Knoxville has plenty of ways to celebrate the Christmas season, from downtown light displays and holiday markets to festive performances and family activities. Annual traditions bring visitors to Market Square, Gay Street, and other popular locations throughout the city.
If you’re looking for holiday events in Knoxville, here are some local favorites to add to your Christmas plans.
Downtown Knoxville Holiday Events
Peppermint Trail
Location: Downtown Knoxville and Market Square
The Peppermint Trail brings a festive twist to downtown shopping and dining. Participating restaurants, coffee shops, and local businesses offer peppermint-inspired treats, seasonal drinks, and special holiday items.
Look for the peppermint decorations displayed at participating businesses as you make your way through downtown.
Holidays on Ice
Location: Market Square, Downtown Knoxville
Holidays on Ice transforms Market Square into an outdoor ice skating rink during the Christmas season.
Visitors can skate beneath the holiday lights while enjoying the surrounding restaurants and shops. Skate rentals are available, making it a convenient activity for families, couples, and groups of friends.
Elf on the Shelf Adventure
Location: Downtown Knoxville
The Elf on the Shelf Adventure turns downtown Knoxville into a holiday scavenger hunt.
Families can pick up a North Pole Pass at a designated starting location and search for hidden elves inside participating downtown businesses. Children can mark off each elf they find while visiting local shops and restaurants along the way.
It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon downtown while enjoying the holiday decorations.
Christmas Parades and Special Events
WIVK Christmas Parade
Location: Downtown Knoxville, Gay Street
The WIVK Christmas Parade is a longtime Knoxville holiday tradition featuring decorated floats, marching bands, festive music, and an appearance by Santa Claus.
Families gather along Gay Street to watch the procession through downtown. The parade is free to attend and draws large crowds each holiday season.
Tour de Lights
Location: Downtown Knoxville
Tour de Lights brings cyclists together for a festive ride through Knoxville. Participants decorate their bicycles with Christmas lights, ornaments, and other holiday decorations before riding along the designated route.
The event is known for its creative bike decorations and community atmosphere. Spectators can also enjoy watching the illuminated bicycles travel through downtown.
Christmas in the Cave
Location: Historic Cherokee Caverns, Knoxville
Christmas in the Cave offers a different kind of holiday light display. Visitors walk through Cherokee Caverns, where colorful Christmas lights illuminate the cave’s natural rock formations.
The underground setting makes this event especially memorable. Along the route, visitors can enjoy seasonal decorations and the unique scenery of the caverns.
Family Holiday Activities
Christmas Lantern Express
Location: Three Rivers Rambler, Knoxville
The Christmas Lantern Express offers a holiday-themed train ride aboard the Three Rivers Rambler.
Families can enjoy a scenic journey with Christmas decorations, seasonal storytelling, and festive entertainment. Santa Claus is traditionally part of the experience, making the train ride especially popular with younger children.
Tickets often sell quickly, so advance reservations are recommended when the event is offered.
Christmas Shows and Performances in Knoxville
A Christmas Carol
Location: Clarence Brown Theater, University of Tennessee
The Clarence Brown Theater has a tradition of presenting A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens’ classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge.
The production follows Scrooge’s encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Elaborate costumes, theatrical effects, and familiar holiday characters bring the story to life on stage.
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
Location: Tennessee Theater, Downtown Knoxville
Cirque Dreams Holidaze combines acrobatics, elaborate costumes, music, and holiday-themed performances.
The show features circus-style acts and colorful stage productions inspired by Christmas traditions. It’s an entertaining option for families looking for something different from a traditional holiday concert.
Check the Tennessee Theater’s schedule to see whether the production is returning.
Clayton Holiday Concert
Location: Knoxville Civic Auditorium
The Clayton Holiday Concert brings together orchestral music, seasonal favorites, and special performances for a traditional Christmas celebration.
Presented by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the concert features familiar holiday songs and festive arrangements performed by professional musicians.
It’s a popular seasonal outing for those who enjoy live music and holiday traditions.
The Nutcracker Ballet
Location: Knoxville area performance venues
The Nutcracker is a classic holiday ballet featuring the story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and the magical Land of Sweets.
Audiences can enjoy elaborate costumes, beautiful choreography, and Tchaikovsky’s familiar score. Knoxville-area dance companies present productions during the holiday season, with venues and schedules varying by performance.
Christmas Movies at the Tennessee Theater
Location: 604 S Gay Street, Knoxville, TN
The historic Tennessee Theater occasionally hosts holiday movie screenings, giving audiences an opportunity to watch Christmas favorites on the big screen.
Popular films featured in seasonal programming have included:
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Follow the Griswold family’s chaotic attempts to celebrate the perfect Christmas.
- Home Alone: Watch Kevin McCallister defend his home against two burglars after his family accidentally leaves him behind for Christmas.
The theater’s restored interior adds to the experience, making a holiday movie outing feel a little more special.
Enjoy the Holiday Season in Knoxville
From ice skating in Market Square to Christmas parades and live performances, holiday events in Knoxville offer plenty of opportunities to celebrate throughout the season.
Many of these activities have become annual traditions, while others depend on touring schedules or special programming. Be sure to check event organizers’ websites for current schedules, ticket information, and availability before making plans.
