Past Episodes
Every weekend episode of The South Knoxville Ear, back to the first one — the events, openings, and neighborhood stories of SoKno, one weekend at a time.
- Thu–Sun, Sep 10–13, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 13Lights and art at Ijams Park
One night a year the trail behind the Visitor Center turns into an after-dark gallery you walk through. Sunday is the night, and the $175 ticket is what keeps the park free the other 364.
Also in this episode: A beginner's mushroom walk opens Ijams Park's fall fungi series on Friday evening · Four bars under one roof: the game-weekend guide to Kern's · Tennessee's first road game of the season plays on the Puckers wall Saturday night · Saturday storytime at the Ijams Nature Playscape starts a sixteen-week fall run
- Thu–Sun, Sep 3–6, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 12Tennessee's home opener kicks off Saturday at 3:30, and from this side of the river you can walk to the shuttle
The Vols host Furman in the first home game of the season, in the mid-90s. Most of what you have read about the new traffic plan is not actually new — but the shuttle that starts a short walk over the Gay Street Bridge is the best thing on offer, and it costs ten dollars.
Also in this episode: Ijams Park walks you out into the dark on Thursday to meet a hundred thousand bats · "All Dogs Go to Heaven" plays on the Visitor Center lawn at Ijams Park on Friday night · Puckers gets its first Vols Saturday, and the patio looks straight across at the stadium · Kern's will rent you a private game day section on Saturday, and it has published the price · Somebody reads out loud under the trees at the Ijams Nature Playscape on Saturday morning, and it's free · Hi-Wire runs pint night on top of an all-day happy hour every Thursday · Free trivia every Thursday at Trailhead Beer Market, at the edge of the Urban Wilderness · The specials board: a different deal every day at Earl's
- Thu–Sun, Aug 27–30, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 11Thursday night the Earth's shadow swallows 93 percent of the moon over South Knoxville
It starts at 9:23 and peaks at 12:12 Friday morning, with the moon high in the south-southeast and the covered part gone the color of an old penny. No ticket, no drive, no equipment — a driveway will do it.
Also in this episode: Knoxville Opera sings at the bottom of Augusta Quarry on Thursday, and it's the last night of the series · Puckers Sports Grill opened on Blount Avenue Wednesday, and this is its first weekend · Bourbon, cigars and a seersucker dress code on the Kern's rooftop Thursday night · Hi-Wire stacks pint night on top of an all-day happy hour every Thursday · "Napoleon Dynamite" plays on the Visitor Center lawn at Ijams Park on Friday night · Goat yoga comes to Kern's on Saturday morning · Somebody reads out loud under the trees at the Ijams Nature Playscape on Saturday morning, and it's free · Tiny Stage Comedy brings stand-up and poetry to the Ijams Park patio on Saturday night · Naturalists take a group out on the trails under the full moon on Saturday night · Set dried flowers in resin and go home with jewelry: a Sunday workshop at Ijams Park · The specials board: a different deal every day at Earl's
- Thu–Sun, Aug 20–23, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 10The last weekend of Mimosas: one more brunch before the sign comes down
The brunch room on Blount Avenue serves its final Saturday and Sunday this weekend. It closes August 25 and reopens the next morning as Puckers Sports Grill Knoxville — which makes these the last two brunches under the old name.
Also in this episode: A soul band, a free line dance, and 150 kids playing rock: Kern's takes the whole weekend · Ijams Park is running a summer camp for adults, and Saturday night you sleep in a tent · Old Sevier's weekend: a book night Thursday, adoptable dogs Saturday, stained glass Sunday · No band, no ticket, no crowd to sing in front of: the Pink Cactus just opens the door · The Kerbela plan is approved: 225 apartments, a public plaza, and a walkway to the river · The specials board: a different deal every day at Earl's
- Thu–Sun, Aug 13–16, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 9Three nights of hummingbirds: a projected light walk, then the whole festival
Ijams Park gives its smallest resident a three-day send-off. Thursday and Friday, eight enormous animated projections turn the trails into an after-dark gallery. Saturday, the festival takes the homesite from seven in the morning.
Also in this episode: The Kerbela plan comes back Thursday — and this time it's on the agenda for a decision · Two more weekends of Mimosas before the sign changes · Sunday at Ijams Park: bluegrass on the plaza, stories under the trees · Parents versus kids: All Play Live turns Kern's into a game show Saturday morning · Ted Lasso trivia Friday at Hi-Wire, then yoga both mornings · The specials board: a different deal every day at Earl's
- Thu–Sun, Aug 6–9, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 8The final bow: Shakespeare's last four nights at Ijams Park
This time it's real — the 36th Knoxville Shakespeare festival ends Sunday. Henry V plays Thursday (pay-what-you-can) and Saturday; The Merry Wives of Windsor takes Friday and the festival's last night.
