Downtown Knox ArtWalk

Addison's bookstore will be open for special extended hours First Friday!

6—9 PM.

November's featured artists are Brian McDaniel and Ed Lewis.

Brian McDaniel, Photography:
As a native East Tennessean, Brian has a deep appreciation and love of the natural beauty found here. His photographic journey began in 1978 with the purchase of his first camera, after which he returned to college to pursue a degree in photography. Brian has extensive experience in photography, including working as a photographer at two newspapers. After moving to Knoxville, Brian worked as a custom printer at Lab 1 for 6 years, and in sales at Thompson Photo Products for 10 years. In addition, McDaniel has worked professionally on many commercial jobs, and as a wedding and portrait photographer.

Ed Lewis, Wood:
Ed’s love of working with wood started many years ago. Originally he made bookcases, tables, aquarium stands and many other items. After moving to Tennessee, he was fortunate to have a woodworking workshop and eventually decided to try woodturning. He received his first lathe and started woodturning in 2016 and discovered that not only did he enjoy turning but he also had a natural ability. After making the usual bowls, vases, platters, etc., he started letting his creativity go wild and began experimenting with segmented pieces and especially dizzy bowls. Segmented turning allows him to create an endless variety of decorative pieces. He has also made fun and whimsical pieces like cats, gnomes, geese, bunnies and even snakes. Ed volunteers at the Wears Valley Ranch where he and other woodturners teach the craft to the students. Ed has been showcased in the Knoxville Master Woodworkers Show twice, and at Arrowmont School of Arts.

Explore the marketplace of more than 60 juried-in East TN artists.

5:30 PM—9 PM.

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!

Join RED Gallery for the opening of "Kitchen Table", a collection of paintings by Valerie England and Hannah Bingham.

5 PM—8 PM.

Visit Able Trade for beer, bites, and local talent.

Join them for November's First Friday gallery night, that brings their members together to showcase a variety of work from their shop. Plus, don't miss a 45-minute hands-on blacksmithing workshop, where you can forge your own candy cane or icicle. 

5:30 PM—8:30 PM.

The musical guest for First Friday Live will be Sophie Gault.

6 PM—7 PM.

Visit Bethie Lou’s Fabulous Gift Store at their new location at 108 E Jackson Ave, Ste 1! Home of the Mermen, fun, laughter, and fabulous gifts. All 25 Mermen will be on display! Extended First Friday hours.

Open until 9 PM.

The East Tennessee Woodworkers Guild and Able Trade proudly present the 22nd Southern Woodworkers Showcase, formerly known as the Master Woodworkers Show. This celebrated biennial juried exhibition brings together the finest woodworking talent from East Tennessee and the surrounding region, featuring over 30 accomplished craftspeople and artists.

5 PM—9 PM.

Join RALA on November's First Friday, for a showcase of Brian Pittman's latest work! Also known as the "cathedral guy", Brian creates highly detailed pieces that are recognizable throughout Knoxville. The show will be available to shop both in-store and online through November.

6 PM—9 PM.

Enjoy jazz with Chad Melton and Friends. Great spot for dinner and cocktails.

8 PM—10:30 PM.

Start your ArtWalk in the Old City at the Old City's First Friday Block Party! Shop local artists and makers, enjoy live music, and stick around for a 7 PM square dance with Uncle Stan and the Old City Stringband.

5–9 PM.

Join Awaken Coffee for First Friday for an opening reception for Holly Pawlowski. 

“My goal with (my) mixed media abstract work is to create pieces that are bright, reflective, and heavily textured that engage and entertain the viewer. They are dynamic pieces that shimmer and reflect various holographic colors that change depending on which angle they are viewed from.” - Holly

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

6 PM—8 PM.

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

5 PM—9 PM.

Enjoy music from Adam Whipple Band (21+).

9 PM.

Join Dogwood Arts for the Opening Reception of 'Fragile', a group exhibition featuring sculptural + functional ceramics by 39 local and regional artists. Explore handcrafted pieces perfect for your home or holiday gifting — and don’t miss the Mug Wall, where you can snag a one-of-a-kind handmade mug!

4 PM—8 PM.

Join the UT Downtown Gallery for the opening exhibit for sculptor, Robert Hernandez.

Robert Hernandez is a mixed-media sculptor whose interdisciplinary practice integrates drawing and paper-based sculpture. His work explores the spatial and material possibilities of paper as both surface and structure.

