Best Things To Do In Downtown Knoxville

A Local’s Curated List Of Things To Do When Exploring Downtown Knoxville

Downtown Knoxville is simply thriving. Like many cities, it is experiencing an urban revitalization and its downtown is bustling with renewed energy as people have returned to the city to live, work, and play.

Every day a new hotel, shop, or restaurant seems to be opening. So proud of our scruffy little city!

Although you’ll find no shortage of places to explore downtown (and that’s half the fun), we’ll walk you through the places our families consistently return to and recommend to all.

A day spent in downtown Knoxville is a terrific way to spend the day. Here are our favorite things to do in downtown Knoxville.

If you can, make a weekend of it and stay in the heart of it all at either the Hyatt Place or Embassy Suites on Gay Street. Park the car and walk to everything! Downtown Knoxville is very walkable.

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A Local’s “Must See List” When Exploring Downtown Knoxville

Here are a few of our favorite ways to spend the afternoon in downtown Knoxville. This is our “go to” list when we have friends and family visiting or just want a fun family outing.

1. Wander Around Market Square

On any given day, you’ll find most of the downtown action on Market Square, so we always head there first.

This pedestrian-only plaza hosts playful fountains during the warm weather, a small but super fun seasonal ice skating rink during the holidays, a seasonal Farmer’s Market, and a rotating lineup of fantastic festivals throughout the year.

Some of our favorite restaurants downtown such as Tomato Head, Cafe 4, Tupelo Honey, and Stock & Barrel are all found on Market Square. See our Best Restaurants In Downtown Knoxville for all of our favorites sorted by location.

The kids also like poking their head in Earth To Old City in Market Square to peruse the collection of soaps, candles, funny gifty things, and clothing.

*Tip: Adjacent to Market Square is tiny Krutch Park, an excellent spot for the kids to wander. With its winding walking trails, gardens, and art sculptures along the way, the park is a nice place to take a breather before lunch.

2. Saturday Farmer’s Market

The Market Square Farmer’s Market is the reason we always try to go downtown on a Saturday. This “don’t miss” Knoxville institution is the place to eat, drink, and shop to your heart’s content.

On Saturdays from 9am- 2pm (May through Christmas), you’ll find a dizzying array of produce, meat, coffee, bread, hot sauce, jams, honey, pickled everything, art, candles, and other craft booths all throughout Market Square and nearby streets.

It’s a really fun and festive atmosphere and is a great place to bring out of town guests, shop for unique gifts, and bring home local produce and baked goods.

We usually grab a snack from one of the food trucks along Union Avenue and continue on to explore all of the goodness. We always keep a lookout for Good Golly Tamales’s food cart!

Tip: The Farmer’s Market is a convenient way to get a “to go” lunch and head over to the Knoxville Visitor Center on Gay Street to watch the WDVX Blue Plate Special. This free one hour radio show featuring a live musical performance is broadcast live from 12 pm-1 pm. See #3 below for more details.

3. Catch A Live Radio Show

WDVX is an independent, listener-supported radio station with its studios inside the Knoxville Visitor Center on Gay St.

Johnny Cash once said that singing on the radio was a big deal. And we still believe this is true. Live performance is an important part of WDVX programming, which features a variety of the roots music we’re all about. It’s a mix of Bluegrass, Americana, Classic and Alternative Country, Western Swing, Blues, Old Time and Appalachian Mountain Music, Bluegrass Gospel, Celtic and Folk.

WDVX website

The WDVX Blue Plate Special is a free live performance radio show held from noon- 1pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays on the stage inside the Visitor Center. (On Fridays the show moves to Barleys in the Old City.)

You can bring your lunch and grab a seat to watch the show – no ticket needed. You’ll mostly find local and regional artists but big names like Chris Stapleton, the Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, and more have played the Blue Plate Special. Check the website for the schedule.

WDVX KidStuff is a kids show at 10am on Saturday mornings. The 2nd Saturday of every month has live performances on the stage. It is super fun for younger kids and very entertaining. A great free way to start your day.

4. The Sunsphere And Worlds Fair Park

The Worlds Fair Park, former host of the 1982 World’s Fair, is a picturesque place to stroll around on a sunny afternoon.