Also in this episode: Before the theater: Thursday is Election Day · The Ho'down takes root at Kern's — now every other Friday · Ijams Park beyond the stage: a sold-out river and the gentlest Sunday of the year · The specials board: the full margarita ladder, and dog bingo
- Thu–Sun, Jul 30–Aug 2, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 7Your Urban Wilderness weekend — trail report checked this morning
Baker Creek Bike Park is riding well, the Preserve needs a day to dry, and the club that builds it all just hired its first full-time trail crew. Plus: where the beer is when you roll out of the woods.
Also in this episode: A correction, and a gift: Shakespeare is still on at Ijams Park · That variance sign on Jonathan Avenue? Approved, 4–0. · Back to school at Kern's — a bash, a supply drive, and jazz all weekend · Beyond the stage at Ijams Park: tree school, EcoArt, and the banders · The specials board: ritas, $4 pints, Singo, and bottomless brunch
- Thu–Sun, Jul 23–26, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 6Shakespeare's closing weekend at Ijams Park — last chances, and a free Thursday
Both plays trade nights one more time, Thursday's Henry V is pay-what-you-can, and Sunday moves indoors for a Merry Wives double-header before the festival packs up.
Also in this episode: Sevier Avenue's roadway was due this week. It didn't make it. · There's a new brunch room on the river: Mimosas · Kern's trades the World Cup big screen for a hoedown · Emo drag, Sunday bluegrass, and a stained-glass class · Earl's runs the margarita clock again · Beyond the stage: paddles, storytelling, and the banders are back
- Thu–Sun, Jul 16–19, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 5Shakespeare takes the Ijams Park lawn — and opening night is pay-what-you-can
Two openings in two nights: The Merry Wives of Windsor Thursday, King Henry V Friday, then they trade off all weekend. Every Thursday show is pay-what-you-can.
Also in this episode: Spain's in the final. Tickets start at $7,253 — or you could walk to Kern's. · The Sevier Ave rezoning is dead — and the Kerbela apartments got sent back · Disco Chicken turns one — with a gluten-free festival and a silent disco · Spicy Rita Friday at Earl's — and you'll still make curtain · An evening paddle — and a Friday night scheduling problem · Two gentle ones at Ijams Park: storytelling Saturday, yoga Sunday · Sunday Funday is still pouring
- Thu–Sun, Jul 9–12, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 4Terror in the Woods: scary movies under the Ijams Park stars
Friday night the Movies Under the Stars series goes horror — a Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Wrong Turn double feature on the lawn, with a haunted trail, food trucks, and a beer garden.
Also in this episode: The Sevier Ave rezoning gets its hearing — and staff says no · The World Cup hits the quarterfinals — Kern's keeps the screen warm · A sunrise paddle for the early risers · Sunday morning with the bird banders · Sunday Funday at Hi-Wire: cheap mimosas, long afternoon · Heads up: Shakespeare takes the Ijams Park lawn next week
- Thu–Sun, Jul 2–5, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 3The Fourth at Kern's: fireworks, a dog pawrade, and a full day of fun
Kern's Bakery throws South Knoxville's big Independence Day party on Saturday — bounce houses and axe throwing by day, live music into the evening, and a fireworks show to send everyone home.
Also in this episode: Live music runs all weekend at Trailhead · A pollinator morning for the kids at Ijams Park · Ease into Sunday with yoga at Ijams Park
- Fri–Sun, Jun 26–28, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 2The World Cup is on, and SoKno's got a screen for it
Five matches roll through the weekend — group-stage drama Friday and Saturday, then the first knockout on Sunday. Pull up a stool at one of the neighborhood's sports-screen spots and settle in.
Also in this episode: Matt Woods brings his Appalachian songbook to Trailhead · An afternoon soirée of local makers at The Pink Cactus · An evening paddle on the river, kayaks provided · Eight comics stack the bill at the After Brunch Special · Hi-Wire packs the weekend: trivia, a dance party, and stained glass
- Fri–Sun, Jun 19–21, 2026 · Vol. 1 — No. 1Pride takes over Sevier Avenue
Three acts, one Saturday: a morning 5K and yoga by the river, the street festival on Sevier from noon to six, and official after-parties scattered across SoKno from eight on.
Also in this episode: The fireflies are back, and Ijams will walk you in · Up early? Watch the songbirds get banded · Make Music Day turns the whole neighborhood into a stage · Roni's Mac Bar has landed at Kern's · A quiet corner of Sevier Avenue could go commercial · For the locals