October in Knoxville: Scare on the Square Oct. 29, the last Market Square farmers markets, Die Fledermaus at the Tennessee Theatre and Halloween races Oct. 31.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month. Events come from the City of Knoxville’s events calendar and the Knoxville Chamber community calendar, linked to each listing. Times are Eastern. Prices are as the organizer lists them; check the listing before you go, because plans change.

The second half of October in Knoxville is all Halloween and fall: the last weeks of the Market Square Farmers Market, Scare on the Square on Thursday, Oct. 29, the opera Die Fledermaus at the Tennessee Theatre, and a busy Halloween morning of charity runs. For trick-or-treat times and trunk-or-treats, see our trick-or-treat hours guide; for this weekend only, see things to do this weekend.

Event questions

This weekend: Oct. 17-18

  • Market Square Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on Market Square. A producer-only market run by Nourish Knoxville. City listing
  • West Hills Pickleball Tournament: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, a tournament and skills clinic hosted by Healthy West Hills. City listing
  • Frontier Frights at Marble Springs: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Marble Springs State Historic Site, 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway. Free. Listing
  • Old City Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, on the 100 block of W. Jackson Avenue. A local artists’ street market hosted by the Old City Association. City listing

Oct. 21-25

  • Market Square Farmers Market (Wednesday): 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. City listing
  • Starlight Movie Night: “The Goonies” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and “E.T.” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Ancient Lore Village, 7107 Sevierville Pike. Listing
  • Halloween Trick or Treat Trails: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday, Oct. 23, at Ancient Lore Village. Listing
  • Candlelight concerts: “Halloween Classics” at 6:30 p.m. and a Fleetwood Mac tribute at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Tickets listed from $42.28. Listing
  • Die Fledermaus: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Tennessee Theatre. Listing
  • Upper Room: Downtown: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, on Market Square, a Christian worship and outreach evening. City listing
  • Men Wear Pink: The Pink Dress Run: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, on the World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn; an American Cancer Society race open to walkers. City listing
  • Beardsley Farm Harvest Festival: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Beardsley Community Farm, 1741 Reynolds St. Free. Listing
  • Knoxville Creature Gathering: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, on Market Square, with vendors and a charity walk for Helping Mamas Knoxville. City listing
  • Knoxville Buddy Walk: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at World’s Fair Park, celebrating friends with Down syndrome. City listing

Halloween week: Oct. 29-31

  • Scare on the Square: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on Market Square. Family-friendly, with live music from Teen Spirit, supporting the Empty Stocking Fund. City listing
  • Sequoyah Hills 5K for Parkinson’s: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1400 Cherokee Blvd., raising money for PJ Parkinson’s Support. City listing
  • Miles for Milestones 5K and Fall Festival: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4901 Bradshaw Road, with a 100-yard dash, costume contest and inclusive trick-or-treating. City listing
  • Race for the Summitt: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, from 2351 Kingston Pike. The UT College of Pharmacy’s 13th annual race honors the late coach Pat Summitt and raises money for the Pat Summitt Foundation and Alzheimer’s research. City listing
  • Market Square Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, the last Saturday of the market’s May-to-October season. City listing
  • Fright Fest Block Party: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, on Connecticut Avenue, a health and wellness block party from SujudFit. City listing

Helping out

  • Saturday Spruce Up: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 17, at the North Knoxville City Recycling Center, 5412 Pleasant Ridge Road. Listing
  • Veterans Memorial Park Work Day: 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 30, at French Broad Veterans Memorial Park, 2302 E. Gov. John Sevier Highway. Listing

What this means for you

  • Downtown events close parts of Market Square and World’s Fair Park; check our road closures page and park in a city garage.
  • Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the morning races and the evening trick-or-treating are on the same day.

More: fall festivals and pumpkin patches, farmers markets and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

What is happening in Knoxville this weekend?

On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Market Square Farmers Market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Marble Springs holds free Frontier Frights 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Old City Market is Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on W. Jackson Avenue.

When is Scare on the Square in Knoxville?

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, 6 to 10 p.m. on Market Square, with live music from Teen Spirit, supporting the Empty Stocking Fund.

When does the Market Square Farmers Market end for the season?

The Saturday and Wednesday market runs May through October; the last Saturday market of the season is Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Are there free Halloween events in Knoxville?

Yes. Frontier Frights at Marble Springs State Historic Site on Oct. 17 is free, and the Miles for Milestones fall festival on Oct. 31 includes inclusive trick-or-treating.