Springtime in Knoxville, Tennessee

Spring is dogwood season in East Tennessee, and we have a lot to celebrate from our region’s natural beauty to arts & culture to the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World’s Fair. You won’t want to miss all the excitement so get ready to add some ink to your calendar with these events in Knoxville!

Hey “hot stuff”, grab your “bad girls” and come see SUMMER the Donna Summer Musical at the Tennessee Theatre April 8-10! This Broadway musical tells the tale of how Donna Summer risked it all to break through barriers, becoming the icon of an era and the inspiration for every music diva who followed.  With a score featuring more than 20 classic hits, this experience is a moving tribute to the voice of a generation. Speaking of divas, you won’t want to miss Todrick Hall at the Mill & Mine April 9 for his Femuline Tour. An inspiring LGBTQ+ role model, Todrick has seen first-hand how powerful such a pop-cultural presence can be for those growing up like he once did, surrounded by people who didn’t understand him. He realizes, “You don’t need to have anything figured out. If you did, there’d be no point in living.” Sounds like the only thing you need to figure out is if you’re coming to Knoxville for one or two shows that weekend!

For those demanding the dogwoods, we’ve got you covered with the Dogwood Arts Festival April 22-24. This annual free 3-day spring celebration transforms the Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park into a fine art market, featuring vendors working in mixed media, pottery, painting, photography, glass, jewelry, sculpture, and more. Can’t get enough of one festival? Come back the following weekend for Rossini Festival April 30 – this free-admission, International Street Fair is Knoxville Opera's perennial celebration of the performing arts. Over the course of 11 hours, the public is treated to non-stop entertainment on five outdoor stages showcasing everything from opera, classical, jazz, gospel and ethnic music to ballet, modern and world dance.

The celebrations continue, specifically the 40th Anniversary of the 1982 World’s Fair! Enjoy the “You Should Have Been There” World's Fair Exhibition at the East Tennessee History Center, a one-of-a-kind exhibit open to the public now until October. Join us for the big celebration on May 21 at World’s Fair Park and feel the ENERGY of our nature-loving-adventure-seeking-artsy-kinda-town!