Conveniently connected to downtown Knoxville from a pedestrian bridge over Henley Street, you’ll find a fountain splash pad in the summer, an open-air amphitheater for the kids to serenade you, a grassy area to run and roam, and a fun playground at the north end of the park and one across the street from the Knoxville Museum of Art.

If you haven’t already been to the top of the Sunsphere, now’s the time to do it. Enjoy a 360° view from the 4th floor Observation Deck of the iconic Sunsphere, Knoxville’s most famous landmark.

Tickets can be reserved online and cost $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. There are interesting signs pointing out sights and Knoxville’s history.

5. Visit Pretentious Glass Co

Pretentious Glass Co. is a fun and unique stop in the Old City. The glassware is blown right in the back of the shop, and they have a small viewing area set up which is always fun with the kids.

I own at least one of every kind of glassware so far and never cease to get compliments. The Limestone glass is my “go to” for whiskey.

You can reserve a spot to try your hand at blowing your own glass, see the website for details.

*Tip: In addition to making their own glassware, they also brew their own craft beer which you can enjoy from a handmade glass right next door at Pretentious Beer Co. Get your beer and walk next door to watch them blowing glass or enjoy a game of ping pong outside in their beer garden.

6. Shop At Mast General Store

We ALWAYS go to Mast General Store on Gay Street. With two levels of merchandise including a great shoe department, a variety of clothing, kitchen gadgets, toys, etc., this is a store to get lost in.

It’s also a good place to visit pre-movie to select your favorites from the big barrels of old school candy.

Everybody gets a candy bag to fill with their 5 favorite pieces is how we do it! Also works great for keeping kids entertained while you get to poke around in some of Knoxville’s excellent local art galleries and artisan craft makers.

7. Take A Paddleboard Or Kayak Tour Of Downtown

Head to Knoxville Adventure Collective on the banks of the Tennessee River to rent your paddleboard, kayak, or canoe and set off on an exploration of downtown Knoxville’s waterfront.

Paddle by Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena and under Knoxville’s two large bridges – the Henley Street bridge and the Gay Street bridge. It is a beginner friendly paddle as the current is not swift and there isn’t actually a lot of other boat traffic downtown.

And for even more fun, check out their sunset and full moon paddles! This is one of my favorite things to do in Knoxville and the lights of the bridges at night are spectacular.

8. Catch A Movie

Hopefully a good movie is playing on one of the multiple screens at the Regal Riviera on Gay Street. It can be a much needed break from the weather outside, especially during our hot summers.

And there is always something so fun about dinner and movie downtown.

Tip: If you’re not here on a weekend when garage parking is free, Regal Theater will validate your State Street Garage parking ticket.

9. Go Bowling At Maple Hall

Another really fun option is bowling at Maple Hall. Maple Hall is not your grandfather’s bowling alley. In the basement of the historic J.C. Penney building on Gay Street, think more craft cocktails and small plates to go along with your strikes and gutter balls.

Opens at 11am on weekends (4pm on weekdays), and it’s family friendly until 9pm.

10. Check Out The Shops On Union Avenue

From Market Square, the exploration continues along Union Avenue which leads to some of our favorite downtown shops. Although we’re not huge shoppers, we do make it a point to stop in a couple of stores that we love. Plus, it placates the teenagers with us. Bonus!

Urban Outfitters– We always make a quick stop here. As mentioned above, we have a teenager so this is a must.

Union Ave Books – Union Ave Books is a wonderful independent bookstore and well-curated. The owner always has the perfect recommendation when we don’t even know what we’re looking for. Their recommendations for kids chapter books have been spot on as well. My go-to gift bookstore for that hard to buy for person.

Tree & Vine– I always thought expensive olive oil was just a pretension until I walked in Tree and Vine and am now addicted. It really does make a difference. Lots of olive oils and balsamics to sample which also makes it fun for the kids. They adore the chocolate balsamic and will eat any salad I put it on.

Nothing Too Fancy– If you’re looking for a gift or Knoxville souvenir t-shirt, Nothing Too Fancy has lots of Knox-centric items. The T- shirts may be a tad expensive but they wear really well.

