run, non-profit, off-campus exhibition space in the state of Tennessee. The mission of Gallery 1010 is to provide space for the School of Art students of the University of Tennessee to experiment and develop new ideas while gaining educational gallery experience in professional standards and practices.