Here’s what’s happening around East Tennessee today, along with helpful community resources and interesting things to discover beyond our backyard.
Wednesday Wonder:
Sometimes the places we pass every day hold the stories worth discovering most. What piece of local history have you never stopped to explore?
Today’s Highlights
- Bistro at the Bijou: live jazz 7-9 p.m. and a wide variety of cocktail choices. Bistro at the Bijou: Live Jazz
- Hear a Songwriter Night: Join every Wednesday at 7 p.m. for an acoustic-based Singer-Songwriter Open Mic. Sign-up begins at 6 pm, and there is room for 20 performers per night. Boyd’s Jig & Reel: Hear Here Songwriter Night.
- Market Square Farmers Market – 10 a.m.–1 p.m. in Market Square. Shop fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, local foods, and handcrafted items from East Tennessee vendors
- Preschool Storytime — 11-11:30 a.m., North Knoxville Branch Library, 2901 Ocoee Trail. For babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
- Marble Springs State Historic Site on Friday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m. for the first lecture in the Historic House Museums of Knoxville’s America 250 lecture Series. This free public program commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States by exploring the people and events that shaped our nation’s early history.
Featured Resource
Knoxville Museum of Art: The Knoxville Museum of Art celebrates East Tennessee’s rich, diverse visual culture and its connections to the wider currents of world art. Knoxville Museum of Art
Community Calendar
Looking for more to do? Here are upcoming events and activities across East Tennessee.
Ijams Nature Center: Ijams offers programs, activities, and events for all ages on a weekly basis, and almost every day. Check their Calendar of Events here.
KCS Calendar: Stay informed with Knox County Schools calendar here.
Knoxville Public Library often has weekly story times, LEGO clubs, craft sessions, and teen gaming nights. Check their weekly calendar: Knox County Public Library.
Muse Knoxville is an interactive children’s museum with daily sessions: Muse Knoxville
Outdoor Knoxville: A calendar produced by Legacy Parks Foundation has a comprehensive list of upcoming local outdoor events. Find it here.
Tennessee Theatre features a diverse mix of Broadway productions, classic films, and live concerts at the historic venue in Knoxville: Tennessee Theatre Calendar.
Visit Knoxville published 2026 Guide: The free 2026 Official Knoxville Visitors Guide is now available: Visitors Guide.
Zoo Knoxville is open daily; special feeds/talks may have times posted onsite: Zoo Knoxville
Helpful Community Links
Local news: Follow breaking news, weather, and community updates from WBIR, WATE, and WVLT.
Knoxville/Knox County Planning Commission: The Planning Commission meets the second Thursday of each month. Find agenda, minutes, and information here.
KUB Construction: Traffic advisories and construction-related impacts are communicated primarily through the online construction map .
Mayor’s Kickin’ It with Kincannon: City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon shares a monthly podcast Kickin’ It with Kincannon.
Mayor Glenn Jacobs weekly podcast: Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs provides a weekly podcast.
Weather: The latest weather forecasts from WBIR Weather.
Across Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains Travel: Keep up to date on the TN/NC park Basic Information, Visitor Centers, Park Closures and Alerts, Parking Tags, Camping, Hiking, and general Visit Planning, all here.
TN Government meetings: Follow the latest here.
Tennessee Entertainment for All: The TN Vacation website links visitors to any region of Tennessee, featuring up-to-date venues and performances for all ages and preferences.
Tennessee State Parks lead us to the adventures of a lifetime: Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee Travel Information: As you make travel plans, get information on all travel issues across Tennessee, here.
Across America
National Wellness Month — Use August as a reminder to make room for healthy routines, rest, movement, and everyday habits that support well-being.
National: Latest U.S. headlines at Google News US.
Congress: See this week’s meetings in Weekly Review
Entertainment: Latest in Movies, Music, TV, Books, Arts, Design, Celebrities at Google Entertainment.
Science: Latest in Environment, Space, Physics, Genetics, and Wildlife, at Google Science.
Sports: Latest in NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, Soccer, NASCAR, & more sports at Google Sports.
Stocks: Follow the stock market: Market Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court: Follow the decisions of the top court here
Around the World
World: Latest World headlines at Google News World.
United Nations: Latest UN News.
Today in History
- 1909 – The first automobile race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5 carrying dogs Belka and Strelka, which later returned safely to Earth.
Tennessee Trivia
Did you know? The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville is one of the few U.S. state capitols without a dome.
😊 Today’s Smile
My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch… I call it lunch.
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