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- 🍷 Ugly sweaters, 80 wines, and a NYE bash? Yes, please
🍷 Ugly sweaters, 80 wines, and a NYE bash? Yes, please
When your week needs music, mischief, and a little bit of magic, we’ve got you!
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It’s the time of year where hot cocoa starts tasting better outside.
We’ve got twinkle lights lining Lakeshore, Fort Kid being your candy-colored castle, and events every night that make the short days a little sweeter.
Whether you’re planning your holiday calendar or just looking for one good outing, there’s something festive for you this week.
In today’s Scoop:
🎄 Victorian Nights Glow Again
🎭 Curtain Rises on Expansion
🍷 Cozy Sips & Colorful Days
✨ Holiday Happenings Near You
🍷 Seasonal Scratch Kitchen + Holiday Spark
Water into Wine is feeling festive, and their 1,500-bottle cellar, scratch-made seasonal menu, and house-crafted cocktails make it the perfect place to settle into the season.
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party kicks things off Dec. 18 with prizes, festive drinks, and plenty of photo ops. After a cozy Christmas pause, WIW rings in 2025 with a DJ, specials all night, and more bubbles than a countdown deserves.
Add in jazz weekends, $9 Old Fashioneds on Wednesdays, and 80+ wines by the glass, and you’ve got the most delicious way to celebrate from before Christmas through New Year’s.
🎁 Knoxville’s Coolest Cold-Day Climb
Fort Kid brings a jolt of color to downtown on these chilly days. Kids scramble up the tall fort tower, zip down the big slide and hop across the climbing poles while the accessible merry-go-round keeps everyone in the mix.
The bright mural walkway feels like a giant game board leading straight to the fun. With parking close by and the Museum of Art across the street, it’s an easy winter outing for all ages.
🎄 Candlelight Tours Bring Victorian Christmas to Life at Mabry Hazen
The Gist: The Mabry Hazen House is opening its doors for candlelit Christmas tours on December 12 and 13. Guests can wander through the historic home decorated in a blend of old and new, play Victorian parlor games, and craft their own holiday cards. Tours run every thirty minutes, last about 45 minutes, and are capped at 15 guests. Tickets range from free to ten dollars.
Why It Matters:
It is a cozy way to step into local history and soak up some holiday magic. For ticket reservations:
🎭 Tennessee Theatre Sets Opening Date for Big Expansion
The Gist: Knoxville’s landmark Tennessee Theatre says its 612 Building expansion will open to the public on March 20. The project adds new bars, more bathrooms, a practice studio, private event spaces, and even a recording studio, all aimed at making visits smoother and creating room for local artists to grow. The upgrade also boosts education and outreach efforts.
Why It Matters: Shorter lines and more creative spaces make the theater feel even more like a community home. Doors to the new expansion open this March.
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To learn more about this beautiful girl...
🎡 Bike Light Decorating Night | Printshop Beer Co. | Knoxville | 12/12 | More
A festive bike-decorating evening with discounts for cyclists and cozy treats for families.
🎄 Candlelight Christmas Tours | Mabry-Hazen House | Knoxville | 12/12–12/13 | More
Experience the historic home by candlelight while learning about Victorian traditions.
🎅 Rockin' Santa Half Marathon & Sunshine Santa 5K | Victor Ashe Park | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A half marathon & 5K with Christmas rock-n-roll vibes benefiting Sunshine Ambassadors.
🎇 Tour de Lights Holiday Ride | starts at Civic Auditorium & Coliseum | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A glowing group ride, festive market, Peppermint Village, contests, and classic holiday fun!
🎁 Toy Tech 2025 | Spark | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
An event where volunteers adapt toys so every child can experience independent play.
🦌 Santa Sunday | Mast General Store | Knoxville | 12/14 | More
Kids, families, and even leashed pets can meet Santa and snap photos inside this shop.
❄️ Christmas Nights | Safety City | Knoxville | 12/16–12/18 | More
A free, festive evening exploring light displays in a kid-sized city, with visits from Santa.
💫 Light Up Lakeshore | Lakeshore Park | Knoxville | until 01/01 | More
A glowing, month-long stroll with holiday lights brightening every path.
🎄 Member Holiday Shop | Lululemon | Knoxville | 12/12 | More
Enjoy private shopping, calligraphy gift tags, and ambassador picks during this event.
🌟 Holly-Jolly Variety Night | Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A joyful 21+ celebration featuring dance, laughs, and seasonal entertainment.
🍿 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation | Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A holiday favorite returns: watch the Griswolds’ wild Christmas unfold in a restored theatre.
🎽 Cross Knox 15k & 4-Miler | Morningside Park → Bearden Elementary | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A scenic point-to-point race along the greenway system with both 15k and 4-mile options.
✨ Drag-Iversary Holi-Slay Night | Hi-Wire Brewing Taproom | Knoxville | 12/13 | More
A high-energy holiday drag event headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Loosey LaDuca.
🎁 Knoxville Holiday Market | World’s Fair Exhibition Hall | Knoxville | 12/13–12/14 | More
Shop 200+ vendors indoors as this festive holiday market wraps up its final weekend.
🎻 Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings | Jackson Terminal | Knoxville | 12/20 | More
A cozy candlelit concert featuring holiday favorites performed by a live string quartet.
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