It’s time to pull out your calendar and start circling dates — September in Knoxville is packed with festivals, concerts, theater performances, and sporting events worth adding to your agenda.

🎡 Festivals, fairs + markets

Big Kahuna Labor Day Festival | Sunday, Sept. 6 | World’s Fair Park

🎠 Editor’s Pick: Tennessee Valley Fair | Friday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 20 | Chilhowee Park
One of Knoxville’s favorite traditions returns with classic fair foods, quirky competitions, thrilling rides, and captivating live performances.

🍹 Editor’s Pick: Knoxville Cocktail Festival | Friday, Sept. 18 | The Mill and Mine
Sip your way through Knoxville’s cocktail scene at this inaugural festival, featuring 20 signature cocktails, local distilleries and mixologists, beer samples, tacos from Chivo Taqueria, a DJ and a custom trucker hat bar. A portion of proceeds benefits TennGreen Land Conservancy.

Collage of smiling women shopping: one holds bags, three friends take a selfie, and another displays a framed horse painting. — Early-bird perk: The first 25 guests each day will score a swag bag stuffed with gifts and coupons. | Photos provided by Vintage Market Days Knoxville

Vintage Market Days of Knoxville | Friday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 20 | Knoxville Expo Center

🎟️ Concerts, comedy + theater performances

🎭Editor’s Pick: “Dial M for Murder” | Wednesday, Sept. 2-Sunday, Sept. 20 | Clarence Brown Theatre
Catch the classic murder mystery — and if you’re a Vols fan, snag tickets to Orange and White Night on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

“The Iliad, The Odyssey, and all of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less” | Sept. 4-Sept. 20 | Theatre Knoxville Downtown

Koe Wetzel | Thursday, Sept. 10 | Food City Center

Asleep at the Wheel | Wednesday, Sept. 16 | Bijou Theatre

Colin Mochrie + Brad Sherwood | Sunday, Sept. 20 | Tennessee Theatre

🌼 Editor’s Pick: Ella Langley | Thursday, Sept. 24 | Food City Center
She’s choosin’ Knoxville, we can tell. It’ll be a special show for the country music superstar, who has plenty of Tennessee references sprinkled in her hit songs.

Ashley McBryde | Friday, Sept. 25 | Tennessee Theatre

🏟️ Sports

Season Opener: Furman University vs. Tennessee Volunteers Football | Saturday, Sept. 5 | Neyland Stadium

Fan Appreciation Night + Fireworks: Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Knoxville Smokies | Saturday, Sept. 5 | Covenant Health Park

🍺 Editor’s Pick: Knoxtoberfest: FC Naples vs. One Knoxville SC | Friday, Sept. 11 | Covenant Health Park
Cheer on One Knox while you sip $3 beers and enjoy live polka music. Be sure to arrive early — the first 1,000 fans will receive a special One Knox Beer Stein.

🏁 Editor’s Pick: Checker Neyland: University of Texas vs. Tennessee Volunteers Football | Saturday, Sept. 26 | Neyland Stadium
The two UTs meet in Knoxville for the first time ever in the regular season. Fun fact: All three previous matchups occurred in Cotton Bowls.

Looking for more September events? Head to our calendar for the top happenings every week. Psst — you can also add your own event.