Dogwood Trails in full bloom
Since 1955, Dogwood Arts has brought Knoxville’s favorite springtime tradition to life. What began as a neighborhood beautification effort has grown into a vibrant celebration of East Tennessee’s art, culture and natural beauty.
This April, over 90 miles of historic Dogwood Trails will be open for visitors to explore by car, bike or foot. Open Gardens and Camera Sites will welcome guests daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This year’s Featured Trails highlight three neighborhoods in South Knoxville – Lakemoor Hills, Chapman Highway and Island Home.
New This Year: The Hikes & Blooms series offers guided outdoor experiences led by garden enthusiasts, inviting participants to explore East Tennessee’s diverse ecosystems during peak spring bloom.
Throughout April, hikers can discover native plants, wildflowers, birds, and conservation practices at a variety of scenic locations, including Ijams Nature Center, the UT Arboretum, Racheff House & Gardens and more. Advance registration is required for many hikes, and early sign-up is encouraged as capacity is limited. Register here.
Find trail maps, descriptions, and a list of Open Gardens/Camera Sites online here.
Easter Sunrise at Botanical Garden
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum (KBGA) invites the entire community to its annual Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 5, 2026, from 7-8 a.m. at LeConte Meadow across from the Visitors Center at 2743 Wimpole Avenue.
This tradition brings together friends, families and people of all backgrounds to experience the Easter sunrise over the mountains and hear from a range of spiritual leaders, pastors and musicians. This year’s guest pastor will be Pastor Vincent M. Jones Jr. of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, and the service will be facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Renée Kesler of Beck Cultural Exchange Center.
Parking is available on site and chairs are provided. Guests are encouraged to dress warmly for the early morning air. Coffee and donuts will be served following the service. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Dogwood Center. The event is free and open to all. Info here.
Removal of Coward Mill Dam is underway
The removal of Coward Mill Dam is about 85% complete, according to Charlie Austin of the Beaver Creek Kayak Club. “It’s amazing to see Beaver Creek free flowing again! Stream bank stabilization and reclamation will take place when the dam removal is completed then mother nature will do her thing.
“This is a huge win for the health of the creek and its inhabitants. Thanks to Knox County for making sure Beaver Creek is once again able to flow free and unobstructed.”
Beth Kinnane wrote a wonderful piece about the history of the dam for Knox TN Today here. For interesting Q&A, check the BCKC Facebook page.
Wondering about that River Rescue?
The 37th annual Ijams River Rescue on March 21 brought together 584 volunteers to clean up 39 sites, removing an estimated 34,800 pounds (17.4 tons) of trash from the Tennessee River, creeks, streams and shorelines in Knox, Anderson, Blount and Sevier counties.
Volunteers collected 1,273 bags of trash as well as 114 tires and large items, such as traffic barrels, shopping carts, broken windows and a riding lawnmower. Other finds included 40 feet of barge line, 125 square feet of docking, two toilets, medical equipment, a box of shotgun shells, underwear and a full plate of food that had been abandoned on a bench, Ijams organizers said.
This year’s cleanup surpassed the 2025 Ijams River Rescue, which removed an estimated 17.2 tons of trash, 100 tires and large items from 34 sites in Knox, Anderson, Blount and Loudon counties. Event photos are posted in a Facebook album.
Notes and Quotes
Outdoor Knoxville, a calendar produced by Legacy Parks Foundation, is a comprehensive list of upcoming local outdoor events. Find it here.
South Knoxville Community Cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon. Based at Chapman Square, 4409 Chapman Hwy., Knoxville. Ijams Nature Center is partnering with Keep Knoxville Beautiful (KKB) to remove invasive plant species. Any age volunteer is welcomed. Write or call amanda@keepknoxvillebeautiful.org or 865-521-6957 with questions.
Scottish Festival: Tennessee’s oldest festival celebrating Scots-Irish culture and impact is set for the third weekend of May, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, at the Greater Smokies Event Grounds adjacent to the Blount Partnership Townsend Visitor’s Center, 7930 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend, Tennessee. More here.
Quote: “A single pencil can draw a line 35 miles long, or write around 45,000 words. John Steinbeck started every day with 24 freshly sharpened ones; it’s said that he went through 300 pencils in writing East of Eden (1952), and used 60 a day on The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and Cannery Row (1945).” – Garrison Keillor in the Writer’s Almanac.
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