Downtown Knox ArtWalk

A weekend full of celebrating Dolly Parton, our queen of East Tennessee! The annual Dolly-themed festival encompass all artists, musicians, and do-gooders that Dolly has inspired throughout her rhinestone-studded career. Rhinestone Fest will take place on June 6 & 7, 2025 at various locations in and around the Old City. Rhinestone Fest is a family friendly event and is free to attend.

Grab your gear, your friends, and your passport to experience our downtown! Meet some of East Tennessee’s most interesting amphibian residents in the form of little bronze sculptures!

Grab a passport at Mast General Store, Visit Knoxville, or download a digital version at knoxnewts.com. Study the clues, and find all 12 bronze newts hidden amid our downtown landmarks.

This permanent, self-guided scavenger hunt is free to play and open 24/7, year round. Happy hunting!

Visit Able Trade for beer, bites, and local talent. Enjoy works from primary oil and acrylic painter, Alex Simental. Alex is a Mexican American multidisciplinary artist from Huntington, WV. Plus, enjoy an artist demonstration with David Teeters as he fires up his torch for some amazing glass art!

5:30 PM—8:30 PM.

Hot shop Glassblowing Demonstrations at nationally known Pretentious. Don’t miss this.

5 PM—9 PM.

The musical guest for First Friday Live will be Kelsi Walker.

6 PM—7 PM.

Addison's bookstore will be open for special extended hours First Friday! Enjoy works from pottery artist Cornelia Mazzan. Plus they will be offering cookbooks at half-price on First Friday.

6—9 PM.

Enjoy music from Jessica Watson, Seth Hopper, Barry Po Hannah from 6 – 8 PM and Roman Reese and the Cardinal Sins from 9 PM – midnight (21+).

Enjoy jazz with Donald Brown. Great spot for dinner and cocktails.

8 PM—10:30 PM.

Visit Bethie Lou’s Fabulous Gift Store at their new location at 108 E Jackson Ave., Ste 1! ome in for a special experience of fun, laughter, and fabulous gifts. Extended First Friday hours.

Open until 9 PM.

Artist Deana Fulton presents her newest series, "Laughter of Flowers", which includes Deana's Large Graphic Flowers and her Mini Landscapes that originated as Oil and Acrylic Paintings. These exquisite flowers and landscapes are filled with refreshing colors and are elements of her imagination, capturing moments of both peace and excitement. They are subjects that are fantasies in her imagination that brought her to a place of peace and healing. Come join Deana at First Friday on June 6th at The Phoenix Building / Gallery as she shares her collection of originals and high quality, fine art, giclée prints.

The works will be on display until July 26. Some paintings will be available for purchase.

5 PM – 8:30 PM

Rala is delighted to present the Dolly Art Show — a month-long celebration of the one and only Dolly! Join us throughout June as we honor her legacy with an inspiring collection of original artworks and prints by local and regional artists, each paying tribute to Dolly’s iconic spirit, style, and influence.

Poetry night featuring Benjamin Frey, Max Hunt, Jasmine Flowers, and Stevie Edwards. Join to hear poetry, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the written word. RSVP for this FREE event by visiting unionavebooks.com/events.

6 PM—8 PM.

Join Awaken Coffee for First Friday for an opening reception for artist Emily McTyre.

Emily McTyre is a photographer, filmmaker, and mixed media artist raised in Maryville and based in Asheville, NC. This collection of work is largely inspired by the Appalachian quilting tradition. Each piece explores a facet of quilt-making such as color, geometry, variety of materials used. The pieces also call on themes of lineage, regional influence, and the skill and dedication of quilters.

Please join us for some amazing art and of course great coffee! 

6 PM—8 PM.

The Arrowmont Gallery's June exhibition features summer instructors Millian Giang Pham and Jina Seo.

This exhibition brings together two artists who use symbolic materials and coded language to explore identity, class, and cultural belonging. Through abstraction and layering, both challenge viewers to look beyond surface aesthetics and engage with the deeper systems that shape perception and power. Their work invites us to read between the lines and consider how objects and language carry stories of history, trauma, and resistance.

5 PM—9 PM.

For over 22 years, the Pilot Light has been the go-to for independent and experimental music. On Friday, hear performances by Nightjar with Minorcan and Kiss Richards. Tickets at door.

8 PM.

Music from Airshow with Mending Wall. Tickets at door.

8 PM.

Enjoy music from The Singletons.

7 PM—10 PM.

Original oils by Robin Rohwer and photography by Christopher Rohwer. The husband and wife artist duo is excited for Spring with lots of new work to share!

In studio until 9 PM.

Join the UT Downtown Gallery for "REMEMBERING: Resist, Reveal, ReClaim”. This exhibit is presented by Crafting Blackness initiative, a five-year collaborative research, publication, and exhibition series to advance the visibility of Black Craft and African American artists in Tennessee since 1920 up to present.

5 PM—9 PM.

June's featured visitor at the Visitor's Center will be a representative from the Knoxville Smokies giving out information about upcoming games/schedule

5:30 PM—7 PM.

Live music all night!

8 PM. 

Casa HoLa invites you to the debut of Radical Love by Enrique — a heartfelt celebration of Queer culture in Knoxville. This powerful exhibit showcases striking charcoal portraits alongside film photography that captures intimate, everyday moments of life in East Tennessee.

5 PM—9 PM.

Get ready to dance with music from DJ Andres Tapia.

10 PM.

Underground featuring house music from Cincinnati’s Ben Welham and Lexington’s Nate FX. Resident percussionist Corey " Legend " Hodge and local dj support from Earl Grae, Kevin Nowell, and Chris Marc. Enjoy house music all night long at this FREE event. (ID required.)

6 PM—1:00 AM.