Get our Insider's Guide to Downtown Knoxville delivered straight to your inbox. We promise to send you only the good stuff.
If you’re serious about your Halloween frights, get your fix downtown throughout the month of October. Go full-on zombie if you dare—we have not one, but two outdoor events for the wannabe undead—or scare yourself silly watching classic tales of horror on stage or screen. Plus tours, crawls, concerts, and more.
From who haunts the Farragut, to blood-stained streets, and ghosts who haven't faded away. Join Knoxville Walking Tours to hear the tales of ghostly history in Downtown Knoxville. All month. Three different kid-friendly (6+) tours are available. Check the website for details, dates, reservations, and starting locations..
Can you help save our city under attack from a mysterious villain in the Villain's Lair or can you and your team work together to take on the enchanted forest in Once Upon a Time: The Enchanted Forest? Take on these challenge and more at Escape Game Knoxville. All month. Find more info and reserve your spot here.
Looking for your new favorite horror movie? Us too! And Regal Riviera on Gay Street has a full slate for the month of October from slasher to family-friendly. Take your pick from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Speak No Evil, Never Let Go, and Smile 2. Looking for something a little less chilling? There's Kiki's Delivery Service 35th Anniversary! Find dates, times, and purchase tickets here. And then spend some time exploring the Wicked Cool things that Downtown has to offer.
Discover the scary secrets lurking through Market Square on a Paranormal Adventure Tour! This tour visits ground zero locations including: where a famous 3 way homicide took place, where the dead were prepared, and where the Children’s spirits are at play. Book your tour online. Every Friday and Saturday in October, plus private tours available.
Join Addison's throughout the month for a few bone-chilling Halloween themed afternoon tea events. Plus, don't miss out on a Halloween themed book club on October 30 at 7 PM to hear Edgar Allan Poe short stories.
Rocky Horror Music Show presents the songs of Rocky Horror in a rock club setting on Friday, October 4 at the Bijou Theatre. Think of it as a Rocky Horror Tribute. Costumed characters play the songs live along with movie dialogue and on-stage narration. Rocky Horror Music Show hits ALL the songs including deep cuts and even deleted scenes. Get tickets here.
Something wicked is brewing in the Old City as Brother Wolf once again transforms into Brother Werewolf, Knoxville's first Halloween pop-up bar. Prepare yourself for a spine-tingling, intoxicating experience featuring pop punk music, ghoulish glassware, decor inspired by classic horror movies, and transformative elixirs that will send your inner beast howling into the night! See what the hocus pocus is about October 4 — November 3.
Rala will be hosting the first ever "Haunted Art Show", curated by Esther Sitver. Drop by if you dare for a collaborative exhibition of creepy, eerie, spine-tingling, and all-around haunted art pieces from multiple local artists. October 6-30. And it's family friendly!
In need of some fall festivities for the littles? Nourish Knoxville will be hosting a special Nourish Kids event during KCS Fall Break on Wednesday, October 9 at the Market Square Farmers Market. UT Extension will be on site with materials for kiddos to create autumn medallions using clay and collected nature items.
The Tennessee Theatre is hosting Costumes and Classic Cartoons on Sunday, October 13 from 11 AM - 2 PM. So much fun for the whole family! Classic cartoons will be playing on the big screen, while trick-or-treat stations provided by Mast General Store will be set up around the theatre (coloring stations too!). Children are invited to dress up in family-friendly costumes, and for the parents, the Theatre will be open to the public for self-guided tours. Learn more here.
Prepare for some frights during Blount Mansion's Historically Haunting Halloween Tours! Tours will be held on Fridays and Saturdays during October on the 18, 19, 25, and 26 of the month. Tours start at 8 pm. Tickets are $15 per tour and can be purchased HERE. Halloween costumes are encouraged!
Celebrate the season with a special Old City Market and Fall Fest on October 24 from 5 — 9 PM. Shop from an assortment of fall items, purchase pumpkins, enjoy live music, and much more!
Come one, come all to the Freaker’s Ball Pub Crawl on Saturday, October 26! Hosted by Old City Sports Bar, Southbound, Wagon Wheel, and Hanna’s Old City. Silent discos happen at Old City Sports Bar from 9 — 11 PM and Hanna’s Old City from 9 PM — 1 AM. Take your chance at $1200 in cash prizes, branded swag prizes courtesy of Cherokee Distributing, free Suncruisers and more. Find all the details on the Facebook event page.
Join the scariest bar crawl ever on October 26! Bar crawl adventures await at 11 Market Square and Gay Street venues, 2-3 drinks or shots with ticket, exclusive drink specials, food specials, waived cover charges, awesome after party, and $1,000 costume contest. Get tickets here. For venue locations, click here.
Once again, the dead have their day in Knoxville! Dress as a zombie and invade Downtown on Saturday, October 26! The Knoxville Zombie Walk is presented by Daylight to Dark and Tennessee Macabre. At 2 PM, zombies begin gathering in Market Square (arrive early to be zombified by a make-up artist), there's a costume contest at 3:30 PM, then at 5 PM, the walk begins! Find details on the Facebook Event page.
Calling all monsters! Museum of East Tennessee presents Monsters at the Museum on October 26 from 10 AM–3 PM. This free event features a variety of Halloween-themed children’s crafts, story times, and walking tours. Fill your treat bags while trick-or-treating and learn about Halloween histories and eerie Victorian morning customs. For more information, click here.
Be a part a globally synchronized dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller!" The 14th Annual Thrill the World takes place on Saturday, October 26 at 4:30 PM in Market Square. Dress up as a zombie, learn the dance, and thrill the world. Watch videos that teach the choreography and follow along with the Facebook event.
Don't miss out on a special Service Industry & Friends Halloween Party at Old City Sports Bar on Thursday, October 31. Featuring sick spins from DJ IRELL, a costume contests with prizes, and $3, $4, $5 and $6 themed drink specials.
Join Pour Taproom on October 31 for a spine-chillingBeetlejuice (Soul Train) themed Halloween party where ghoulish grooves and boogies light up the night, as spirits dance and the afterlife gets down in style! Featuring live DJs from Art of House. 8 PM — 1 AM.
Since the first installment in 2002, the now iconic Pilot Light Halloween Show is a fantastic & fun rock-n-roll masquerade show not to be missed! Each year a collection of volunteer Pilot Light regular performers put together bands and dress up to perform as your favorite stars on an impossible bill. Costumes strongly encouraged! Learn more HERE.
An annual tradition! The Tennessee Theatre presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Thursday, October 31 at 9 PM. Come dressed to impress as your favorite Rocky Horror character and you could win door prizes, plus the bar will offer thematic drink specials! Find more info and purchase tickets here.
Mystical wonders await when you join the Holistic Connection on October 31 for Spellbound, a Grand Opening Halloween Party. There will be crafts, snacks, and more! $5 entry, from 7 — 11 PM.
