Here’s what’s happening around East Tennessee today, along with helpful community resources and interesting things to discover beyond our backyard.
Motivation Monday
Start the week with purpose: Do one thing today that will make tomorrow a little easier.
Highlights
- WDVX Blue Plate Special: Dan Raza / Sam Mooney — Noon-1 p.m., Visit Knoxville Visitors Center, 301 S. Gay St. Free live music from WDVX.
- Preschool Storytime — 10:30-11 a.m., South Knoxville and Farragut branches of the Knox County Public Library. Stories and activities designed to build early literacy skills.
- Mahjong Meetup — 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library. Adults can join weekly social mahjong play; newcomers are welcome to observe and learn.
- Trivia Night — ’90s Edition! — 6-7:30 p.m., Cedar Bluff Branch Library. A special trivia event open to elementary-age participants, teens, and adults.
Featured Resource
East Tennessee History Center and Museum: Discover the stories behind East Tennessee’s past through engaging exhibits, genealogy resources, and interactive experiences at the East Tennessee History Center: East Tennessee History Center and Museum.
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.
- 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.
- 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
Stay informed throughout the day:
- WBIR
- WATE
- WVLT.
- KCS Calendar: Stay informed with Knox County Schools calendar here.
- 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 Glenn Jacobs weekly podcast: Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs provides a weekly podcast.
- Mayor’s Kickin’ It with Kincannon: City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon shares a monthly podcast Kickin’ It with Kincannon
- 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.
- 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 Government meetings: Follow the latest here.
- 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
- August is National Dog Month: Celebrates the bond between humans and dogs while raising awareness for canine adoption and rescue organizations. National:
- Latest S. headlines at Google News US.
- Congress: 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.
- 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
- 1814 – British forces captured Washington, D.C., and burned several public buildings, including the White House and Capitol.
- 1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the United States.
- 2006 – The International Astronomical Union adopted a definition of a planet that classified Pluto as a dwarf planet.
Tennessee Trivia
Did you know? The Great Smoky Mountains are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world, with rocks in the region dating back hundreds of millions of years.
😊 Today’s Smile
Think nobody cares? Try missing a few payments.
Share an event: Know of a local event or resource we should include in Daily Connections? Email us at news@knoxtntoday.com.
KnoxTNToday Update:
Share your photo in this past Saturday’s Community Snapshot.
Join the conversation in Sunday Conversation.
Our Town. Your News: Subscribe to our free newsletter, and get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place each morning.
