KNOXVILLE FESTIVALS: 8 Festivals to Attend This Spring!

1.) Big Ears Festival (March 27-30)

I’m kicking us off with a DOOZY of a festival, y’all (but also because this list is in chronological order 🤓). Big Ears Festival is one of the most… eccentric events I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. What started as a very unique festival concept by Ashley Capps in 2009 with only a few venues around downtown Knoxville has turned into an internationally known event that Rolling Stone has described as a “listening experience unlike any other in America” and “the most open-minded music gathering in the country”. In the past, Big Ears has featured musical acts like André 3000 (one half of OutKast – but playing the flute), St. Vincent, Béla Fleck, and SO much more.This year will be no different as Big Ears welcomes a diverse lineup including folks like Waxahatchee and Rufus Wainwright and continues this avant-garde tradition of turning our little town into a weird amalgamation of melodious mayhem for a weekend in March.

Now, because of the fact that it is so well known, passes for this year have pretty much all sold out. 😬 But, fear not! Your festie bestie is here with some tips on how you can still go, or at least attend some of the nearly 200 concerts, panel discussions, films, or exhibitions. Currently, 4-Day Film-only passes are still available (as of the time this article was published!) and only $65 and gives you access to all film screenings at downtown Knoxville’s Regal Riviera. If you’re not a cinephile and want the musical experience, Big Ears also offers opportunities to volunteer in exchange for festival passes and being that we are in the Volunteer State, this feels more than appropriate BUT volunteer applications are closed for the 2025 festival. Other *FREE* opportunities include the Wayne White’s exhibit, BIG WORDS, at The Emporium, performances by Dedicated Men Of Zion and the Knoxville Opera’s Gospel Choir, Big Ears Critics’ Picks panel at Visit Knoxville’s Visitor Center, live printmaking at the Red Gallery, laughter meditation workshops at the Knoxville Museum of Art, and much more! 

2.) Ritterfest with Schulz Bräu Brewing (April 11-20)

This next fête is a newer festival to Knoxville and I have to admit I haven’t been yet! Ritterfest (a German’s Knight’s Festival) started in 2023 at Schulz Bräu Brewing and according to their website, they have curated an amazing line-up of events and entertainment for Ritterfest #3 that will include battling knights, medieval merchants, minstrels of music, and more. I really hope the ‘more’ in that description includes giant turkey legs and Meade. I have a feeling this medieval madness is really going to scratch that itch of wanting to go to a renaissance faire and I.cannot.wait. 

Not only will this be a fun time for all, but may I remind you that this is all located in a castle that has one of the best German Biergartens in not only Knoxville, but in the entire South AND it’s dog-friendly AND this event is free?! Prost!

3.) Rossini Festival (April 12-13)

The first time someone asked me if I wanted to go to the Rossini Festival, I was so confused and had so many questions. What do you mean it’s an Opera festival? But then why are there also funnel cakes? Wait, there are also mimes and jousters and belly dancers? (oh my!) Also, WHAT is a Rossini? 

Since then, I’ve learned much more about opera thanks to friends at the Knoxville Opera, WHO Rossini was (The Barber of Seville, anyone?), and have come to embrace the cultural casserole that is the Rossini Festival. Coined as an International Street Fair that celebrates the global impact on the music, food, art, and culture of East Tennessee, my friends and I have ventured out many times over the 20+ years the annual event has been held to enjoy the non-stop entertainment and the multitude of options for munchies. There are four outdoor stages around Market Square showcasing music and dance with opera, classical, jazz, gospel, ballet, modern dance and more and patrons can pick and choose from pizza and popcorn to gyros and jerk chicken. It’s a good time for the whole family!

PRO-TIP: While the festival is free, in years past, guests had to purchase food/alcohol tickets that you then use to buy what you want from vendors which led to a very confusing experience. I think they did away with this system but it’s always good to bring cash just in case!

4.) Dogwood Arts Festival (April 25-27)

Now this festival is just… doggone fun (I’m so sorry but I had to)! Named after the native tree and symbol of Knoxville’s beauty, The Dogwood Arts Festival is an annual celebration of art and culture in East Tennessee that started in 1961 and is nationally recognized as one of the best arts festivals in the country, according to USA Today’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award. OK Dogwood Arts, I see you. Go off, sis. (That is my one and only time I will attempt to use Gen Z slang in this listicle, I promise.) But really, this is a great Knoxville festival as I always end up discovering a new favorite local or regional artist and also get inspired to create my own art (one day I WILL make my own stained glass artwork, y’all!). 

