Free events in Oak Ridge, TN

Help maintain the trails at Haw Ridge Park during a CVTA work day focused on hands-on projects. Organizers will have tasks planned and will provide the necessary tools. Lunch and beverages will be available. Participants should bring water, gloves, and sturdy shoes, and are welcome to invite a friend. The meeting location is CVTA HQ at Haw Ridge Park, past the Dirt Lab at the east end of the park.

A free, guided hike sets off from the UT Arboretum Visitors Center in Oak Ridge, led by UT Arboretum Society volunteers. This outing offers an introduction to the arboretum trails and welcomes family and friends, though pets should stay at home. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and, if preferred, use hiking poles. No registration is required.

The Spice & Tea Exchange marks the festival’s second weekend with a cozy comfort foods tasting that highlights fall flavors. Sample Matanzas Chili Bites alongside Bananas Foster Tea, with complimentary tastings available while supplies last. Pick up free recipe cards and learn how to make Matanzas chili at home. During the event, shoppers who purchase three featured spice blends receive a 15 percent discount.

At Knoxville Expo Center, the Knoxville Home & Garden Show brings together trusted local and regional vendors to share fresh ideas, expert guidance, and budget friendly upgrades for your living space. Explore options for windows, roofing, kitchens, hot tubs, décor, and more, all in one place with special show pricing available. Get practical tips to plan a renovation or upgrade with confidence, and enter drawings for door prizes at the entrance and with participating exhibitors. Admission and parking are free.

Monsterfest is a free celebration designed for kids across age groups. Guests can explore an immersive Wonderland with Alice and the Mad Hatter, enjoy trick or treating inside the theater, and watch performances by Creative Edge dance studio. The event takes place alongside Pumpkinfest activities throughout the Grove Shopping Center.

Saturday sessions at Good Times GameHouse bring together the Knoxville Board Game Club for open play and discovery. Participants can bring favorite games to teach, choose from the in-store demo selection, or join tables already in progress. The first visit is free. After that, a $5 entry is credited back as $5 in store credit each week, which can be used for drinks, refreshments, board games, and other items or saved for later. The club values positivity and friendly, respectful gaming, and it also meets on Wednesdays.

This neighborhood haunt takes place at a private residence with no entry fee. Donations supporting a local animal shelter are welcome, such as pet food, blankets, and other useful items. Plans include meeting at Aubrey’s in Oak Ridge beforehand, followed by a short drive to the haunt.

Hosted at the Knoxville Expo Center, the Knoxville Home & Garden Show brings together local and regional vendors offering ideas, guidance, and savings for home improvement. Explore windows, roofing, kitchens, hot tubs, décor, and more in one convenient location, and get practical tips to plan a renovation, upgrade, or first project with confidence. Look for special pricing available only at the show and enter door prize drawings at the entrance and with participating exhibitors. Admission and parking are free.

Can You Dig It? brings an annual International Archaeology Day celebration to the McClung Museum with a free, family-friendly program led by professional archaeologists from the University of Tennessee. Hands-on stations invite participants to explore the past and present with guidance from archaeologists, UT faculty, and graduate students. Activities include pottery crafts, mini lab investigations, an onsite excavation, and other interactive experiences designed for families. Support for this program is provided by Home Federal Bank and the UT Core Facilities and Department of Anthropology. Funding for the museum’s educational programming is provided by the Knox County Tourism Consortium. Free parking is available in lots G9 and S30. Additional pay-by-hour parking is available through the ParkMobile app, and a map can be found on the event’s Eventbrite page.

At Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum, Carly Jones and Blake Stannard lead an all-levels acro yoga class with guidance tailored to each participant. Beginners can learn foundational skills, returning students can reinforce core techniques, and experienced movers can explore more advanced options. The focus is on building strength, trust, and coordination. After the guided portion, there is a two-hour open jam for practice, connection, and play. The class is donation based. No prior experience or partner is required. Please bring water and something for the ground such as a mat, towel, or blanket.

Play Commander with free entry. Participation requires the MTG Companion App for registration. Games will be organized in pods of three to four players, and one promo pack will be awarded at random within each pod.

Riverfront Park in Harriman becomes a haunted drive-through, turning a simple ride into a chilling journey filled with scares, screams, and eerie sights. This vehicle-only experience keeps participants in their cars along a set course with a single entrance and no chance to turn around. Admission is free for anyone looking for Halloween thrills at this one-night event.

The Great American Roadshow arrives in Oak Ridge with a free, five day buying event for anyone curious about the value of items they no longer use. Buyers are seeking gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, rare coins and collections, gold and silver coins and paper currency, watches, sports memorabilia, and a range of antiques and collectibles. Complimentary evaluations are offered, immediate offers are made, and there is no obligation to sell. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment is required.

This free weekly program for preschoolers blends story time, nature discovery, hands-on gardening and simple crafts to nurture young gardeners and their caregivers. Children can dig in the soil, plant seeds, water and harvest while enjoying age-friendly stories and creative activities. Although designed with preschoolers in mind, participants of all ages, from babies to grandparents, are welcome. Activities begin in the Every Child Outdoors ECO Garden.

Take part in a free educational lunch focused on Tennessee energy workers. Those who worked at Y-12, K-25, X-10, or ORNL are the primary audience. Capacity is limited, and participants are asked to RSVP for only one event per month by calling 865-328-3868 or 423-251-1747.

Bingo returns to Kern’s Food Hall with BeLocal Bingo. It is free to attend and free to play, welcoming first timers as well as regulars. Enjoy a fun night of bingo with food, drinks, and prizes.

Pause the day with a quiet session of mindfulness and guided meditation at the McClung Museum. This free program welcomes newcomers and long-time practitioners alike. It begins with a brief introduction to mindfulness, then moves into a led practice that supports concentration and helps ease everyday stress. Chairs are available, and participants are welcome to bring a cushion, mat, or blanket for added comfort. Offered on alternating Wednesdays, the program is presented by Kenton Yeager and the University of Tennessee Mindfulness and Meditation Club. The student organization fosters mindful living through awareness and meditation and aims to equip people with tools to build a personal practice. Kenton Yeager is a certified advanced practice meditation teacher with the American Meditation Society, where he has also served as president and directed teacher training. He is Professor Emeritus in UT’s Department of Theatre and formerly led the Theatrical Lighting Design Program. His university teaching has included meditation for academic success, techniques for unlocking creativity through meditation and visualization, and understanding anger and fear. He chaired the university’s Mindfulness Community of Scholars, advised the Mindfulness and Meditation Club, and has taught workshops nationwide at major conferences and events. His background spans more than 45 years of meditation, visualization, mindfulness, martial arts, and eastern philosophy. Educational programming at the McClung Museum is supported by the Knox County Tourism Consortium.

A free dance practice at Dancer's Studio centers on the Thriller routine. The choreography is derived from Michael Peters' original, and Thrill the World Knoxville dancers work on a modified version during the session.

This event offers free, casual Commander play. The MTG Companion App is required. Games are played in pods of three to four players. A special table rule applies... five full turn cycles must be completed before any player can be eliminated, lands can be destroyed, or a win can be claimed. Prize support includes one Promo Pack awarded at random to a player in the pod.

Celebrate the season with an evening of trick-or-treating, games, music, and fall-themed activities. The event features trick-or-treat stations, vendors, a costume contest, and plenty of music. Attendees may come dressed as superheroes, princesses, pirates, or other spooky favorites. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.