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🚍 Hop on, hop off: KAT rides are free

🚍 Hop on, hop off: KAT rides are free

We have Christmas music, drag glamour, and a dancing dinosaur (sort of)

December 23, 2025

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If you’ve been looking for a reason to slow down, dinner at The Melting Pot is basically begging you to stay awhile. Bubbling cheese, chocolate fondue, and a table you don’t have to leave in a hurry, it’s got serious holiday date night energy!

Scroll for more warm, festive picks to help you end 2025 well.

Wishing you and yours a joyful, restful, and memory-filled holiday season. ❤️

In today’s Scoop:

🚌 Downtown Rides, Zero Fare
🦒 A New Zoo Star
✨ Fondue Nights & WonderLabs
🎄 Holiday Cheer, All Around Town

🎄 Slow-Cooked Nights & Shared Forks

111 N Central St, Knoxville, TN

The Melting Pot glows a little warmer this season, serving its festive four-course fondue experience inside a historic Central Street building.

Holiday plans feel better when dinner isn’t rushed. Start with bubbling cheese, linger over fresh salads and cook-at-the-table entrées, then end with chocolate worth savoring.

Seasonal menus, celebration packages, and occasional prix-fixe specials make it a favorite for anniversaries and December get-togethers: a kind of night that quietly stretches on.

Learn More

❄️ Holiday Breaks, Big Discoveries

516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN

Muse Knoxville hums with energy! Winter WonderLabs fill the museum daily through early January, plus Toddler Tuesdays, STEAM Sprouts, and Mess Makers during the holiday break.

Cheer in the New Year on December 31 brings breakfast, dancing, science experiments, and a noon countdown, with member ticket discounts.

Kids can explore for hours, birthdays feel effortless, and quick visits turn into long, repeated, happy stays.

🚌 Holiday Bonus: Free Downtown KAT Rides

Photo from visitknoxville.com

The Gist: Here’s a small gift that makes the season brighter. KAT’s Downtown Connector, Route 1, is now free to ride as part of a new pilot program. The loop hits all the familiar holiday stops, from the Old City to Gay Street, Market Square, and Main Street, running every 15 minutes. Whether you are heading to dinner, skating at Holidays on Ice, or admiring the lights, just hop on.

Why It Matters: Free, frequent rides make downtown easier to enjoy during Knoxville’s busiest, brightest weeks.

Photo from Facebook: Zoo Knoxville

The Gist: Zoo Knoxville has a new long-legged resident. Mokolo, a 10-year-old giraffe from Pennsylvania’s Elmwood Park Zoo, has officially joined the Grasslands Africa habitat. He is already settling in, bonding with herd mates JJ and Frances, and exploring his new home. His darker brown spots make him easy to spot during your next visit.

Why It Matters: Mokolo’s move supports a national conservation plan focused on healthy, genetically diverse giraffe populations. Visitors can start seeing Mokolo in the habitat now as he continues to adjust.

Pete Pete is the companion who makes the season feel a little cozier.

This 2-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier mix weighs 56 pounds and brings a quiet, tender energy wherever he goes.

Shy at first, he bonds deeply and shows his love through snuggles, soft toys, and gentle curiosity. Pete Pete enjoys car rides and calm outings. He is available at Young-Williams Animal Village, with adoption fees set by the shelter.

To learn more about this gentle guy...

Click Here

🎅 Santa Photo Experience | West Town Mall | Knoxville | until 12/24 | More
Classic holiday photos: reserve your spot early and capture the season’s magic!

🎄 Holiday Open House | Mabry-Hazen House | Knoxville | 12/23–12/24 & 12/27–12/28 | More
Step inside this historic Knoxville home (beautifully dressed for the holidays) and explore.

🎿 Night of the Yeti Dinner | Ancient Lore Village | Knoxville | 12/27 | More
A whimsical dinner adventure with a scavenger hunt, firepits, and a chef-prepared meal.

🎭 Kimberly Akimbo on Tour | Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville | 12/30–1/4 | More
Described as a “howlingly funny heartbreaker,” this Best Musical winner brings big laughs.

🎈 Noon Year’s Eve Celebration | Little Valley Play Cafe | Knoxville | 12/31 | More
Greet 2026 before nap time: morning play, a noon countdown, and balloon-drop magic!

🍭 Sleigh the Peppermint Trail | Downtown | Knoxville | until 1/4 | More
Follow peppermint sidewalk markers to discover seasonal flavors, cozy drinks, and more.

🎶 Candlelight Christmas Eve | St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral | Knoxville | 12/24 | More
Celebrate Christmas Eve in downtown Knoxville with sacred music and anthems.

🐾 Holiday Sale | The Bark | Knoxville | 12/24–1/1 | More
Lock in 2025 prices with savings on dog park passes, daycare packages, and training!

🎶 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas | Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville | 12/26 | More
Dazzling visuals and the iconic sound that’s defined Christmas music for decades.

✨ A Drag Queen Christmas: Live Tour | Civic Auditorium | Knoxville | 12/27 | More
A star-studded lineup of queens delivers a high-energy, glam-packed spectacular.

🪄 Holly Jolly Home: Light Contest | Multiple Locations | Knox County | until 12/31 | More
Load up the car, grab hot cocoa, and explore a map of dazzling holiday light displays.

⚙️ The Frost Forge Steampunk Winter Ball | Token Game Tavern | Knoxville | 11/31 | More
Ring in 2026 at this steampunk bash featuring a costume contest, festive décor, and more!