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1. SKNBC Celebrates South Waterfront Group
2. Fountain City Town Hall Plans Free Holiday Celebration
3. Oakwood Lincoln Park Gets ReOaked
4. Office of Neighborhood Empowerment Attends Bike Walk Summit
5. Special Events Seeks Volunteers
6. City Hosts Second Bike Facilities Plan Meeting
7. OCSE Opens Grant Window
8. Trees Knoxville Organizes Invasive Removal Workday
9. Keep Your Street Neat: A Cleaner Community Starts With You
10. Support Refugees This Holiday Season
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1. SKNBC Celebrates South Waterfront Group
The South Knoxville Neighborhood and Business Coalition will host a community information meeting celebrating the work of the South Waterfront Advisory and Advocacy Group (SWAAG) and progress on the South Waterfront Down River Master Plan.
The meeting will be Monday, Dec. 8, at the Kerbela Temple, 315 Kerbela Ave. Drop in from 5 to 6:15 p.m. to explore information stations. A group reflection and Q and A will follow from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Over the past two years, SWAAG has partnered with neighbors, businesses, the City, the University of Tennessee, and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation to help shape a community-driven vision for the South Waterfront.
For more information, visit the City’s website.
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2. Fountain City Town Hall Plans Free Holiday Celebration
Fountain City Town Hall (FCTH) invites the community to a free holiday celebration at Fountain City Lake and Park, 117 Hotel Rd., on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4-7 p.m.
Enjoy live holiday performances by Gresham Middle School and Central High School bands. There will be hot cocoa, snacks, and you will be able to make crafts. There will be hot cocoa, snacks, crafts, and photos with Santa on his sleigh. Children can also mail letters to Santa at the event.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6:45 p.m.
If you are able, please bring new socks of any size for donation to the Knox County Schools Clothing Center.
You will also be able to purchase a live tree, wreath, or garland. All are welcome to attend.
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3. Oakwood Lincoln Park Gets ReOaked
On February 22, 2025, residents and volunteers planted 45 native oaks throughout the community. Forty were distributed to residents, and five were planted at the Christenberry Community Center. Trees Knoxville and KKB provided funding, trees, volunteers, and also organized a litter cleanup of the area.
“Oakwood Lincoln Park is a neighborhood with deep roots,” said Melissa Hinten, Executive Director of Trees Knoxville. “ReOak honored that history by helping residents restore the oaks that gave their neighborhood its name and character. This project shows the power of community-driven action in growing Knoxville’s urban forest.”
Restoring the oak canopy helps reduce heat, improve air quality, enhance walkability, and strengthen community pride. Native oak trees also support wildlife and provide long-term environmental benefits.
The ReOak model, combining a tree giveaway, public space plantings, and neighborhood stewardship, demonstrates a replicable model for urban canopy restoration. Trees Knoxville plans to expand this approach to three additional neighborhoods during the 2025 to 2026 planting season.
This project was made possible through the collaboration of residents, Trees Knoxville’s Volunteer Foresters, KKB, and the City of Knoxville’s Urban Forestry Division. It also was recognized with an Orchid Award for Environmental Stewardship at the 46th Annual Keep Knoxville Beautiful Orchids Beautification Awards.
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4. Office of Neighborhood Empowerment Attends Bike Walk Summit
Through a series of keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and mobile workshops, the Summit was a valuable educational and networking experience for cyclists, pedestrians, advocates, planners, engineers, and elected officials. This event brought individuals from across the state to share resources and best practices related to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, funding, education, outreach, and policy.
In 2012, Bike Walk Tennessee organized the first Tennessee Bike Summit in Chattanooga, Tennessee. More than 125 Tennesseans gathered in Chattanooga to discuss topics ranging from regional planning to bicycle encouragement programs like “Ride to Work” day. Since then, the Summit has visited every major city in Tennessee and has grown into an annual event.
In 2018, Bike Walk Tennessee changed the focus of the Summit to also include walking, changing the name to the Tennessee Bike Walk Summit and will continue to focus on walking AND biking at our annual Summit; this grows from a commitment to building streets that are safe and inviting for all people.
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5. Special Events Seeks Volunteers
The City of Knoxville’s Office of Special Events is preparing for free, family-friendly holiday events and is seeking volunteers. Volunteering helps support memorable experiences for both residents and visitors.
Please contact Elaine Frank at efr...@knoxvilletn.gov if you are able to assist on any of the dates/times below.
Christmas at Chilhowee
Friday, Nov. 21 - Chilhowee Park, 401 Lakeside St.
Volunteers, please arrive 15-30 minutes before shift for instructions.
Santa's Helpers: helping to keep the line for pictures with Santa running smoothly!