In addition to all the live music, artists, and vendors, if you’re a wannabe maker like me, this year you can also sign up for workshops and demos to pull back the curtain on the makers’ creative process thanks to the new partnership with the Maker City! Tickets are $10 and workshops will include things like learning how to solder, make DIY journals, and linoleum block printmaking while demonstrations will have blacksmiths, woodworking, oil painting and more! Most of the workshops are ages 12+ and tickets are limited so you should probably grab your spot today. And if you are signed up for the Cyanotype Printing workshop… I will see you there 😂

5.) Outlandish Adventure Festival (May 2-3)

This is a brand new ~adventure~ festival that I am SUPER excited about that promises all sorts of shenanigans like Fire Dancers and SUP Sprints and a Climbing Competition and Yoga and a Sunset River Paddle and… a Bike Whip Off?! I don’t even know what that is but I am here for all of this. Outlandish Adventure Festival’s mission is to celebrate Knoxville’s outdoors from trails to rocks to rivers and will take place in various locations at Ijams Nature Center (the quarry, visitor’s center and Ijams crag) in South Knoxville. SoKno is truly the perfect place for this as it has become THE place to go for outdoor activities and nature enthusiasts with Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. From their website, it looks like most of the Outlandish festival events are free to participate in with the exception of a couple things like the SUP Yoga, Guided River Paddles, and Climbing Competition. This is going to be like an outdoorsy playground for adults. Let’s get Outlandish!

6.) Southern Skies Music Festival (May 10)

Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival is set to return to Downtown Knoxville on Saturday, May 10th. This festival has quickly become a staple in Knoxville’s vibrant music scene and you don’t want to sleep on this lineup. The Dirty Guvnah’s curate the artists who are performing and they are truly creating such a ~vibe~. If Southern Skies was a cocktail, it would have a heavy pour of soulful Southern rock, a couple ounces of indie-folk with equal parts bluesy grit and Americana twang, would go down easy and leave you with a warm feeling in your chest.

Speaking of adult libations, make sure to explore the Whiskey Experience. Picture it: sipping a small-batch bourbon while the sun sets over World’s Fair Park and smooth grooves are playing in the background. It doesn’t get better than this, y’all! Regardless of whether you come for the music or the spirits, you are sure to have an epic day.

7.) Children's Festival of Reading (May 17)

Do I know what this festival is? No. Do I plan on attending? Also no. But reading books is cool, kids! 😂Here’s what I do know: The Children’s Festival of Reading is put on by the Knox County Public Library and is a day-long extravaganza at World’s Fair Park that features children’s and young adult authors, story-telling, and much more. I probably would have enjoyed this when I was a youngster with all my Goosebumps books. What a nerd.

8.) Holleroo (May 17)

Last but certainly not least, Holleroo has a special place in my heart, not only because I was one of the Silent Disco DJ’s for the event last year (iconic, I know) but also because I used to live in the Happy Holler and it’s still one of my favorite neighborhoods in Knoxville. The festival returns for a second consecutive year and I cannot tell you how pumped I am. It’s quirky and chaotic in the best way and unlike anything else in town. I mean… this is the only festival in Knoxville that has an adult soap box derby and let me tell you, watching grown adults who are dressed up in costumes fly down Central Street in ridiculous, homemade contraptions is just peak entertainment. This section of Central Street will be closed the entire day for live music and local businesses will be open and ready to serve up your favorite local beers and grub. For more of my musings on this fest, check out my article I wrote for the event last year here. 

So while you may have been to a few of these on this list, maybe you’ll discover a new one or re-discover your love for a fest that has been around for decades! Check out my handy dandy guide below for a quick recap on all the Knoxville Spring festivals and I hope to see you out and about soon!

Cheers!
Nena 

Tips from Your Festie Bestie: 

(with fun rhymes to help you remember!)

⭐️ Don’t player hate, hydrate.
⭐️ The sun can be mean, so wear that sunscreen.
⭐️ You may be a queen, but honey, cash is still king.
⭐️ Be a pro, check the bag policy and parking sitch before you go.
⭐️ The most important one – don’t think twice, just be nice!