Calendar of Events

Friday, May 2, 2025

Museum of Appalachia: Sheep Shearing Days

  • May 2, 2025 — May 9, 2025
  • 9:00 AM -3:00 PM

Category: Festivals, special events, History, heritage and Kids, family

Families are invited to celebrate the arrival of spring at Sheep Shearing Days at the Museum of Appalachia May 2 and May 9, 9:00 AM -3:00 PM . This student-focused event will show how pioneers turned wool into clothing and will feature hands-on activities and immersive learning experiences with Appalachian artisans, educators, and musicians.

$20/adults, $10/kids
Free parking

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN 37716. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

Dragonfly Aerial Arts Studio: Circus Extravaganza

Category: Dance, movement, Festivals, special events, Kids, family and Music

14th Annual Circus Extravaganza, Library Lollapalooza
May 2, 7:30 PM, May 3, 2 PM & 7:30 PM, May 4, 2 PM

Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Dragonfly Aerial And Circus Arts Studio's Annual Circus Extravaganza! It's an event like no other, and we want you to be there! This Year's theme is Library Lollapalooza: A Circus of Tumbling Tales! Every act will be a celebration of a different story or genre that you can find at your local library. Come with us as we explore our Dragonfly library and discover all the shenanigans it holds! In an effort to ensure everyone who attends is able to enjoy the show, we will have Spanish language interpretation at our Friday, 7:30 PM show and ASL interpretation at our Saturday, 2:00 PM show.

Our annual Circus Extravaganza funds our scholarship program for kids. We're always grateful for donations from those wanting to give more than the price of a ticket to help sponsor a child, or from those who can't make the show but want a way to give.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/14th-annual-circus-extravaganza-library-lallapalooza
https://www.dragonflyaerialartsstudio.com

Friends of the Library: Bearden Branch Used Book Sale

  • May 2, 2025 — May 3, 2025

Category: Festivals, special events, Free event, Kids, family and Literature, spoken word, writing

May 2-3: Bearden Branch Used Book Sale, 10:00-5:00

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

Outlandish Adventure Festival

Category: Festivals, special events

Knoxville’s great outdoors is calling! On May 2 & 3, the Outlandish Adventure Festival will transform Ijams Nature Center into a dynamic playground for thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and families.

This free, two-day event celebrates Knoxville’s rocks, trails, rivers, and outdoor spirit with unforgettable activities, entertainment, and community connections.

Festival Highlights include:
Extreme Spectacles: Witness high slacklining over the quarry, bike whip-off stunts, rock climbing competition, and kayak flatwater freestyle, SUP sprint races, and fire dancing.

Live Music: Enjoy performances across the property and throughout the day. FERD will headline the event.

Interactive Activities: Try paddleboard yoga, biking, hiking, bird watching, trail running, kayaking, and stroll through vendor tents featuring local makers, outdoor brands and sport groups.

Maker Tents: Discover sustainable & nature-centric artistry by local makers inspired by Knoxville’s outdoor culture.

Outdoor Education: Friday Movie Night kicks off the event at the Ijams Visitors Center and Saturday makes learning fun with the following talks: History or Urban Wilderness, Climbing in East TN and Women in Outdoors.

With Ijams Nature Center as the backdrop, the Outlandish Adventure Festival invites everyone to experience Knoxville’s vibrant outdoor scene. Whether you’re an adventure veteran or new to the outdoors, there’s something for everyone.

Event proceeds will support outdoor resources in Knoxville, ensuring the city’s green spaces continue to thrive.

The Outlandish Adventure Festival is a collaborative effort by Knoxville’s outdoor enthusiasts and organizations, including Ijams, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, AMBC, Knoxville Adventure Collective, River Sports, The Maker City, Legacy Parks, and The City of Knoxville. Together, they’ve created a weekend to inspire exploration, connection, adventure, and celebration of Knoxville’s natural beauty.

www.outlandishaf.com
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

20th Annual Clinch River Spring Antique Festival

  • May 2, 2025 — May 3, 2025

Category: Festivals, special events

Historic Downtown Clinton is set to host the 20th Annual Clinch River Spring Antique Festival on May 2-3, 2024, transforming Main, Market, and Cullom Streets into a vibrant showcase of antiques, artistry, and live entertainment.
Admission & Parking: FREE
Rain or Shine!

Friday, May 2 - Get a sneak peek of antique treasures as the festival kicks off with early shopping and vendor displays!

Saturday, May 3 (9 AM - 5 PM) - The festival doubles in size, filling Main Street with:

Antique Dealers from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, and North Carolina
Talented Artisans showcasing handcrafted goods
Delicious Food Trucks with a variety of tasty treats
Live Music & Entertainment throughout the day

Whether you're an antique enthusiast, a lover of handcrafted goods, or just looking for a fun day out, the Clinch River Spring Antique Festival is a must-visit event this spring!

Old City Market: First Friday Market

  • May 2, 2025

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Festivals, special events, Fine Crafts, Free event, Kids, family and Meetup

Shop the Old City Market! On West Jackson Avenue. The Old City Market transforms the historic Old City into a curated, outdoor market showcasing artists, crafters, and creative makers.

First Friday Markets: Apr 4 · May 2 · Aug 1 · Sep 5 · Oct 3 · Nov 7 · Dec 5, 5PM to 9PM

Sunday Markets: Apr 13 · May 18 · Rhinestone Fest June 7 · June 15 · July 20 · Aug 17 · Sep 21 · Oct 19 · Nov 16 · Small Business Saturday Nov 29, 11AM to 4PM

https://oldcityknoxville.org/market/

Knoxville Cheese Week

  • April 28, 2025 — May 4, 2025

Category: Culinary arts, food and Festivals, special events

Knoxville Cheese Week!
There’s something every night of the week from April 28 to May 4th!

One day is not enough Cheese! We're making this a week-long event in 2025! Join us for our fourth year for a bigger and multi-day chees-tastic event. We're excited to welcome back our popular sell-out, the Cheese and Cider pairing and dinner, as well as our Knoxville Cheese Fest (sampling event.)

Also new this year! We are celebrating all things Wisconsin! There are so many amazing cheesemakers from America's Dairyland. There are 100 Wisconsin cheesemakers, making it the Cheese State and collectively they have earned more than 5,500 awards across the globe, recognizing the quality of their cheese!

This week-long event offers opportunities to sample the variety of Wisconsin cheeses and pair them with other foods, ciders, beers, and wines.

Tickets at:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/knoxville-cheese-week-tickets-202130#smtx-click

More information and schedules of events at: https://www.knoxvillecheesefest.com/

Knoxville Walking Tours

  • January 1, 2025 — December 31, 2025

Category: Festivals, special events and History, heritage

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/