by Emily Stooks | May 1, 2025 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Holidays
Fear not: We will quickly get to all the best deals and parties happening on Cinco de Mayo in Knoxville, Tennessee. But first: If you hang out with New2Knox on any type of regular basis, you probably already know we appreciate a good pun. And a bad pun. Honestly, we love puns of all kinds. With that in mind, it is important to me that you know my maiden name was Finke. Emilie Finke. So while the rest of the world may recognize the holiday called Cinco de Mayo, in my mind it is and always has been lovingly referred to as Finko de Mayo.
See, aren’t you glad we made you read through all that before getting to the main event? 😉
Nooow we are here to share some of the best deals & festivities happening around Knoxville for Cinco de Mayo!🎉 As we learn more, we will share more. (Yes, when it comes to queso, guac, and marg specials, we are suddenly hard-hitting investigative journalists.) Buckle up, babes, it’s bound to be a wild ride!
image from @babaluknox
⭐️ Remember that time the West Town Mall got a restaurant with a rooftop bar? We honestly thought that was a WILD decision 😂 but the tables have turned and we are officially [que]sooo here for it 🙌 Loco Burro is pulling out all the stops for Cinco de Mayo including a DJ, taco-eating contents, donkey riding contests, and mooore!
⭐️ Out in Karns, Creekside Food Truck Park is hosting a Cinco de Drinko Fiesta! Expect pinatas, prizes, giveaways, and moooore.
⭐️ If it’s nice outside, it will be hard to beat the energy of the SoKno Taco patio! They’ve got thematic drinks specials & live music on the docket all weekend!
⭐️ Over on Sevier Ave, SouthSide Garage is servin’ up Cinco specials like $6 margs & $3 Pacifico & Modelo Tallboys (paired with Dia de Food truck?? MMMM perfection).
⭐️ Monterrey Mexican Restaurant does not mess around, people! They know what we’re lookin’ for 😂 Here are the specials they’ll be slingin’ all day on May 5th: 32oz draft beers for $7 | 32oz House Margaritas for $11 | 32oz Texas Margaritas for $13 (consider us former Texans intriiiigued 👀.).
⭐️ Yee-Haw Brewing is throwin’ a “Cerveza Fest” of their own! They’ve got specialty beer releases, drink specials (including $2 off margs 👀), and live music on the docket in their beautiful beer garden all weekend long.
⭐️ First things first, let’s shout out the classics. Soccer Taco, Chivo, Babalu, and the ✨neeewly open✨ Chismoso will all be slingin’ delish margs & tacos to the masses!
⭐️ The Old City bars have gotten together to host a Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl on Saturday, May 4th! Your $10 wristband will get you into all the spots on the crawl and access to a Silent Disco, let’s gooooo 🤩
⭐️ Down in the boujeest basement in Knoxville, The Vault is hosting a “Spirits of Mexico” tasting.
⭐️ And the party doesn’t even have to end on Sunday… on Monday, May 6th, Five Thirty Lounge is hosting a Tequila Tasting on their rooftop!
Like we said, we will update this with more deals & parties & goodies as Sunday gets closer. Let us know if you hear of any not listed here as well! Hope you all enjoy a weekend of good friends, good guac, and good times at good restaurants 💛 Cheers, friends!
Want to make some new friends to enjoy guac & margs with next year?? DISCOVER HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS THROUGH NEW2KNOX HOPS HERE.
by Emily Stooks | Apr 17, 2025 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Holidays, Kids2Knox
It’s Easter in Knoxville, Tennessee! (Well, not just in Knoxville… but that’s obviously what we’re focusing on here… I digress.) Whether you’re lookin’ for brunch, beers, or some services to check out – Knoxville’s got you. Read on to plan the best Easter ever, you cute lil scruffy bunnies!