5 PM—9 PM.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "Southern Comforts" by Michelle Lindsey & Jacene Witzel.

Southern Comforts is a heartfelt tribute to the people, places, and flavors that define the state of Tennessee. Through her paintings, Michelle Lindsey explores everything from iconic architecture to classic Southern foods, and each piece is a conversation about history, community, and the simple comforts that make Tennessee feel like home. Jacene Witzel created complementary ceramic work celebrating the icons and everyday delights of our community. Together, their works weave a story of memory, place, comfort, and a little humor, and they invite viewers to smile and rediscover the joy of what makes East Tennessee home.

5 PM—9 PM.

Enjoy live music from 7—9 PM! And don't miss new work in the Curio!

5 PM—9 PM.

Union Ave Books is excited to present a Poetry Night in celebration of First Fridays, featuring Garrett Ashley, Ellen Austin-Li, Sheri Joseph, and Katherine Scott Crawford. RSVP for this FREE event by visiting unionavebooks.com/events.

6 PM—8 PM.

Arrowmont Gallery is proud to present their first Knoxville Featured Exhibition with local artists Amy Evans and Brian Melton. Through the mediums of clay and wood, these two Knoxville-based artists explore themes rooted in traditional craft, nature, and community. Join them for First Friday celebrations in November and December as they come together to celebrate their inspiring work. This exhibition will be on view through December 13, 2025. 

Amy Evans is a ceramic artist whose work engages the enduring dialogue between form, symbolism, and nature. Drawing upon traditional hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques, she creates vessels and sculptural works that merge functional design with poetic narrative. Birds, flora, and archetypal motifs frequently surface in her practice, serving as metaphors for memory, fragility, and resilience. The staccato rhythm of the mallet, the soft whisper of the gouge, and the whirring of power tools keep time as Brian R. Melton, a vernacular artist who was nearly thirty when he fell in love with wood sculpture, composes narratives from raw blocks of wood in his East Tennessee studio.

The Arrowmont Gallery is located at 110 S. Gay St in Knoxville, TN and open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 10-5 and Friday 2-7.

For 80 years, Arrowmont has been teaching a variety of arts and craft workshops to the public, hosting over 200 creative experiences each year. For more information on workshops, visit their website and discover your next artistic pursuit!

5 PM—9 PM.

Get ready to dance with music from DJ Andres Tapia.

10 PM.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "The Celebrity Show" by William Holbert.

The Celebrity Show is a collection of paintings of well-known actors, musicians and athletes in a variety of media including oil, acrylic, colored pencil, and alcohol ink.

5 PM—9 PM.

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

In studio until 9 PM.

Gallery 1010 is the only fully student-run, non-profit, off-campus UTK exhibition space in the state of Tennessee. Gallery 1010 provides a location for School of Art artists to exhibit their work, curate exhibitions, and collaborate with other artists or disciplines outside of the School of Art.

Join the opening reception for "Lithomania", featuring works curated by Ivy Manska and Mable Ni.

5 PM—7 PM.

Live music all night.

8 PM. 

Casa HoLa invites you to the debut of their Día de Los Muertos collaborative exhibit. The exhibit debuts on First Friday and will remain on display through the whole month of November.

5 PM—9 PM.

Underground @ Mirage featuring a selection of house music. With Kevin Nowell, Chris Marc, Christian Ferrer, and Earl Grae. Featuring live percussion from "Legend" Cory Hodge. Enjoy house music all night long at this FREE event. (ID required.)

6 PM—1:00 AM.

The Arts & Culture Alliance presents "A Moment in Time" by Bethany Stahl.

A Moment in Time features a collection of plein air paintings by Bethany Stahl created directly from life in the open air over the past few months, spanning scenes from Tennessee to Illinois. Each brushstroke responds to shifting light, fleeting color, and the living atmosphere, capturing a moment that can never be repeated. Working in oil, Stahl paints on location, from the center of a stream to a windy mountaintop. Stahl captures the impression of the energy of the moment in her work. This exhibition celebrates the world around us, inviting viewers to pause, notice, and reconnect with the subtle beauty in everyday landscapes.

5 PM—9 PM.

Stop in Studio 106 Art Gallery. Located on the lower level of the Emporium Center inside suite 106, the gallery will offer specials and discounts for First Friday!

11 AM—9 PM.

Live music all night. Tickets at door.

8 PM.