A run with Run Club Knox is a great way to explore the city. | Photo via @runclub_knox
Sometimes, it’s just you and you alone — and that’s OK. There are many ways to have a good time in Knoxville even when you’re rolling solo.
Take a hike
Knoxville has plenty of trails to explore where you can be at one with nature — but it might be polite to at least wave and say hi to other hikers.
Explore art + history
If you want to sit alone with your thoughts, you might as well do it while looking at the stunning artwork that can be found in Knoxville. Or, explore local history at a museum as you ponder how did I get here?
Run clubs
Got a need for speed? Join a run club to stay active with like-minded locals. Socializing is optional (we’ll be too busy huffing and puffing to chat), but many clubs end the evening at a restaurant or bar to refuel and make new connections.
Summer Movie Magic: “Grease” | 8 p.m. | Tennessee Theatre | $13+ | If you want to relive the magic of the 1978 film, this screening is the one that you want.
Russell Walker | 9 p.m. | Jig and Reel | Free | Dance along with the honky-tonker as he belts original songs and puts his spin on classics.
Saturday, August 16
History Hootenanny | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Museum of East Tennessee History | Free | Celebrate East Tennessee history with mini lectures, music, children’s activities, and more — this year’s theme is sports history.
Hello Summer August Market | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Hero Athletics | Free | Celebrate the season as you shop local vendors, handmade crafts and goods, and food and drinks.
Back To The 90’s: Drag Bingo Night | 8-11 p.m. | Barrelhouse | $15 | Turn back time to an era of grunge, scrunchies, and Beanie Babies at this night of bingo and comedy.
Puppy Pilates | 1-2 p.m. | Barrelhouse | $23 | Flow into this furry flexibility class as puppies from the Humane Society of Tennessee Valley roam while you move through this gentle session.
Wrestle Wars 2025 | 7 p.m. | The Mill & Mine | $25+ | Watch wrestlers from independent organization Next Generation Wrestling: Tennessee smack down in the ring.
Monday, August 18
Little History Lessons: Suffrage | 10:30 a.m. | East Tennessee Historical Society | $10 | This class for caregivers and kids will help you learn history through stories, games, crafts, and examining artifacts.
Tennessee Athletics announced a 10-year partnership with Adidas that’s set to begin during the 2026-2027 season. Hear how this could benefit the Vols and their recruiting with the local experts on the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
The Kuwahee Greenway will be closed starting Monday, Aug. 18 for planned work by the Knoxville Utilities Board. The project is expected to be completed by Thursday, Oct. 30, but in the meantime Neyland Greenway can be used as a detour.
Edu
Go Vols — The Princeton Review featured UT on its “2026 Best Colleges” list, highlighting the top 391 schools in the nation. The study didn’t rank every entry, but it included rankings based on specific features. UT was noted for its dedicated fans and its Greek life options.
Kids
Back-to-school season means it’s time to get back to meal planning. Covenant Health has shared ways to make well-balanced bento boxes for school lunches. These compartmentalized boxes provide dedicated spaces for vegetables, protein, fruits, dairy, and grains, making it easy to include a variety of nutritious foods.
Concert
“Life Is a Highway,” and it’s leading Rascal Flatts to Knoxville. The country band will bring their upcoming tour to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. Tickets go on sale today, Aug. 15, starting at 10 a.m.
Drink
Nothing beats the original, according to a ranking of 10 Mountain Dew flavors. The Knoxville-founded soda has seen many variations since it was established in 1948, but the classic lemon-lime flavor still ranks No. 1. The runner-up spot went to Mountain Dew Dragon Fruit. (Parade)
Festival
Earlier this week, Muse Knoxville announced plans to expand to the Jacob Building — a site that has been used during the Tennessee Valley Fair. WBIR reporter Lauryn Lovett learns how this change could impact planning for future fairs. (WBIR)
Travel
Travel
🛩️ ETA: March 2026
Southwest Airlines is getting ready to take off from McGhee Tyson Airport. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Southwest Airlines’ expansion to McGhee Tyson Airport already has us dreaming of Spring Break. The first flight is scheduled to depart for Nashville International Airport on Thursday, March 5, 2026, and you can already start booking. Southwest has shared its schedule through April 6, 2026.
Ready to start planning your trip? Southwest will begin its local operations by offering services to four destinations:
Service will be offer to Nashville two times a day while round-trip service will be offered once daily to the other three locations.
Games
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.
If you’re a music lover like me, Aug. 15 holds a special place in history — it’s the day Woodstock began in 1969. I don’t anticipate a revival of the festival, but if it did make a comeback, I’d like to see some acts with Knoxville roots perform like Kelsea Ballerini or 10 Years.