KNOX EASTER BRUNCH:
We love a holiday that elevates brunch. Independence Day hot dogs are great, but a mimosa and French Toast? Sign us up. If you’re new to Knoxville and Easter brunch at Grandma’s just isn’t going to happen, these local businesses have got👏you👏covered👏
⭐️ Ancient Lore Village in South Knoxville is hosting brunch in their whiiiimsical village on Easter Sunday! They’ve got a brunch buffet & tours all day.
🌟 Ale Rae’s Gastropub will be open for Easter brunch this Sunday from 10AM-2PM! Come for the brunch but stay for the patio because East Tennessee is (*wipes solitary tear from cheek*) beautiful 🥲
⭐️ Want to hop out west for a casual brunch? Spots like Pointb & Plaid Apron & (both) Cazzy’s should have you covered but Penne for Your Thoughts will have a lil Sunday Brunch Market set up to boot 🙌
🌟Finally, if you want to be a fancy little downtown rabbit, Babalu & Cafe 4 will both be open at for brunch! (If you ask us, Babalu’s soft pink aesthetic and $3 mimosas✨ just scream Easter Brunch and Cafe 4’s patio overlooking Market Square is what brunch dreeeeams are made of.) PS. Check out our fave spots for mimosas around town in generaaal right here.
Image by @pilatesjill
KNOX EASTER BEERS:
If you do happen to be at family brunch and end up needing a getaway, the local beer scene has you covered.
⭐️ The last day of Schulz Brau’s Ritterfest is Easter Sunday! Grab a hefeweizen & enjoy this springy ren faire adjacent festival in the biergarten. We honestly couldn’t imagine a better Easter Sunday afternoon 🥲
⭐️ Speaking of streeetching, Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville will also be open on Sunday and hosting yoga at 11AM! If it’s nice, they’ll do it on the rooftop which feels like an Easter miracle 🤩
⭐️ Around the corner, Crafty Bastard Brewery (both locations) will also be open for Easter beers! Fun Fact: I got engaged on Easter Sunday a few years back – a full week earlier than my now-husband (and all my friends) initially planned. Why? Deep talks over beers at Crafty’s sprung the whole thing into action (much to the chagrin of my BFF who was planning to drive into town for the occasion). Not ooonly will they be open – the Emory Place location will also have brunch from St. Lucille’s during the day & live jazz in the evening!
KNOX EASTER BABES:
Easter in Knoxville means Easter Egg Hunts. But if you’ve got littles and are on the hunt for some events you’ll *both* enjoy, look no further, friend.
⭐️ The Smokies have landed back in the Knoxville & are goin’ all out for Easter Sunday! Enjoy the game & then stick around for an Easter Egg Hunt & meeting a celebrity (the Easter bunny 👀).
🌟 In the heart of downtown Knoxville, First Baptist Knoxville is hosting an EGGSTRAVAGANZA in World’s Fair Park on Saturday, April 19th! Enjoy an egg hunt with the kiddos & then take a cutie spring stroll through the cutest scruffy city in the south.
KNOX EASTER SERVICES:
Yes, yes, “Knox Easter Bibles” would be the better alliteration here but in our defense – it doesn’t quite make sense. If you’re looking for a place to celebrate before all the brunches and beer, here are a few fun spots to check out!
⭐️ Conveniently located to all the beer (cheers to the Downtown North neighborhood😂🙌) The Point Church is having an Easter Sunday service at 10:30am! Don’t let the big ole columns fool you – they’re pretty chill.
🌟 Just down the street from your rooftop yoga, City Church in South Knox is celebrating just a hair earlier at 10am! (Both these guys and The Point are serving up Likewise Coffee, just sayin’ 😋)
⭐️ If you’re wanting to hit up the west side, there are pleeeenty of services to pair with your brunch. Fellowship, First Baptist Concord, & City Hills are all scattered around West Knoxville & have multiple times to choose from!
🌟 Faith Promise is the most ginormous one. They have locations all over the city (and a good chunk of services to choose from all weekend) so you should be able to easily find one near your other Easter activities!
