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Weekend edition March 31, 2023 | Shannon Smith

Festival season kicks off with music, chalk, and a marathon

Whether you're in the mood to watch chalk artists, see a concert, or run a marathon, there's something for everyone this weekend in Knoxville.

Spring has sprung, and Knoxville and its people are blooming, bustling, and ready to enjoy the sunshine.

That’s happening in a ton of ways this weekend, during a slew of events guaranteed to attract thousands downtown and give a quick boost to our local economy. Everything we’re about to talk about comes just a week after nearly 164,000 people came down to the Tennessee River as Knoxville hosted the Bassmaster Classic fishing competition.

So if you’re still looking for plans this weekend, buckle up because we have options.

Big Ears Festival

Big Ears is back for its 10th annual music festival, featuring more than 150 concerts in 12 venues across Knoxville.

The concert line-up names dozens of individual bands and artists as well as special programs, collaborations, and performances through Sunday. You can purchase passes here.

Often known as a folk and indie music festival, Big Ears spreads bigger than those genres. This year’s festival features jazz, banjo, and Latin rock legends alongside harpists, string quartets, alt-folk rockers, pianists, and everyone in between.

Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk

Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square.

Chalk Walk features over 300 artists and collaborative teams working on-site from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on April 1 to complete their artwork. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded to select artists who have created imaginative and inspiring artworks in their age division.

Chalk Walk serves as somewhat of a kick-off to a slew of events leading up to the Dogwood Arts Festival at the end of April. Check back next week for all those fun April events.

The Eagles

The Eagles return to Knoxville on April 1 for their Hotel California 2023 Tour.  Tickets are still available here, and the concert starts at 8 p.m.

The show will feature the ‘Hotel California’ album in its entirety, with an accompanying orchestra and choir, plus a full greatest hits set from the classic rock band.

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon

Get ready to run, Knoxville. The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon returns this weekend, and there’s something for everyone, even if you don’t like to run.

The Clayton Health & Fitness Expo will be open on April 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a fun, high-energy event that features exhibitors of running and fitness apparel, shoes, and other supplies, as well as other products and services in fitness, sports, and nutrition.

The Covenant Kids Run will take place at 5:30 p.m. on April 1. The 5K will start at 7:00 p.m. on April 1. Anyone can do those races, even if you’d rather walk them than run them!

The marathon, half marathon, and relays will start at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 2. Top spectator spots include World’s Fair Park, Sequoyah Hills, and Island Home. You can view the course map here, and remember there will be road closures throughout Knoxville Sunday morning.

The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a qualifier course for the Boston Marathon!


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