Fireworks, a salute to heroes, a pickleball social, Maryville junction overhaul, and more. 
Happy Fourth of July, Knoxville. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Knoxville Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead:
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Firework shows 🎆
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Maryville junction 🚧
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Intro to genealogy 👪️
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Things to do 📆
Let’s get to it.
📰 In the news
Church secures prime lot: St. John’s Episcopal Church bought the downtown parking lot once set to become a new hotel for $10.65 million to add much-needed accessible spaces — read more.
Maryville junction overhaul underway: The Cochran and Raulston intersection has been closed since June 23rd for realignment and a new traffic signal, with the shutdown expected through July 21st — get the full details.
Black-owned business rise: WBIR covered the struggles and successes of Knoxville’s more than 200 Black entrepreneurs, from Billie Rae’s BBQ’s debut in April to the launch of a citywide Black Business Directory — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The average driver pays $175 a month on car insurance, but most of us are paying way too much. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us” — this comparison tool can save you hundreds.
Highlights this week
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Investigators probe Green County toxic leak
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President greenlights Tennessee FEMA aid
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Socialize and play pickleball at Open Play
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Attend a free ESL class tomorrow morning
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Shop fresh produce at Sunday’s Farmers Market
🫶 We got your back
Crunch time: When your stomach starts growling for something crispy, herby, and downright irresistible, KoPita whips up golden falafel that’ll have you reaching for extra tahini—and maybe a second pita—faster than you can say “chickpea bliss.”
Frankly fantastical franks: When you need a quick bite that packs a punch, Curious Dog Hotdogs & Sandwiches is the reigning champ of mustard, relish, and risk-it-all topping combos. Think loaded chili-cheese dogs with a dash of sriracha and pickled jalapeños—because sometimes comfort food needs a kick.
Up, up, and away: The Balloon Garden has everything you need to keep your celebration floating high. From jumbo latex and foil balloons to streamers, plates, napkins, and even those sneaky confetti poppers, they’ve got the basics (and the bounce) to make any party pop.
Energy efficiency on a budget: New windows and doors may not seem glamorous, but they can deliver real savings — windows can reduce utility bills by 7-15% and doors by up to 35%. To sweeten the savings, Renewal by Andersen is offering $400 off per window and $850 off per door right now.
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📆 Knoxville happenings
All events are subject to change without notice. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
💪 FiA Convergence @ The Bluff | Friday (7/4) at 8 am – Kick off the Fourth with a full-body blast at FiA Convergence’s free community workout at The Bluff. Grab your mat, don your red, white, and blue, and sweat it out with fellow fitness buffs in a patriotic powerhouse session!
🏓 4th of July Open Play Social @ Premier Pickleball Club | Friday (7/4) at 9 am – Serve up some red, white, and blue at Premier Pickleball Club’s Open Play Social this July 4th. Breakfast’s on the house, courts are hot, and spots fill fast – lock in your place now for a morning of fun and fierce rallies!
🎆 Fourth of July on Mabry’s Hill @ Mabry-Hazen House | Friday (7/4) at 5 pm – Step back into a 19th-century Independence Day complete with sack races, watermelon-seed spitting, and a dramatic Declaration of Independence reading. With a birds-eye view of Knoxville’s fireworks and a historic house tour thrown in the mix, you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled—minus the questionable attire. Don’t snooze on cake-walk tickets or you might miss your chance to nab a locally baked prize. Pre-sale is the name of the game, but a limited door list is your safety net if you’re feeling lucky.
This weekend
🦉 Paint & Plant with an Owl @ Ijams Nature Visitor Center | Saturday (7/5) at 10 am – Meet Stevie, the Eastern Screech Owl, then let your inner artist loose as you paint a bespoke owl planter and pot a live plant right in class. All supplies and plant buddies are included, making this workshop a hoot for crafters of any skill level (just don’t wing it—spots are limited to 30).
📜 Workshop: Beginning Genealogy @ East Tennessee History Center | Saturday (7/5) at 1 pm – Dive into your family’s backstory with expert tips from Ann Blomquist, editor of Tennessee Ancestors. This interactive session unpacks charts, free research sites, and handy forms so you can start piecing together your ancestry puzzle. Pre-register to secure your spot and kick off a captivating journey through time. Who knows what hidden chapters you’ll unearth?
🎖️ A Salute to Heroes @ Covenant Health Park | Saturday (7/5) at 5 pm – Kick off your summer with a grand slam of gratitude! This family-friendly bash combines ballgame perks and Jeep-fan extras, from snow cones to a parade lap on the field. Choose your hero package for shirts, decals, game value, and even VIP Jeep parking. Whether you’re here for the game or the gleaming rigs, it’s all revs and fun under the Tennessee sun.
🎵 Road to Sound Haven w/ Steller @ Barrelhouse | Saturday (7/5) at 10 pm – Bass heads, unite! Steller, Section!, Spectruum, and Cat Mane will shred the night backed by Funktion-One sound courtesy of Soundsystem Cultures LLC. Expect earth-shaking drops, slick grooves, and enough sub-bass to rattle your soul. Tickets are live, so snag yours before the encore.
🔮 Awakened Soul’s Mystical Market @ Awakened Soul Spiritual Shop | Sunday (7/6) at 12 pm – Step into a realm of handcrafted magic and soulful vibes at this community bazaar. Browse artisan stalls, indulge in energy healings, and fuel your adventure with tasty treats from local food trucks. Bring your whole crew—furry friends included—for a day of crystal-powered connection and good-vibe shopping.
🎲 Beefy’s Big Battlegame Day @ John Bynon Park | Sunday (7/6) at 2 pm – After one ill-advised espresso-chocolate binge, Beef Harrington cooked up 147 wild battlegame concepts—now you get the top dozen! Head to Radiant Valley Beefy this first Sunday for a riotous afternoon of rules-bending, brain-teasing fun. Come for the chaos, stay for the bragging rights.
🎶 Live music & entertainment
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7/4 Pulp Friction @ Kerns Food Hall – 3 pm
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7/4 Psyclops and more @ Birdhouse Neighborhood Center – 6 pm
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7/4 Dave Slack and Friends @ Union Station Rocky Hill – 6 pm
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7/4 Dynamic Panic Band @ The Pirate Tavern – 9 pm
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7/5 Scruffy City Soul Machine @ Bucket Head Tavern – 8 pm
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7/5 Fountain City Ramblers @ Boyd’s Jig & Reel – 9 pm
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7/5 Steller and more @ Barrelhouse – 10 pm
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7/6 Singo Time Tonight @ Marble City Pub – 7 pm
🏠️ Price Is Right – Knoxville edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
*This️ 👇️ could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Robert Threlkeld & Hayley Relford (Keller Williams Signature)
Stephen Fuller’s River Sound stunner rocks an 18-foot cathedral ceiling and not one but two fireplaces: a stacked-stone wood-burner in the grand room and a gas-charmer in the primary suite. French doors spill onto an 800-square-foot playground, while the kitchen flaunts double ovens, a gas cooktop and Jerusalem stone backsplash.
Panoramic lake vistas flood wall-to-wall windows before a spin downstairs to a California slate basement sporting its own Bosch-and-Dacor–powered kitchen and another stone hearth perfect for s’mores. Outside, .77 acres of refreshed landscaping kiss the water’s edge, backed by smart-home perks, radon mitigation and a three-car epoxy garage.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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