It’s time to get those dates on your calendars and start making plans!
JUNE
June starts with Rhinestone Fest, which we can’t call Dolly Fest, anymore, but celebrates all things Dolly. The great, annual downtown home tour is back. Brewfest and SoKno Pride, which has exploded in the last couple of years, anchors the second half of the month.
- Rhinestone Fest, Old City, June 6 – 7
- Downtown Home Tour presented by the East Tennessee Historical Society, various locations, June 14
- Brewfest, World’s Fair Park, June 21
- SoKno Pride, Sevier Avenue, June 21
JULY
In July, we slow down a bit and settle into our summer routine of Jazz at the Emporium and the Market Square Farmers’ Market. There are a couple of notable exceptions, with our annual July 4 celebration on the World’s Fair Park and the beginning of the wonderful Knoxville Shakespeare series produced by the Tennessee Stage Company.
- Festival on the Fourth, World’s Fair Park, July 4
- Knoxville Shakespeare, Ijams, July 17 – Aug. 10
August is hot and so are the festivals that month, with a festival nearly every weekend. The Asian Festival has returned to August, as has the Big Kahuna Wing Festival. They are simply too good to miss, so dress lightly and sweat it out!
AUGUST
- Irish Fest on the Hill, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Aug. 9, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- History Hootenanny, East Tennessee History Center and Krutch Park, Aug. 16
- GermanFest, First Lutheran Church, Broadway, August 23
- Asian Festival, World’s Fair Park, Aug. 23 and 24
- Big Kahuna Wing Festival, World’s Fair Park, Aug. 31
While the festivals wind down as we enter a certain sporting season, two major events conclude the year’s festival events:
SEPTEMBER
- Hola Festival, World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn, Sept. 21 – 22
OCTOBER
- Pridefest, Gay Street (parade, 10/4), World’s Fair Park, Oct. 5
NOVEMBER
- Regal Festival of Lights and Lighting of the Christmas Tree, Krutch Park, Nov. 28
DECEMBER
- Christmas Parade on Gay Street, Dec. 5
- New Year’s Eve Celebration, World’s Fair Park, Dec. 31
If I’ve missed something you think I should have included, say so in the comments and at the least you’ll have plugged another event, and maybe I’ll bring it onto the main list. See errors? I’d like to hear about that, as well. Are you tired already? See you at the festivals!