It’s also just a fun place to look around. If you have always wanted to proclaim your neighborhood affiliation, you can do it with a T-shirt from here– I have one to show my Cedar Bluff roots. I also love the Jolene t-shirt in honor of Tennessee’s favorite star, Dolly Parton.

11. Find All The Murals

12. Ice Cream Anyone?

At some point in the afternoon, the kids start to strategically steer us back to Gay Street and the colorful red and white Cruze Farm Ice Cream Shop.

This local dairy farm makes their fresh churned ice cream from their cows. So good!

Tip – Just next door to Cruze Fame, Bliss and Tori Mason Shoes is also worth a stop.

If my coolest friend dressed me, it would be with stuff from Bliss. Good browsing too with funny coffee table books and small gifts. The baby section also has an excellent selection for that fashionable friend who is pregnant.

13. Catch A Show At The Tennessee Theater

If your timing is lucky, you might be able to catch a show at the beautiful and historic Tennessee Theater. The official theater of the state of Tennessee, it is an architectural gem, opening in 1928 and built in the short-lived trend of Spanish- Moorish style.

Some of the plaster work is so unique they have to bring in specialists from around the country to maintain it.

Be sure to check out Visit Knoxville’s website to learn about festivals, concerts, and other fun activities you can do downtown as well as what’s going on at the Tennessee Theater which often hosts movies, concerts, Broadway Theater, and other fantastic events.

I have seen everything from Broadway shows to heavy metal concerts in the Tennessee Theater, and it is always a treat.

14. Enjoy A Terrific Meal

The dining scene in downtown Knoxville is top notch and there is no shortage of delicious restaurants.

As locals, we’ve had the pleasure of trying many of them, and we’ve shared a long list of our favorite spots in our blog “Best Restaurants In Downtown Knoxville- A Local’s Guide.”

For our family, we always return time and time again to The Tomato Head on Market Square, because it’s always good and the atmosphere is hip and lively without being too loud. You just can’t go wrong with their pizza, salads, and unique sandwiches.

The kiddos love the pasta bowl, and it’s hard for me to ever consider not ordering the Kepner Melt with its amazing combination of fresh spinach, baked tofu, pineapple, pesto, and walnuts. Hungry just thinking about it!

Tupelo Honey’s southern cooking is another great option, especially for brunch, and never disappoints. All meals are served with complimentary biscuits, jam, and their wonderful Tupelo honey. Sold!

Tip: Tupelo Honey and Tomato Head are both on Market Square and many of the restaurants there allow you to get on the waiting list with a cell phone number, letting you continue to walk around Market Square and shop while waiting on your table. It’s fantastic.

Other consistent family favorites downtown include Chivo Taqueria for their one of a kind tacos and Downtown Grille and Brewery for tasty pub food and watching games on their large TVs. Both of these places are on Gay St.

15. Go To A Museum

Both the Knoxville Museum of Art (free admission) at World’s Fair Park and the Museum of East Tennessee History on Gay Street are worth a visit.

And the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame is perfect for the active kid who plays all the sports (it has an indoor court with different activities as well as the museum).

There is a super cool playground across the street from the Knoxville Museum of Art which makes it especially attractive to families, as does the interactive kids area in the museum.

The East Tennessee History Museum is better probably for older kids but is packed full of interesting exhibits.

Check out our detailed blog about the art museum – Knoxville Museum of Art- Free and Fabulous!

16. Participate In A Scavenger Hunt

The downtown business alliance puts on two fun scavenger hunts a year for kids – Elf on the Shelf in winter and Where’s Waldo in July.

You can grab a booklet from Mast General Store and then hit as many of the participating shops as you want. The kids get a stamp in their booklet once they find the Elf or Waldo in each store.

It’s free and super fun to do – our extended family does the Elf on the Shelf hunt every year, even the older kids. It is great foot traffic for the stores and I pick up quite a lot of Christmas gifts along the way!

More Knoxville Adventures!

If you are looking for an outdoor experience in Knoxville, check out Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness or Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We have all the details you need for a day of adventure!