Knoxville Events and Entertainment
Dining
Knoxville has a restaurant to suit everyone’s palate. For a medium-sized city, Knoxville has an extremely high number of restaurants — from Ruth’s Chris to the Butcher Shop Steakhouse, the Baker Peters’ Jazz Club, Calhoun’s on the River, the Copper Celler, and Buddy’s Bar-B-Q — high-end, fast food, vegetarian, or steak house — Knoxville has a restaurant to satisfy your taste buds!
Live Music
Knoxville is a focal point for concerts in East Tennessee. Concerts are held at Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, the Historic Tennessee Theatre, the Bijou Theatre, and at jazz clubs, coffee houses, and country western bars in and around the city. Knoxville’s neighbors — Nashville and Memphis — are two American music Meccas. But many say Knoxville has the most under-rated — and one of the best — live music scenes in the country. The Catalyst, David’s Place, and Cotton Eyed Joe are just a few of the local favorites.
Festivals
Knoxville has numerous festivals every year, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. The longest running annual festival is the Dogwood Arts Festival in April. Other festivals include the Tennessee Valley Fair, GreekFest, the Hola Festival, Country Market, many other arts and crafts festivals, pioneer homecomings, and “Boomsday” with its display of awesome fireworks.
Museums
Museums are an important part of Knoxville’s rich heritage. From Blount Mansion (known as the “birthplace of Tennessee”) to the American Museum of Science and Energy, the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and many, many other superb museums and exhibits, Knoxville’s cultural landscape is truly unique.
Theater
Two of Knoxville’s oldest structures are the Bijou Theatre and the Historic Tennessee Theatre, both located in downtown Knoxville. The Clarence Brown Theatre, a part of The University of Tennessee, is one of the finest theaters in the Southeast. The Carpetbag Theatre is one of the few tenured African-American professional theater companies in the South, while Jubilee Community Arts offers performance series and participatory educational programs throughout the twenty-one counties surrounding Knoxville.
Movies
With over 87 movie theaters in the Knoxville area, movie-goers always have a good selection of movies and locations. The Knoxville News-Sentinel web site provides a weekly update of movie listings, locations, times and movie reviews. Individual movie theater companies also provide web sites with listings.
Shopping
Over 142 shopping centers and malls are located in Knoxville. West Town Mall and Knoxville Center (formerly East Towne Mall) are the two largest shopping malls and have major department stores such as Dillards, J. C. Penney, Sears, Parisian, and Proffitt’s.
Knoxville Zoo
The Knoxville Zoo has been rated as one of the best zoos in America. It is open year round and offers special programs such as Bedtime with the Beasts. Bedtime with the Beasts is where fun and learning come together. The Bedtime with the Beasts program is offered to any organized group of 15 to 30 people ages six and up. Enjoy private tours, activities, and animal encounters. Bring your sleeping bag and spend the night at the Knoxville Zoo! It happens March through November for $30 per person.
The Tennessee Riverboat Company
The Tennessee Riverboat Company offers a sightseeing cruise with a look at original historic sights along the beautiful Tennessee River. A meal and entertainment may be scheduled at an additional cost. Also offered is a deluxe dinner entertainment cruise; a 2 hour cruise featuring delicious Prime Rib, salad, baked potato, vegetables, and a scrumptious dessert. Live entertainment is also provided. Late night cruises and special party cruises are available.