So you’ve decided to visit Knoxville Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. Or maybe you are just visiting family who have relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee. Maybe you have just moved to Knoxville yourself. Maybe you live here but haven’t really explored the city.
For those who might want to experience Knoxville, Tennessee and still save their money for Dollywood (less than an hour away in Pigeon Forge), here are some fun, family-friendly and FREE things to do in this modern Appalachian city. These events are all in or close to the downtown area of Knoxville.
Market Square Farmer’s Market Twice a week farmers, artisans, bakers, crafters and gardeners gather at downtown’s historic Market Square to display and sell their wares. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, stop by, browse, have fun and sample some of the delicious goodies offered.
Fountains at World’s Fair Park The World’s Fair Park has interactive fountains and a stories-high geyser for kids of all ages to enjoy on hot days in East Tennessee. You can also take one of three paved, handicapped-accessible walks to enjoy the natural beauty of this park, the lake and the stream.
KMA or Knoxville Museum of Art On Saturdays, the museum is open to the public free of charge. For families with children the Junior League of Knoxville Exploratory Gallery provides children a hands-on opportunity to understand the visual image of different art forms. This includes art-making stations, dress-up area, and a living gallery where children can hang their art-work when they leave.
Movies in Market Square On Friday evenings in the spring and fall, bring a lawn chair or blanket, food and drink and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars. Pre-show entertainment is usually provided.
Sundown in the City For twelve weeks, from April to the end of June, on Thursday evenings, Knoxville offers its premier free outdoor concert series. The weekly event attracts thousands and includes bands such as Little Feat. Blankets, cameras, umbrellas and rain gear are all welcomed since this is a rain or shine event. This is a safe and fun show for entire families! University of Tennessee Gardens Seven days a week, sunrise to sunset, this botanical delight is open free of charge to the public. The gardens are designed to be an outdoor laboratory to evaluate and demonstrate landscape value of native plants. There are plenty of wooden benches, a few wooden swings, water features, shade trees and a beautiful picnic area to enjoy. Ljams Nature Center This 160-acre nature park is free to the public and open daily from 8 am to dusk. Ijams prides itself on educating anyone, especially kids about nature and wildlife. The park includes a walking tour and wildlife photo gallery. Knoxville Trolley Lines This is a free shuttle service between the University of Tennessee and historic downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The red, open-air trolleys are a fun way to tour the city or travel downtown. On weekdays, the lines run every six minutes, so you will never be stranded!
Volunteer Landing It’s along the beautiful Tennessee River and contains a 2-mile river walk. The Landing contains man-made waterfalls and fountains for young and old to enjoy. Keep an eye out for “Secret History” stories and facts about the city that are carved into the paving bricks or the marble slabs in the landscaping. And watch out for the “Windows to the Past”, pictures showing the town and surrounding area back in the days of paddleboats and horse-drawn carriages.
I hope these are enough to get you started enjoying beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee. There are so many more fun things to do and local area attractions to discover when you are here!
