10 About Town: August 2 - August 5
First Friday festivities, UT Fan Day, and more!
Thursday, August 2
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.
The Blount County Public Library is hosting its Hot Summer Nights Concert series all month long with concerts on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the Main Gallery. This week, a Knoxville based country/Americana band called “Handsome and Humbles” is performing.
You never know what you’ll find at the 127 Yard Sale that covers nearly 700 miles of the highway between Alabama and Michigan. The massive yard sale runs through Crossville and Chattanooga and is open through Sunday with thousands of vendors.
Friday, August 3
It’s the first Friday of the month. Head downtown for arts and special events like yoga at the Juice Bar in Market Square at 5 p.m.
Listen to live music at the lawn at Turkey Creek for The Sounds of Summer Concert Series at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. There will be food trucks and kids’ activities to go along with the free concert.
Lonsdale is celebrating its diverse community with homecoming events Friday through Sunday at Lonsdale Park. There will be a homecoming parade and back-to-school bash on Saturday, and International night on Friday.
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.
Attention ABBA fans. 21st Century Artists Incorporate is performing its ABBA tribute show at the historic Tennessee Theatre on Friday at 8 pm. Tickets start at $34.50.
The Young Fables are performing at Tri-Hop Brewery in Maryville on Friday at 7 p.m. All proceeds go to Arc Knox County.
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center’s Summer Concert Series continues on Friday with a live performance from Roscoe & Bethany Morgan. The music begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 4
Start the school year off with Knoxville Track Club’s Back to School Bash at Victor Ashe Park on Saturday at 8 a.m. This one-mile race is part of the 2018 youth series, which consists of six races throughout the year.
When the clock strikes midnight, race through Pigeon Forge for the midnight 8K road race on Saturday at 11:59 p.m. The top male and female racers will win $400.
One Saturday a month, Ijams Nature Center offers a free guided trail walk. This month’s walk starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center.
The NPC Knox Classic bodybuilding competition is Saturday at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The finals start at 5 p.m., and tickets cost $45.
The Burlington Branch library is showing “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” for its Super Saturday Cinema. The movie starts at 2 p.m.
Come to Dr. Martin Luther King Park in Morristown on Friday for a free outdoor showing of “Breaking Legs.” The movie begins at dusk. Bring your own blanket or chairs.
The University of Tennessee Arboretum is hosting its third annual Butterfly Festival on Saturday at 10 a.m. The day’s highlight will be a monarch butterfly release at noon.
The Hard Knox Roller Girls roller derby team is competing on Saturday at the Knoxville Convention center at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $15.
The Roane State Expo Center is hosting the East Tennessee Cutting Horse competition on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s free to watch this western-style equestrian competition where riders must demonstrate their ability to handle cattle.
Support CASA of East Tennessee by attending the Summer Wines Party on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crescent Bend House and Gardens. Tickets are $75 per person or $125 per couple.
Sunday, August 5
The Sequoyah Museum is hosting Sequoyah Remembrance Day on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cherokee artisans will demonstrate their skills and art to commemorate the man, Sequoyah, who gave the Cherokee people their own written language.
Catch crawdads at Ijams’ Family Adventure on Sunday at 2 p.m. Naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales will lead families through the cool waters of Toll Creek searching for crawdads under rocks. The fee for this program is $8 per person.
Plan your dream wedding at the Knoxville Pink Bride Wedding show on Sunday at the Knoxville Convention Center.
The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform a free concert at A.K. Bissell Park on Sunday at 7 p.m. Bring your chairs or blankets for the performance that includes Tennessee favorites like “Rocky Top.”
The start of football season is less than a month away. Watch your favorite plays practice at Neyland Stadium on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for UT Fan Day. There will be an autograph session after practice at 4:30 p.m.