Hey Knoxville!

Welcome to the very first edition of The Knoxville Report! We built this newsletter for one simple reason: Knoxville is an incredible city and the people who live here deserve a fun, easy way to stay in the loop on everything happening locally.

Every edition, we’ll bring you the best local events, spotlight small businesses doing amazing things, share the latest food and drink spots worth checking out, and tell the stories that make Knox what it is. Think of us as your friend who always knows what’s going on around town.

Enough intro — let’s get into it. Here’s what’s happening in Knoxville right now.

April in Knoxville is absolutely stacked. Here are the events you need to know about:

Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk (April 11) — One of Knoxville’s coolest traditions is back! Over 200 artists will transform Market Square and Krutch Park into a massive outdoor chalk gallery. It’s free to attend and incredibly fun to watch these artists work. Bring the whole family.

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon (April 12) — Whether you’re running, cheering, or just trying to find parking downtown, marathon weekend is a big deal. The course winds through some of Knoxville’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Grab a coffee and find a spot to cheer on the runners!

Dogwood Arts Festival (April 24-26) — The big one. Three days of art, live music, food vendors, and good vibes at World’s Fair Park. This is one of Knoxville’s signature events and it never disappoints. Mark your calendars now.

Every edition, we’re shining a light on a local business that makes Knoxville special. This week: Wild Love Bakehouse.

If you haven’t been to Wild Love Bakehouse yet, what are you even doing? Located in South Knoxville, this community-focused bakery is famous for their naturally leavened sourdough, incredible pastries, and one of the best breakfast sandwiches in town. They source locally whenever possible, and the vibes inside are absolutely immaculate. Whether you’re grabbing a loaf of bread or sitting down with a cortado, Wild Love is a Knoxville must.

Knoxville’s food scene keeps getting better. Here’s what’s on our radar right now:

Earl’s — The new restaurant on the South Waterfront from the team behind Kaizen. Earl’s is serving elevated Southern comfort food with a killer cocktail menu. The space is beautiful, the patio overlooks the river, and the smash burger is already getting buzz as one of the best in town. Get there before the wait times get crazy.

Jackie’s Dream — If you haven’t tried Jackie’s Dream on N. Central Street, you’re missing out on some of the best soul food in East Tennessee. The fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens are the real deal. This spot has been a Knoxville favorite for years and it just keeps getting better.

That’s it for this first edition of The Knoxville Report! We’re just getting started and we have so much more coming your way. If you enjoyed this, do us a huge favor and share it with a friend who loves Knoxville as much as you do. The more people who subscribe, the stronger this community gets.

See you next time, Knoxville.