Knoxville arts – From new downtown art openings on June 5 to family movie nights at the Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville’s June arts scene is packed with chances to see local work, enjoy live performances, and head to free concerts—right through late July.
On June 5, the art world in Knoxville doesn’t quietly arrive—it pours into downtown. The Emporium Center opens four new exhibitions that evening, from 5:00–9:00 PM, with a free gathering alongside the exhibiting artists and live music by Nick Marlow.
For anyone looking to stretch an evening beyond dinner plans, the same night also feeds another scene. At Red Gallery, 130 West Jackson Avenue, “A Brief Moment in Time” opens from 5–9 p.m. on June 5. More than 40 participating artists will be on display. showing paintings. drawings. photography. ceramics. and more as part of an A1LabArts Members Show.
If you’re keeping track of the week like a checklist, June 6 keeps the momentum going. Red Gallery hosts an Open Gallery during Rhinestone Fest, running from noon to 8 p.m. And across town, people who prefer their music outdoors have options beginning June and stretching into July.
A free, outdoor concert series is set to launch at the Charles West Amphitheater in Jack Greene Park in downtown Maryville each Thursday during June and July 2026, running from 7–9 p.m. The inaugural season lists:
June 11 – Slap Drago
June 18 – The Sensational Barnes Brothers
June 25 – Milk Man & The Big Band
July 2 – Darrell Scott
July 9 – Chatham County Line
July 16 – Cedric Burnside
July 23 – J & The Causeways
July 30 – Wyatt Ellis
On the family front, the Tennessee Theatre’s Summer Movie Magic Series returns with three dates and six movies. Representatives are available to share the lineup and how to get tickets, keeping the series positioned as a community-friendly staple rather than a one-off screening.
June 5 also lands squarely in the middle of live theatre plans. Knoxville Children’s Theatre. in partnership with the Clayton Foundation. presents a live production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Performances are scheduled for Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. The shows take place at 747 World’s Fair Park, running from June 5 through June 21.
Other June performances and events widen the net beyond Knoxville. June 6 brings “Martinis at the Mansion. ” a garden party at Blount Mansion on Saturday. June 6. at 5:30. with details and tickets directed through Blount Mansion’s website for “Blount Mansion’s Annual Garden Party – Martinis at the Mansion.”.
Also on June 6, “Bijou Jubilee” is set to feature a folk festival both in the theatre and on Gay Street. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20, for the theatre’s largest annual fundraiser, presented by Lawson Family Foundation.
For a quieter, community-focused evening, Marble City Opera in the Park is a free concert at Lakeshore Park in Knoxville on June 6, with food trucks and the event described as a gift to the community.
The calendar turns toward larger productions later in the month. On June 18 and 20. “The Tragedy of Carmen”—a 90-minute adaptation of Bizet’s “Carmen”—will be presented at the Historic Grove Theatre in Oak Ridge. The cast listed is Kathryn Frady, Edward Brennan, Jacquie Reynolds, and Geoffrey Peterson.
And for people who like to plan their escape weekends, there’s a cultural stop date that spans early summer. From June 30 through July 7, the American Revolution Experience Exhibit will be on display at the East TN History Center.
None of this is scattered randomly; it’s a full map of how art moves through the region—from gallery doors opening on Friday. June 5. to outdoor stages drawing crowds on Thursday nights in Maryville. to productions running across multiple weekends. The emphasis is constant: exhibitions featuring emerging artists. art walks. and opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture that shapes the community.
If you want to keep the thread going beyond one event, the best bet is to follow along each Thursday for what’s next—exhibitions, art walks, and more chances to connect through art.
Knoxville arts events Greater Knoxville culture Emporium Center exhibitions Red Gallery A Brief Moment in Time A1LabArts Members Show Rhinestone Fest Open Gallery Knoxville Children’s Theatre Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Blount Mansion Martinis at the Mansion Bijou Jubilee Marble City Opera in the Park Maryville outdoor concert series Slap Drago The Sensational Barnes Brothers Cedric Burnside Chatham County Line Historic Grove Theatre Oak Ridge The Tragedy of Carmen East TN History Center American Revolution Experience Exhibit