⭐️ Finally, just down the street from The Smokies’ Easter Celebrations, Awaken Old City Church is tucked in the back of Awaken Coffee and will be having a service at 11:15am. We assume their caffeination situation is top tier 🙌
Whatever your weekend entails, we hope you have a loooovely local holiday!
by Emily Stooks | Feb 26, 2025 | All Articles, Atlee McSpadden, Food & Drink, Our Writers
by Emily Stooks | Feb 12, 2025 | All Articles, Emilie Stooksbury, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Our Writers
by Emily Stooks | Nov 29, 2024 | All Articles, Downtown, Emilie Stooksbury, Food & Drink, Lifestyle
Do you remember a time not too long ago when the end of patio season meant we had to do the unimaaaginable? (Secretly hoping you just heard that last word in Angelica Hamilton’s voice…) Yes, the end of patio seasons meant we had to eat and drink inside four walls. Ugh. It was a devastating turn of events each and every year. Now, however, these magical things called igloos pop up around patios all around Knoxville, and they let us be cozy, Christmasy, warm (and a little bougie) at our favorite bars and eateries all season long. Without further adoooo, we are here to give youuuu a cluuuue about igloooos in Knoxville, TN!
GET A CLUE ABOUT IGLOOS:
1.) FIVE THIRTY LOUNGE
We’re starting out at the very top, my friends – literally. Five Thirty Lounge is the rooftop bar above the Hyatt Downtown. We love this bar in every single season. but the igloos are definitely the reason for this particular (chilly) season. Five Thirty pulls out all the stops to make it a memorable experience with pillows and throw blankets, a little fireplace, even some Christmas decor placed inside your lil dome oasis. People often gape at $200 spending minimum, but there’s a way to crack the system. PRO-TIP: The igloos seat up to 8 people. Grab your 8 closest buddies (if you need some, just join a New2Knox Hop and we’ll help you find ’em 😉) and each of you will only have to spend ~$25. That’s a drink & a snack. Or you know what, just go on a total splurge date night because it’s Christmas and it’s magical and you’re a GROWN UP. Either way, you’ll want to make a reservation in advance. (PS. Check out other rooftop bars around Knoxville right here!) 
2.) SCHULZ BRAU BREWING CO
Schulz Brau in North Knox is a local holiday favorite for about a million reasons but three of those reasons are definitely the igloos. (Another reason is their Christkindlsmarkt German Christmas Market which we will literally never shut up about because it is the most precious.) These igloos are first come, first serve so grab your dunkel and start eyein’ those bad boys. When one opens up, RUN, DON’T WALK, DON’T STOP & GET $200, JUST MAKE YOUR MOVE. Sorry for yelling – we just don’t want you to miss your opportunity. There are no additional fees – just cozy igloos for you and your pals amongst Christmas cheer & delicious beer. (They also have some lovely fireplaces while you wait for you beer. Check out our other fave patios for fireside hangs here.)
3.) BALTER BEERWORKS
Balter Beerworks has brought back their igloos yet again this year! Balter Beerworks is on the edge of downtown and while their beer is delish, the fooood is what we keep coming back for. These igloos are also first come, first serve with no extra fees or requirements. We, however, do have a requirement – you absolutely must try the hot chicken salad. It is delicious. That is all.
4.) POINT B
Point B has become quite a favorite out in West Knoxville! They’ve got smaller igloos (they’re calling them “domes”) and an absolutely adorable way to enjoy sips & snacks on the patio while staying cozy and warm. You can reserve them or cross your fingers and hope one is available when you come – either way, there are no extra fees or requirements!
That about covers it, friends! If you find out about other spots with igloos around town definitely shoot us a DM on Instagram and tell us alllll about it. We hope you have a cozy, bougie, most wonderful time of the year. DISCOVER 6 COZIEST COFFEE SHOPS IN KNOXVILLE HERE.