Shift: 6-7:30 p.m. - 1 person is needed
7:30-9 p.m. - 1 person is needed
Or if 1 person would like to do the full 3 hours that would be great!
Santa's Elves: helping Special Events with their booth at the event with making snowflakes, giving kids antlers and helping to answer questions.
Shift: 6-9 p.m. - 3 people are needed
The Regal Celebration of Lights
Friday, Nov. 28 - Downtown Knoxville-Market Square, Krutch Park
Volunteers, please arrive 15-30 minutes before shift for instructions.
Santa's Helpers: helping to keep the line for pictures with Santa running smoothly!
Shift: 6-7:30 p.m. - 2-3 people are needed
7:30-9 p.m. - 2-3 people are needed
Or if 2-3 people would like to do the full 3 hours that is an option as well
Santa's Elves: helping Special Events with their booth at the event with making reindeer food, giving kids antlers and helping to answer questions.
Shift: 5-7 p.m. - 2-3 people are needed
7-9 p.m. - 2-3 people are needed
These are both family-centered events, and volunteers are encouraged to bring their families with them. All are welcome to join!
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6. City Hosts Second Bike Facilities Plan Meeting
The City will host the second Bike Facilities Plan meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., with a brief presentation at 5 p.m. at the Public Works Service Center.
3131 Morris Ave.
The presentation at 5 p.m. will discuss the public comments received from the online survey and the methodology being used to create the proposed network included in the plan. This is an opportunity for the public to comment on the recommended network improvement corridors and verify that their active transportation needs are included.
The City understands that biking is a key component of a diverse transportation network, promoting healthy lifestyles and making its streets more vibrant and attractive. For people to choose biking over other modes of transportation, facilities must be provided that are safe, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing, while also connecting logical desire lines between recognized origins and destinations. A hierarchy of bicycle facilities must be planned, designed, and implemented that provide access and mobility to all users, regardless of age or ability, allowing for a more personable travel experience, patronage of businesses, and the pursuit of active, healthy lifestyles.
The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services.
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7. OCSE Opens Grant Window
The City’s Office of Community Safety and Empowerment has opened its grant application window now through Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 4:30 p.m.
Grant proposals should align with the mission and objectives of the African American Equity Restoration Task Force, Empower Knox, or the Office of Community Safety.
African American Equity Restoration Task Force
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Projects should support at least one Area of Focus: Education, Community Investment and Engagement, Homeownership, Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship, or Workforce Equity.
Empower Knox
Office of Community Safety
Applicants may apply for more than one opportunity, and past grantees are eligible.
For full details, visit the City’s website.
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8. Trees Knoxville Organizes Invasive Removal Workday
Trees Knoxville will host an invasive species removal workday on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Lennon-Sene Methodist Church, 2084 Dandridge Ave.
Join Trees Knoxville for a hands-on volunteer day as they remove invasive species and prepare the space for future reforestation planting at the Church.
Together, you’ll help restore a healthy ecosystem for our more-than-human neighbors and create a more beautiful, sustainable Knoxville.
There will be free food and a fun cookout during the event.
There will be some supplies for this event, but please feel free to bring your own gloves, tools, sunscreen, and your enthusiasm to dig in!
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9. Keep Your Street Neat: A Cleaner Community Starts With You
When every neighbor keeps their street clean, we all enjoy a safer, healthier, more beautiful Knoxville. Keep Knoxville Beautiful’s (KKB) new “Keep Your Street Neat” campaign encourages residents to take small steps that make a big difference — from hosting cleanups and borrowing free supplies, to adopting a local road, or inviting KKB to lead an educational program, these actions have a major impact.
Cleaner streets boost property values, protect wildlife, and strengthen community pride.
Join a seasonal cleanup, recycle at your next neighborhood event, or simply tidy your own block. When every street is neat, every neighborhood shines.
Learn more about the “Keep Your Street Neat” campaign at KKB’s website.
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10. Support Refugees This Holiday Season
Bridge Refugees Services is a non-profit organization that appreciates donations from people like you to help preserve the dignity, hope, and opportunity for people who need it most. Donations from community members support in-depth and personalized services — a vehicle to self-sufficiency, reduction of government reliance, and community integration.
Bridge is in need of shelf-stable, culturally appropriate food such as peanuts, tortillas, dry beans, basmati rice, elbow macaroni, sugar, tomato paste, lentils, and vegetable oil. Produce needs include tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, apples, and bananas.
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11. Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)
To add your neighborhood event or meeting to the Google calendar, call 865-215-3232.
Other Calendars
Additional online calendars that cover events outside the neighborhood realm include:
The City of Knoxville requires a permit to operate a short-term rental property. Details and a list of short-term rental permits are located on the City’s website here.
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