According to data from May, 10% of residents in Knox County deal with food insecurity — these pantries can help. | Photo by 6AM City
Take what you need, leave what you can. That’s the tagline of Little Free Pantry.
Similar to the concept of Little Free Library, this initiative began in 2019, creating pantries to pick up + leave non-perishable food items or other necessities. Think of it as a never-ending potluck where neighbors can help support each other.
There are even more resources outside of Little Free Pantry.
Wesley House’s Red Bird Community Store is open Monday through Friday, offering items like canned goods, clothing, toys, hygienic products, and more. The impact? Since July alone, there have been 7,718 visits.
Those looking for veggies, or perhaps home growers who have more crop than they need, can also head to KnoxFill for its Little Free Produce Stand. We recommend checking out the sustainable products while you’re there.
Feeling full of community love? It’s easy to start your own pantry with these helpful resources, including a how-to manual on building one.
South Knoxville Art Walk | 5-10 p.m. | Printshop Beer Co. | Free+ | Spend the evening strolling and exploring the Old Sevier District while enjoying art, music, craft beer, cocktails + food.
USA Meets The Beatles | 7:30 p.m. | Bijou Theatre | $37+ | Here comes the Fab Four, a tribute band playing The Beatles’ iconic hits.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Tennessee Book and Reader’s Convention | Saturday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | Knoxville Expo Center | $14 | Gather with other bookworms, find your next read + meet new authors.
Wendigo Doomfest | 3 p.m. | Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus | $37+ | Sip beer and browse vendors, then listen to a heavy lineup of local acts featuring doom, stoner, sludge + grunge rock.
Appalachian Legends and Lore: Cherokee Folklore | 2-3 p.m. | Karns Branch Library | Free | Learn about the stories, customs, and traditions that make up the cultural identity of East Tennessee.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Tennessee Valley Fair | 12-9 p.m. | Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center | $12+ | It’s the final fair day of the year, and country star Jessie Murph will take the stage.
Knoxville Friendship Fair | 2-4 p.m. | SouthSide Garage | Free+ | Think of this as a scholastic book fair but to meet friends + find new hobbies within the community.
We’re sure you’ve seen the back-and-forth with Chilhowee Park’s future, and now, it’s time to weigh in. The City of Knoxville will host a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 15 at Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center Gymnasium, starting at 5:30 p.m. Staff will answer questions + accept suggestions.
Festival
Big names and big films are headed to Big Ears in March, including headliners David Byrne and Robert Plant. The lineup features over 250 performances across 20+ venues — secure your passes before ticket prices increase.
Open
Welcome to the Wild West, Knoxville. Cowboy Cantina, is now open on North Central Street in Old City. Follow along on Instagram to see what specials they’re pouring, plus, the bar opens at 10 a.m. for UTK kickoffs.
Why yes, Dolly would set up a run in her own theme park. The very first Run Dollywood Race Weekend will take place April 24-26, where participants can walk + run through the park and surrounding area. Sign up for registration alerts.
Number
$1 million. That’s how much the city is considering requesting for a Federal Highway Administration grant to study long-term solutions to repair the Gay Street Bridge. The 127-year-old bridge is on track to reopen to foot + bike traffic by Wednesday, Dec. 31 — see the full update.
Feel Good
While scrolling on Instagram, we got reminded of this sweet moment in UTK football history. Anyone else remember when a 9-year-old Floridian’s homemade merch became reality in 2019? With a full ride set aside for him, we hope to see him in the class of 2032.
Sports
The Titans will go head-to-head with the Rams on Sunday, Sept. 14 in the Week Two matchup. Hear from the local experts on the Tennessee Titans with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Jobs
Need to hire? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re staffing up for the season or filling a key full-time role, our Job Board is your one-stop hiring solution. Post your open positions for free and start connecting with qualified candidates.
Try This
Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
There’s nothing that can stop Knoxville from becoming popu-lar... we mean, Wicked Cool when this annual downtown celebration returns on Monday, Oct. 6.
Just picture it: Ghoulish decorations, alcoholic potions, costume contests, scavenger hunts, and more as the city turns into its own Halloweentown.
While we await the tricks and treats — check out last year’s Wicked Cool.
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.
Fall is entering the chat. I’ve got some seasonal fun brewing for you all in the next coming editions, so stay tuned. In the meantime, feel free to hit our line with your favorite things to do this time of year in Knoxville. You just might get featured.
