10 About Town: July 26 - July 28
From tasty tomatoes to concerts and plays, check out the buffet of events happening around East Tennessee July 26-28.
Thursday, July 26
Shop for new outfits for the school year at the Jack and Jules Consignment Sale at the Knoxville Expo Center from Thursday to Saturday. A portion of the proceeds on Friday will benefit the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
The world’s a stage, or at least Market Square is, during Tennessee Stage Company’s Shakespeare on the Square. From mid-July to mid-August you can see two of William Shakespeare’s plays performed Thursday through Sunday nights at 7 p.m. in Downtown Knoxville. It doesn’t cost anything to watch, but donations are welcome. This year the group is performing Cymbeline and Henry IV, Part One.
Are you a tomato lover or a corn on the cob fan? New Harvest Park Farmers Market is hosting its third annual Corn and Tomato Festival on Thursday at 4 p.m. Kids can compete to eat corn on the cob in record time at 4, and expert gardeners will be on hand with advice on growing corn and tomatoes at home.
Every Thursday Night, Schulz Brau Brewing Company features a different movie. This Thursday, the feature is “Ready Player One” at 9 p.m. Enjoy free popcorn to go along with your beer and entertainment.
Actors and actresses at Knoxville Children’s Theatre are performing Disney’s Aladdin Jr. this weekend. Tickets are $10 to $12.
The 2018 Scruffy City Film & Music Festival takes place Thursday, July 26 through Sunday, July 29. 40 films will be shown at Scruffy City Hall throughout the weekend, and live music will be performed at several area venues.
Friday, July 27
Help Mission of Hope pack a school bus with back to school supplies during “Mission Pack the Bus” all weekend long. Drop off donations between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the school bus parked at Turkey Creek Guest Services. The event coincides with Tax-Free Weekend.
Jazz up your LinkedIn profile with a new headshot and advice from local professionals on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Regas Building on Gay Street. For more information, click here.
Ijams Nature Center is celebrating national moth week with a “citizen science” event all about the winged insect. Participants will spend the evening attracting, collecting, and identifying moths from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday. Admission is $6.
Ride with a ranger through Oak Ridge to learn about the community’s history on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Rangers will begin at Elza Gate Park with a discussion on the controlled access points to the Clinton Engineer Works.
Visit the farmers market in downtown Morristown on Friday evening for a free outdoor movie featuring “101 Dalmatians.” Bring your own chairs or blankets. The movie starts at dusk.
The Grainger County Tomato Festival is back for another year of maters, music, and the infamous tomato wars. The festival kicks off on Friday at noon and runs all weekend.
Enjoy a night of BBQ, drinks, and live music to support Junior Achievement of East Tennessee on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The blind pig fundraiser is at the Mill & Mine. Tickets are $25 and include food, four drink tickets, and moonshine tasting.
The Tennessee Theatre is playing some of the classics during its Summer Movie Magic series. On Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., the theatre will play ‘The Sandlot.’ Tickets range from $7-$9.
Make a trip to Ocoee, Tennessee for the Ocoee River Jam this weekend. This three-day family friendly music festival raises awareness of the unique features found in the area. You can sleep under the stars or buy daily passes at ocoeeriverjam.com/tickets.
The Muse Knoxville museum is hosting a special class for preschoolers focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and math learning on Friday at 10 a.m. The activity is free with admission to The Muse.
It’s the fourth Friday of the month which means free admission to the Muse Knoxville museum from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for ‘Family Night.’ There will be multiple planetarium shows, and the exhibit floor will be open after hours.
Experience Seven Islands State Birding Park after the sun goes down for a summer night hike on Friday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $5, and rangers will lead hikers through about 1.5 miles of trails.
Flying Anvil Theatre presents their newest show, 8x10. The production is made up of eight short plays and runs from July 25-August 19. Tickets start at $22.
Actors and actresses at Theatre Knoxville Downtown are performing a romantic musical called “The Fantasticks” from July 20 through August 5. For ticket and show times visit, theatreknoxville.com.
The Voice winner Chris Blue is performing at The Shed on Friday at 6 p.m. to raise money for United Way. Tickets start at $35.
The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center continues its Sunset Concert series with a performance from “Pistol Creek Catch of the Day” on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person.
MasterCraft is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Friday and Saturday with food, boat demonstrations, a live performance by singer and songwriter, KT Tunstall. On Saturday, you can take a factory tour, play in the bounce house, or compete in the poker run on Tellico Lake. Tickets range from $30 to $50.
Christian comedian John Crist is performing in front of a sold-out crowd on Friday at Pathways Church in Sevierville. The show starts at 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 28
Round the bases at Smokies Stadium for the Smokies Trot 5K on Saturday at 8 a.m. You can buy beer and concessions after the race that benefits Alzheimer’s Tennessee. For more information, click here.
The Blount County Public Library is wrapping up its summer reading program with a musical instrument petting zoo. Kids can learn all about musical instruments and hear how they sound. No animals at this zoo, just lots of musical fun. The event is open on Saturday from 10:30 am to 4 pm.
Spend an evening paddling along the Tennessee River while learning about nature at Ijams Nature Center’s paddling adventure. The program is $15 and lasts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Antique cars will take over the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the RT 73 Car Collector’s Show. The car show is free, and museum admission is $5.
The weather sure doesn’t feel like Christmas time, but it sure looks like the holidays in Clinton. The 10th annual Christmas in July event is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Clinton with town-wide sales, holiday music, and a visit with Santa.
The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce is hosting Gospel Fest on Saturday at Second Baptist Church in Clinton. The concert begins at 8:30 p.m. with performers like Sunday Drive, and Tommy Spencer. For tickets, click here.
Create a flowery or starry necklace with your BFF’s picture during Fountain City Branch Library’s summer craft series event on Saturday at noon.
Taste cobblers that range from bacon apple bourbon to traditional peach at Harriman’s Cobbler Festival on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at David Webb Riverfront Park. $5 gets you five samples.
The Tennessee Smokies host the Chattanooga Lookouts for a five-game series starting Saturday. Sunday is family fun day.
Kids ages 6-14 can learn all about watersheds and water conservation at Seven Islands State Birding Park on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Pond Explorers event is free.
Help Fulton High School collect new classroom supplies during a “stuff the bus” donation drive on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Broadway Shopping Center. Donations will be collected at the yellow school bus parked next to Suntrust Bank.
Sunday, July 29
Knoxville’s best bartenders will compete to make the tastiest tomato-based cocktails on Sunday for Nourish Knoxville’s Tomato Jam. There will be food, live music, and games on the lawn at the Mill & Mine from noon to 4 pm. Tickets cost $40.
The Knoxville Community band is performing at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville on Sunday at 3 p.m. for a free concert. The band plays an assortment of light classical, festive, and marching songs.