KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Students are about to finish up classes for the school year, which means they'll have a long summer ahead of them.
There are fun activities you can do without having to break the bank. Here are 10 things you can do in Knox County for less than $10.
World's Fair Park Fountains & Splash Pads
The kids will soon be looking for ways to beat the heat and they can do it at several splash pads and fountains across Knox County.
From the World's Fair Park play fountains to splash pads at Carl Cowan, Powell Station, New Harvest and McFee Park, you can enjoy them for free.
Outdoor City Pools
If you'd rather take the plunge, Knoxville's two outdoor pools both open Saturday, May 25. Admission at Inskip Pool is $4 or $33 for 10 visits. Admission is $3 at Ed Cothren Pool or $24 for 10 visits.
World's Fair Park Playground/Fort Kid
If you'd rather stay dry in the summer sun, you can head to a local playground. You can find two playgrounds in the downtown area, World's Fair Park and Fort Kid.
The new version of Fort Kid opened in 2023 with a new accessible play surface and a colorful interactive sidewalk mural was added in the fall. You can go to both playgrounds for free.
Knoxville Museum of Art/Muse
Looking for a creative space to browse, you can hop over to the Knoxville Museum of Art. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and often has scheduled activities and events. Admission is free.
If you want a museum geared toward children, Muse Knoxville is the place to be. It is dedicated to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). For this "10 under 10," admission is $12.
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Take a shot at learning some history at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. The hall of fame is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and you can visit or plan a special event.
Admission for adults ranges from $7 to $95, children ages 6 to 15 range from $5 to $95 and children ages 5 and younger are free.
Knox County Public Library/Children's Festival of Reading
Take your brain on an adventure at one of the Knox County Public Library branches. It is the oldest, continuously operating public library in Tennessee and has 19 locations.
On Saturday, you can celebrate all things scholastic at the Children's Festival of Reading from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in World's Fair Park for free.
Market Square Farmers Market
The 21st annual Market Square Farmers Market is an open-air farmers market that you can visit every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Everything is grown, raised, and/or made by vendors within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville. It is free to visit but you can spend as much as you want on all homegrown veggies and fresh flowers.
UT Gardens/Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
If you'd like to stop to smell the flowers but not buy them, grab the family and wander through the University of Tennessee Gardens.
The site has several collections and gardens filled with all sorts of beautiful trees, plants, shrubs and flowers. Every member of the family, even the furry ones, gets in for free.
Sunsphere
For an iconic taste of history, why not visit the Sunsphere?
The base is back to its original color of blue and a new Welcome Center is in the works. The structure from the 1982 World's Fair offers 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, World's Fair Park, Tennessee River and the UT campus.
Admission is $5. Children 12 and younger get in for $1 with a paying adult.
House Mountain
You can keep the views going by taking a trip over to House Mountain and hiking up to the top. The 2,100-foot crest shows off some incredible vistas to anyone who can brave a bit of a steep and rocky climb.
While the visit is free, the views are priceless.
