Here’s a closer look at what you can expect from the area’s events:
May 27– June 3: The weekly preview of arts and culture events in the Greater Knoxville area is included in the Arts & Cultural Alliance.
Summer Movie Magic: The Tennessee Theatre’s family-favorite Summer Movie Magic Series returns with three dates and six movies. Representatives are available to share the lineup and how to get tickets
Cultural Festivals reflect the specific cultures and communities they represent.
May 30, 2026 KnoxWalls Murals & Music Festival is Saturday, 12–8 p.m. in Emory Place (North Knoxville). The free festival will feature 10 Tennessee-based muralists competing live throughout the day, with attendees voting to determine which two artists will receive permanent mural commissions in Knoxville. All completed murals will also be auctioned online following the event. Additional highlights include live music, food trucks, local vendors, a collaborative community mural sponsored by POSCA, and Knoxville’s first-ever MuuMuu Contest.
May 30, 2026 Marble City Opera’s Summer Festival begins with a one-woman opera called Josephine by Tom Cipullo inside Historic Grove Theater about the life of Josephine Baker told from her perspective, featuring soprano Manna K. Jones as Josephine. Tickets for the performance are on sale now at MarbleCityOpera.com.
May 30 KnoxWalls Murals & Music Festival: Dogwood Arts brings a new open-air music experience to Emory Place on May 30, 2026, as muralists go head-to-head in an art competition.
Performances combining visual art, music, dance, or theater.
May 15-31, Decoration Day: Poet laureate and playwright, Linda Parsons, will present a world premiere of her play Decoration Day, produced by Theater 23 at Borderland Playhouse, 802 Sevier Ave. The play, set in East Tennessee, was featured in Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights in February. A diamond ring, a name carved into glass, and a cemetery symbolize a family’s struggles and history as they gather to clean their loved ones’ graves on Decoration Day.
May 31: For its final concert of the 2025-26 season in the Cathedral Concert Series, the Amadeus Concert Ensemble presents “Rachmaninoff & Friends.” The concert, under the baton of ACE Artistic Director Brian Salesky, is at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The admission is free with an online reservation.
June 5, 2026 The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present four new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville, opening on Friday, June 5, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Nick Marlow.
June 5th through the 21st: Knoxville Children’s Theatre in partnership with the Clayton Foundation, will present a live production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with showtimes on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. at 747 World’s Fair Park.
June 6 Martinis at the Mansion: Join friends and neighbors for the garden party at Blount Mansion on Saturday, June 6, at 5:30. See Blount Mansion’s website for Information and tickets: Blount Mansion’s Annual Garden Party – Martinis at the Mansion
June & July Outdoor Concert Series: The Downtown Maryville Alliance announces the launch of a free, outdoor concert series coming to the Charles West Amphitheater in Jack Greene Park each Thursday during the months of June and July 2026. This inaugural season will feature an exciting lineup of regional and national talent, bringing live music to downtown Maryville each Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Below are the dates and performers:
- June 4 – The Young Fables
- June 11 – Slap Drago
- June 18 – The Sensational Barnes Brothers
- June 25 – Milk Man & The Big Band
- July 2 – Darrell Scott
- July 9 – Chatham County Line
- July 16 – Cedric Burnside
- July 23 – J & The Causeways
- July 30 – Wyatt Ellis
June 6: Bijou Jubilee on June 6 to feature a folk festival in the theatre and on Gay Street. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20, for the theatre’s largest annual fundraiser, presented by Lawson Family Foundation: Information here
June 6, 2026, Marble City Opera in the Park is a free concert at Lakeshore Park in Knoxville. The event features food trucks and a beautiful concert as a gift to the community.
June 18, 2026 The Tragedy of Carmen is the 90-minute adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen will be presented on June 18 and 20th at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge. Featuring Kathryn Frady, Edward Brennan, Jacquie Reynolds, and Geoffrey Peterson.
Join us each Thursday as we explore exhibitions featuring emerging artists, art walks, and opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture shaping our community. Let’s celebrate the power of art to connect, inspire, and transform our lives.
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