Calendar of Events

Join Ijams Nature Center and an incredible lineup of partners—including Zoo Knoxville, Discover Life in America, Sierra Club, Seven Islands State Birding Park, and the City of Knoxville—for a weekend of exploration, discovery, and community science as part of the global City Nature Challenge 2025! This exciting weekend of FREE BioBlitz workshops invites participants of all ages to explore local biodiversity across fungi, birds, flowering plants, insects, and more. The goal? To identify and record as many wild organisms as possible using the iNaturalist app—a global citizen science tool.

Learn from expert naturalists and scientists
Explore specific topics like birding, bugs, fungi, trees, and pollinators
Record observations using the free iNaturalist app
Participate in a global initiative to document local wildlife
Contribute to scientific data while having fun outdoors!

Workshop Schedule: April 25 @ Ijams Nature Center
Ijams After Dark: BioBlitz Edition (7:00–10:00 PM)

April 26 @ Ijams Nature Center
Spring Birding (Two sessions: 8:00 AM)
Trees & Flowering Plants (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)
Fungi, Ferns, & Mosses (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)
Bugs & Grubs (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)
Pollinator Palooza (10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 1:00–3:00 PM)
Aventura en Español: Edición BioBlitz (1:00–3:00 PM)

April 27 @ Seven Islands State Birding Park
Seven Islands

Important: All participants are asked to download and set up the iNaturalist app before attending. While workshops are free, they are part of a larger community-driven effort to catalog life around us—so come ready to observe, record, and discover! Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP in advance. Let’s show the world what incredible biodiversity East Tennessee has to offer! https://www.ijams.org/bioblitz2024

Discover a new craft, skill, or hobby! Come and see where skills are learned, wool is spun, and a fiber enthusiast can shop to their heart’s content! Vendors are set up throughout the Heritage Center’s 10-acre campus from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day, and various classes are offered. Check out our Social Time and bring your knitting, crochet, or other project, a mug of tea or coffee, and get to know one another!

Experienced fiber artists will share their knowledge and demonstrate techniques. These two days are packed with amazing classes, demonstrations, and sales! You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy spinning and weaving demonstrations from local spinning and weaving guilds! Classes: https://gsmheritagecenter.org/events-tickets/

865-448-0044 or https://gsmheritagecenter.org
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center | 123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend, TN 37882

4/18 • Evening Paddle
4/18 • Big Night Hike
Nature in Percussion - 4/19 @ 1 pm - Hear talented UT percussionists perform at this FREE concert!
4/20 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga with Hope Irwin
4/22 • Nature Nerd Trivia
4/24 • Pickin' on Nature Bluegrass Show
4/24 • Bike with a Naturalist
4/25 • Ijams After Dark: Bioblitz Edition
4/25 • Evening Paddle
4/26 Starting at 8 am - City Nature Challenge 2025
4/26 @ 10 am - Hat on a Ball Felting Workshop
4/27 @ 10 am - Flower Power - Felted Flower Basics Workshop
4/27 @ 1 pm - Self-Care Sunday Yoga
4/27 @ 1:30 pm - Felted Needle Case Workshop
4/29 @ 7 pm - Night of Celtic Tales with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers
5/2 • Outlandish Adventure Festival - Friday Night Paddle on the River
5/2 • Outlandish Adventure Festival - World Paddle Adventure Film Festival
5/3 • Outlandish Adventure Festival
5/9 • A Wildflower Affair

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

Knoxville’s ONLY Salsa Party With 2 Instructors Teaching Lead & Follow—All for Just $10! Master your salsa and bachata basics before the party starts—get top-notch instruction from both lead and follow perspectives in a single class! No Partner Needed—Perfect for Beginners & Seasoned Dancers.

Friday Salsa Party Schedule inside Monday Night Proofing Co at Kern's Food Hall
9:00 PM–Salsa Class, 9:30 PM–Bachata Class, 10:00 PM–1:00 AM–Social Dancing
Price: $10 cover, Includes both dance lessons and the party—no hidden fees.

EVERY SATURDAY SALSA PARTY at Holiday Inn Cedar Bluff
Date: Every Saturday!, Time: 9:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, dance, and fun with this incredible dance experiences in one location! Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting, this event is designed for everyone to enjoy.

Information: info@salsaknox.com or (865) 455-3658. https://www.salsaknox.com/