This primary election is a step in filling open seats in Knoxville City Council. Voters will select two candidates from each district to appear on this year’s general election ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Voters will vote for candidates to represent their district, and there are openings in City Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 + 6. This is the first time in decades voters will only be able to vote for candidates in their district of residence.
Early voting
If you plan to vote ahead of Election Day, early voting sites are open through Thursday, Aug. 21. There are six early voting locations, so check online before going to cast your ballot.
Pro tip: Hours vary by day, so double check the hours before you head out. Sites are always closed on Sundays.
Knoxville Smokies vs. Biloxi Shuckers | 7 p.m. | Covenant Health Park | $21+ | Root, root, root for the Smokies and celebrate Black athletes at Knoxville Giants Night — plus, stick around for post-game fireworks.
Soundscapes at the KMA: August 2025 | 7:30-9:15 p.m. | Knoxville Museum of Art | $20+ | A lineup of musical acts spanning a range of genres will take the stage while you explore the art and sip on a cocktail.
Saturday, August 9
The Dating Game Live | 6:30 p.m. | Kern’s Food Hall | Free | Watch hopeful bachelors + bachelorettes try to find love at this game similar to the show from the 1970s.
Irish Fest on the Hill 2025 | 4-10 p.m. | Immaculate Conception Church | $15 | Enjoy live bands, Irish dancers, games, food, drinks, and more — kids under 12 get in free.
Knoxville Water Lantern Festival | 6 p.m. | Chilhowee Park | $31+ | Live out your “Tangled” dreams and release lanterns into the water (don’t worry, they get picked up afterwards).
SlimFest 2025 | 4-11 p.m. | 2805 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville | $20 + | Listen to an evening of music with headliner The Coveralls to help raise money for causes in Blount County.
The City of Knoxville has allocated $2 million to replace a failing pipe that’s causing flooding on North Cherry Street that connects East Knoxville + North Knoxville. The project is expected to take about a year and will install a new, better-flowing pipe that’s reinforced with a concrete box.
Health
Local fertility clinic Rejoice Fertility helped set the world record for longest-frozen embryo to result in a live birth. The clinic successfully helped a family conceive + give birth to a baby boy. The frozen embryo predated the infant by 31 years, 2 months, and 20 days. (WBIR)
Edu
UT is making the fall semester more appetizing with new dining options, including buzzy menu items like dirty soda at Keoke Coffee Bar and fried PB+J at the new Snackin’ Wagon. This semester, students can also expect to see renovations to Volunteer Hall and the new Cumberland Food Hall.
Watch
Did you catch that local reference while watching “Leanne” on Netflix? The new sitcom is set in Knoxville and stars Leanne Morgan, who once lived here, in the titular role. If some things don’t look quite right, that might be because the show was actually filmed in Burbank, CA. (WBIR)
Regional
Looking for a quick getaway? Travel + Leisure highlighted Cookeville as a must-see destination, especially in the summer. Located approx. 1.5 hours from Knoxville, the publication praised the city for its outdoor offerings like waterfalls and trails while celebrating the food options, art, and museums. (Travel + Leisure)
Feel Good
The Knox County Schools Clothing and Resource Center has been helping local students get back-to-school ready since the district took over operations in April. WBIR reporter Jillian Taylor learns how students receive items and the ways you can support the center’s operations. (WBIR)
Sports
Quarterbacks Joey Aguilar + Jake Merklinger are displaying promising pre-season performances as the Vols are showing intensity during trainings. Hear from the local experts on the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Post of the Day
Soon, this construction will be water under the bridge. | Photo via City of Knoxville
Repairs on the Gay Street Bridge are expected to cross the finish line by the end of 2025. The city announced Dec. 31 as the anticipated date for the bridge to reopen for foot + bicycle traffic.
Construction on this $1.94 million project has resulted in closures since May. Over the past two weeks crews have added support pieces + cross beams and repaired lace bars.
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.
Apparently, Summerween has become a new trend where people embrace the scariness of Halloween in the summer months. To be honest, I love it. If you’re looking for a scary movie with local ties I recommend “The Evil Dead.”
