Don’t miss the Knoxville Smokies before the season ends. | Photo via Knoxville Smokies.
We hate to say it, but we’re heading into the last full month of summer. Lucky for us, there are plenty of events happening in Knoxville this August so that we can make the most of it.
Festivals
Knoxville Water Lantern Festival | Saturday, Aug. 9 | 6 p.m. | Chilhowee Park | $31+ | Live out your “Tangled” dreams and release lanterns into the water (don’t worry, they get picked up afterward).
After hours
Perseids Meteor Shower Paddle | Wednesday, Aug. 13 | 1-3 a.m. | Ijams River Landing | $45 | Up for a late night (or early morning, rather)? Experience a meteor shower on the water with this guided kayaking event.
For the fam
4th Annual History Hootenanny | Saturday, Aug. 16 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | East Tennessee History Center | Free | This annual public history event will feature mini lectures with historians, walking tours, a used book sale, and more.
Live music + shows
Alice Cooper | Wednesday, Aug. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Tennessee Theatre | $60+ | See “The Godfather of Shock Rock” up close and in person.
Dark Market: Cryptids of the Appalachia | 5:30 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing Knoxville | Free | Head to this unique market to explore oddities, apothecary, herbology, alchemy, curiosities, tarot, and more.
Sunsphere Wheat Event | 6 p.m. | Balter Beerworks | Cost of purchase | Enjoy happy hour pricing on every pour + free Sunsphere samples all night long.
Saturday, July 26
Aloha Luau Open Play | 7-9 p.m. | The Pickleball Playground | Free | Break out the Hawaiian shirts for this day of tropical pickleball play — don’t forget to bring a dish for the potluck.
Country Music and Beer Festival | 6-9 p.m. | White Star Station | $53 | Whether you’re a die-hard country fan or just looking for a good time, saddle up for the perfect blend of brews, boots, and blazing guitars.
Stanley’s Ninth Annual Butterfly Festival | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Stanley’s Greenhouse | Free | Celebrate butterflies with kids craft stations, a seminar, local artisans, educational exhibits, and a scavenger hunt.
Sunday, July 27
Cast Iron Cooking | 4 p.m. | The Cutting Edge Classroom | Cooking with cast iron is a Southern staple; in this hands-on class, learn how to use your cast iron pan to make everything from steaks to desserts.
Silversun Pickups | 8 p.m. | The Mill & Mine | $42+ | The “Lazy Eye” band will rock the stage of the downtown venue.
Knoxville City Council recently approved nearly $5 million in federal funding to aid housing stability + $18.9 million for improvements to Pleasant Bridge Road. The housing funds will go towards home repairs, improving home safety conditions, and implementing eviction prevention strategies. (WBIR)
Arts
Incoming mural alert. Soon, while traveling east on Sevier Avenue after exiting James White Parkway, you’ll be met with a new mural. The painting featuring an Old Sevier Merchants Association logo is currently going up on the side of the Alliance Brewing Company building. (Knox News)
Biz
What is Knoxville’s top workplace? According to Knox News, that honor goes to Axle Logistics in the “large” category, Pinnacle Financial Partners in the “midsize” category, and Paschal Solutions in the “small” category. Check out the other award winners. (Knox News)
Weather
Brace yourselves — it’s supposed to get even hotter next week. WBIR Meteorologist Cassie Nall shares that next Tuesday and Wednesday could reach near-record highs, with heat index values near or above 105°. It’s the perfect time to rent a pool.
Outdoors
The city’s parks and recreation department is currently seeking community input on The Parks and Recreation Master Plan, designed to identify parks and rec needs, anticipate future demand, and create a vision for improvements. Share your ideas.
Cause
Knoxville pastor Chris Battle is turning vacant church lots into urban gardens. So far, Battle has helped establish five community gardens at five churches across the area to help address food disparity + the demand for fresh produce. (WBIR)
Sports
David Sanders and Travis Smith are two of multiple UTK Freshman to be watching this year. Hear more from the local experts on the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Post of the Day
Tarik’s North African officially hosted a soft opening for its new brick-and-mortar earlier this week.
The restaurant teased that it will be announcing its hours soon, so stay tuned — and in the meantime, keep up with more new and coming soon restaurants in Knoxville via our Restaurant Roundup.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Any other Cubs fans around? The 2025 MLB trade deadline is coming up on July 31, and while the Scruffy City might not be in the majors, attending a local Smokies game could be your chance to see players before they get called up to the Chicago Cubs.
Pictured here is my mom, a lifelong Southerner who can’t stand the cold and froze her hiney off at a Cubs game... in May.
