Food festivals in Knoxville worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Knoxville worth planning a trip around, by month.
International Biscuit Festival on Market Square, the spring downtown Knoxville festival celebrating the Appalachian biscuit, anchors May's food calendar.
Focus: Biscuits and Southern breakfast
Tip: The free street-fair Saturday format runs across Market Square in mid-May; biscuit-eating contests draw the biggest crowds.
Knoxville Brewers' Jam at World's Fair Park, the city's longest-running beer festival in its 20th year, hosts 50+ Tennessee brewers and food vendors.
Focus: Craft beer and food trucks
Tip: Saturday afternoon ticketed event; advance tickets through Etix sell out, day-of availability is limited.
Big Ears Festival across downtown Knoxville, the spring music-arts-and-food festival drawing 35,000 attendees, runs 250+ performances and food at venues.
Focus: Arts festival with food vendors
Tip: Pop-up food at Marble City Brewing space and Sweet P's was a 2024 feature; the festival rotates partners year to year.
Rossini Festival on Gay Street and Market Square, Knoxville Opera's free Italian-themed street fair since 2002, runs across four stages with 75+ vendors.
Focus: Italian-American street food
Tip: Free street-fair format; Saturday 10:00-22:00 and Sunday 12:00-19:00. Italian food village near Market Square stages.
Knoxville Greek Fest at St George Greek Orthodox Church, the 47th-edition Greek food and culture festival in September, draws 20,000+ visitors for gyros.
Focus: Greek food and culture
Tip: Friday 11:00-22:00, Saturday 11:00-22:00 and Sunday 11:00-17:00; food village is the main draw, traditional dancing on stage hourly.
Dogwood Arts Festival across Market Square and Krutch Park, the springtime arts festival celebrating East Tennessee dogwood bloom, runs food vendors.
Focus: Arts festival with food vendors
Tip: Free festival; food vendors line Market Square and Krutch Park during the last full weekend of April.