Knoxville is waking up from its winter slumber and festival season is upon us. To kick off the spring, Shamrock Fest will be held on March 15-16 in Market Square. Staying true to the St. Patrick’s Day theme, there will be authentic Irish food and drink, Celtic music, dance performances, cultural activities and the Lucky Kidney 6K run/walk. All proceeds benefit the East Tennessee Kidney Foundation. For more information visit knoxshamrockfest.com.
The following week from March 21-24, the Big Ears Festival will bring the arts scene alive with music, film, and interactive experiences. The festival was founded in 2009 and aims to create, nurture, and support artistic expression and cultural education across communities. Alex Ross of The New Yorker has called it “the most open-minded music gathering in the country.” For a list of performances and events, visit bigearsfestival.org.
To wrap up spring, Rossini Festival will hit Knoxville on April 13 to benefit the Knoxville Opera. This celebration of the performing arts features a bounty of live entertainment up and down Gay Street, accompanied by over 100 food vendors and artisans. This event is free to attend. For more information visit knoxvilleopera.com.