Over 25 countries will be represented at the festival. | Photo via Knoxville International Food Festival
We hope you’re hungry, the 21st annual International Food Festival is returning to the World’s Fair Park Festival Lawn on Sunday, Sept. 21 from 12 to 8 p.m.
The event will feature vendors representing 25+ countries with food and drink offerings — but there’s more on the menu. The family-friendly festival will celebrate culture and community with stage performances, henna artists, crafts, and bounce houses.
Entry to the event is free, but all food will need to be purchased.
Events
Events
Monday, September 15
Museum Mondays: “Discovery Boxes” | 3-4 p.m. | Halls Branch Library | Free | Explore nine boxes of artifacts and learn about the people who lived in the “frontier” era.
Run Club | 6 p.m. | Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus | Free | Lace up your sneakers and join this group for an all-levels run, then stick around to grab a drink.
Tuesday, September 16
865 Fest | 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. | Bridgewater Place | $82 | Get entrepreneurial inspiration at this day-long event with pitches, competitions, speakers, and breakout sessions.
Concerts on the Square: Jazz Tuesdays | 7 p.m. | Market Square | Free | Head outside for a night of music — this week’s show features the Larry Vincent Quartet.
Pollinator Positives | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Bearden Branch Library | Free | Learn about pollinators as entomologist Nick Oldham discusses insects like bees + butterflies.
Wednesday, September 17
What is Tea? | 6-8 p.m. | The Kraken’s Cup Tearoom | $35+ | Journey through six types of tea at this tea-tasting workshop, then bring home a sample of your favorite.
Leo Kottke | 7:30 p.m. | Bijou Theatre | $53+ | The acoustic guitarist performs music from his career that spans over five decades.
Goodbye Knox Brew Hub, hello Fred’s Around the Corner. The restaurant + bar revealed its new name and logo, a decision it made after Knox Brew Tours closed last year. The local business has been closed for renovations, but it plans to reopen soon with its new branding.
Biz
The Knoxville Smokies wrapped up their inaugural season at their new home, Covenant Health Park. WBIR reporter Lauren Davis spoke with local business owners about the challenges and benefits of having the new ballpark close to downtown. (WBIR)
Mansion Monday
This Bridgemore home boasts six bathrooms, four bedrooms, and two covered porches. The house has ample windows for plenty of natural light, but nothing dazzles more than the views of the Cumberland Mountains — though the chandelier in the living room comes close.
Plan Ahead
Swifties, get ready to dance for your favorite showgirl. LunaVerse Knoxville will host “The Party of a Showgirl” on Saturday, Oct. 11, celebrating Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” The dance party will play the entire album along with Swift’s hits and deep cuts.
Seasonal
Knoxville’s peak fall foliage will likely fall around Monday, Oct. 20. That is, according to this interactive map, which also comes with a handy tool to report foliage colors to make future predictions more accurate. You’ve still got time to explore our parks and find where you want to see the leaves turn. (Smoky Mountains)
Watch
The destination is set for “The White Lotus” Season 4, and it’s looking very French. Filming hasn’t started yet, so there’s plenty of time to learn the language with the help of a tutor — or, you could start planning your watch party meals with Tous Les Jours. (Deadline)
Number
$185.24. That’s the average cost of a tailgate experience at a Tennessee Titans game, according to Oddspedia. To find this price tag, the study conducted a tailgating play-by-play, including the costs of parking at Nissan Stadium and food + drinks for four people.
Eat
Move over, Thin Mints, we’re saving our money for boxes of Exploremores — Girl Scouts of the USA’s newest cookie. The rocky road ice cream-inspired sandwich cookie will debut in 2026. Sign up to be the first to know when they hit the market in the Scruffy City.
Edu
This week only, you can apply to UT Chattanooga for free. All prospective undergraduate, transfer, and graduate students are welcome to skip the application fee with code FREEAPP26 through Saturday, Sept. 20.*
Travel
Alabama’s Beaches aren’t just about the waves: Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, catch a show at The Wharf, or dive into family fun at Adventure Island. Plan a fall trip to explore attractions that make your beach trip special.*
Job
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.
Seasonal
Got something big happening this fall? From new menus to limited-time promos, make sure your message lands in front of our 12,000+ highly engaged local subscribers. Get started on our business promo portal with zero long-term contract.
Sports
Breakdown the Vols’ performance in Saturday’s game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Hear from the local experts on the Tennessee Volunteers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Announced
Spotlight on Heidi S. the official winner of our Tix for Two Giveaway in partnership with the Tennessee Theatre. Enjoy two unforgettable September shows.*
Give back to get back. | Photo by Seven Islands State Birding Park
Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are many great causes in Knoxville you can support with your time. If you need help getting started, explore these opportunities. Muse Knoxville | Spread the love of STEM by lending a hand at Knoxville’s children’s science museum. Second Harvest Food Bank | Feed fellow Tennesseans with Tuesday through Saturday shifts. Work includes sorting donated items, packing food boxes, staffing Mobile Pantries, and facilitating special events.
Young-Williams Animal Center | Playing with puppies is part of the job. Volunteers help with everything from daily walks and dog care to adoption photography and vet clinics.
Zoo Knoxville | Keep the Scruffy City wild with its adult program that starts volunteers as zoo ambassadors and works them up to tasks like keeper.
Knox County Parks & Rec | Our local trail systems are in search of friendly faces willing to educate on etiquette and assist with first aid and navigation needs.
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.
I admit, I love shopping at Trader Joe’s, especially during this time of year. I’ve tried the Pumpkin Tortilla Chips, which was an unusual combo, but unexpectedly delicious. I recommend trying them if you see them while browsing the Kingston Pike store.
