New theater and symphony seasons spotlighting Austen and Puccini, intermediate genealogy workshop, back to school party, and more. 
Happy Friday, 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.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: New theater and symphony seasons spotlighting Austen and Puccini, a 22 million dollar church conversion into an event hall, and new citizens sworn in — catch up here.
State-level stories: Law school applications in Tennessee skyrocket, MLB is drawing record crowds at Bristol Motor Speedway, and Elon Musk’s electric tunnel could reshape Nashville travel — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Study finds adults inhale thousands of plastic fragments daily, many hearts age faster than their owners, and Ford recalls F-150 hybrids without seatbelt chime — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Learn Medicare essentials for aging adults
- Shop local farm goods downtown Saturdays
- Savor locally grown dishes supporting Nourish Knoxville
- Explore Great Smoky Mountains with Jeremy Lloyd
- Unlock dozens of travel deals with AARP
🫶 We got your back
Stalls: When tomato vines stage a backyard coup and humidity feels like a sauna, nothing beats a morning stroll among open-air stalls. Snag these farm-fresh finds at Knoxville’s markets and score a win for your tote.
Harvest: October’s crisp air practically begs you to grab a haul of winter squash and then forget half of it on your counter. This produce guide keeps your kitchen clutter-free and dinners fresh.
Reads: The smell of paper, the thrill of cracking open a new story, and the chance to accidentally spend two hours debating which cover looks cooler, Fable Hollow Coffee and Bookshoppe is basically a playground for bookworms (minus the monkey bars, plus way more coffee).
Health: Forget outdated weight loss fads and gimmicks. Modern science has changed the game. GLP-1 medications (like the ones behind today’s most talked-about treatments) are helping people manage weight in a safer, more sustainable way. Check out your options today.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
🎪 Virginia Highlands Festival | Friday (8/1) at 8:00am – Weekend strolls are for discovering hand-crafted pottery, bartered antiques, and more local snacks than your diet bargained for. The 76th Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon is like your favorite yard sale with a master’s in charm, complete with vendors who sell quilts and punchlines.
🎸 Fleatwood Mac – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ The Open Chord | Friday (8/1) at 8:00pm – Fleatwood Mac is invading the stage with Stevie Nicks hair flips and Lindsey Buckingham grooves, minus the decades-long drama. Tickets run $30 advance, $35 at the door, VIP seats if you’d rather skip the crowd, plus a full kitchen menu to fuel the night.
This weekend
🏢 Lyons & Co. @ WDVX | Saturday (8/2) at 10:30am – Think you’ve heard every WDVX Blue Plate Special? Lyons and co-pilot Claire Kibodeaux prove less is more with a stripped down, two-person acoustic set that feels like a front-porch jam session. Authentic, warm, and perfect for sipping something local and strong.
🌳 Workshop: Intermediate Genealogy @ East Tennessee Historical Society | Saturday (8/2) at 1:00pm – Think your half-finished family tree is a mystery? Ann Blomquist will show seasoned sleuths how to wrangle census data, pry open primary sources, and finally fill in those stubborn blanks. Bring your research homework, a healthy dose of curiosity, and preregister online.
🌿 DIY Henna Temporary Tattoos @ Powell Branch Library | Saturday (8/2) at 2:00pm – Nothing says low-key Independence Day like scoring a DIY henna kit from the library’s online collection while the doors are locked. You’ll find step-by-step guides, design ideas, and zero-commitment body art, perfect for those of us who prefer flimsy fireworks to the real thing.
🐶 Rottweiler Meet Up @ The Bark | Sunday (8/3) at 12:00pm – Rottie parents, it’s time to let those grumbles loose! Bring your pup to The Bark for a discounted dog park playdate—half-off entry for all rottweilers during the meet-up window. It’s tails, sniff circles, and big goofy smiles all around.
🎤 Meet Loaf – The Ultimate Meat Loaf Tribute @ The Open Chord | Sunday (8/3) at 8:00pm – Meet Loaf brings a spot-on Meat Loaf tribute to town, blasting Jim Steinman’s greatest anthems with enough theatrical flair to make your couch-pleather jacket jealous. Expect operatic vocals, epic singalongs, and a battle cry of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”
Next week
🎒 Back to School Party @ Norwood Branch Library | Monday (8/4) at 2:00pm – Whenever you realize summer’s slipping away and the neighbor kids are bouncing off the walls, head to the Back to School Party for outdoor songs, stories, sidewalk chalk, and bubble-blowing mayhem. Trust me, dancing your cares away never felt so adorably chaotic.
📚 Farragut Book Club @ Farragut Branch Library | Monday (8/4) at 6:00pm – Think you can resist free snacks and a murder mystery spun into a history lesson? Join us for Devil in the White City, munch on cheese and cookies, then swap hot takes on charlatans, architects, and ‘funfair’ with locals who actually read.
🎨 Big Fun Tuesday: Tie Dye and Trivia Party @ Mead’s Quarry | Tuesday (8/5) at 6:00pm – Think you can multitask between dyeing shirts and decoding bird calls? Mosey down to Mead’s Quarry for a BYO-shirt tie dye session, kayak rentals, and family-friendly Nature Nerd trivia, then refuel at the food truck and beer garden. Fresh air never felt this fun.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/1 Augustana @ Barley’s – 9 pm
- 8/1 Fleatwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac tribute) @ Open Chord – 8 pm
- 8/1 Thor & The Reigns @ Brackins Blues Club – 9 pm
- 8/2 Watchers @ Old City Performing Arts Center – 2:30 pm
- 8/2 Flying High Again (Ozzy tribute) @ Open Chord – 8 pm
- 8/2 William Wild @ Pilot Light – 8 pm
- 8/3 Sunday Blues Cruise @ Tennessee Riverboat – 4 pm
- 8/5 The Glenn Miller Orchestra @ Bijou Theatre – 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).
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Orel Brodt (Alliance Sotheby’s International)
A rare free-standing heritage building in the heart of downtown Knoxville, this historic charmer flexes as one grand home or three luxe residences, each with private elevator access. Every floor serves up its own 2-bed, 2-bath apartment with open-concept living, custom closets, and kitchens made for both midnight snacks and dinner parties. Sunlight pours through more than 15 windows per unit, dialing up the warmth and character.
Steps from Knoxville’s business core, cultural hotspots, and the city’s best eats, this address keeps you plugged into the action. Seller financing sweetens the deal for those who like their history with a side of flexibility.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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