From powerful poetry and basketball legends to tasty margarita and Juneteenth celebrations, there’s lots of fun to be had in Knoxville this coming weekend.

Plan your schedule carefully so you can snap for spoken word at the Southern Fried Poetry Slam and then sip your way through the Margarita Festival. Also make sure there’s room for a couple of comedy shows and an esports final livestreamed at a local movie theater.

Knoxville will also celebrate freedom and Black history with Juneteenth events around town. Check out a few of the fun things going this weekend and exciting future events to enjoy.

The Southern Fried Poetry Slam tournament is a four-day festival celebrating poetry, spoken word and community outreach. The event is held during the first week of June every year in cities across the Southeastern region of the United States and is one of the largest spoken word and performance poetry tournaments in the world.

Knoxville events include:

• Monologue Slam | 11 p.m.-1 a.m. June 11 | Old City Performing Arts Center
• Erotic Open Mic | 11 p.m.-1 a.m. June 12 | Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus
• Hip Hop Open Mic | 11 p.m.- 1 a.m. June 13 | Noble Kava
• Finals Night | 7-10 p.m. June 14 | Knoxville Convention Center

Several events and workshops are planned each day of the festival at various venues near the Knoxville Convention Center, including an afterparty at Sassy Ann’s on June 14.

Tickets to the poetry slam finals are $28.52. Admission to the after party is $17.85. Other events are free. Tickets and full festival schedule are available at southernfriedpoetryslam.com/2025-tournament-knoxville-tn.

Seven legends of the game will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre.

The 2025 inductees are Alana Beard, Sue Bird, Mark Campbell, Danielle Donehew, Sylvia Fowles, Lucille Kyvallos and Cappie Pondexter.

The event starts at 5:45 p.m. Tickets start at $163 via Ticketmaster as of June 9.

Who has the best margarita in Knoxville? Restaurants will compete for the honor at the second annual Margarita Festival, where you can sample 10 mini margaritas. The event also features entertainment and dinner from local food vendors.

The festival will be 6-9 p.m. at The Mill & Mine. New this year is a VIP hour at 5 p.m. Tickets start at $54 and can be purchased at knoxvillefests.com/margarita.

This event is 21+ and alcohol service ends at 8:45 p.m.

Riot Games Finals Livestream | June 15

Regal Pinnacle in Turkey Creek will livestream the League of The Americas North Split 2 Finals at 4 p.m. Admission to the live esports broadcast event is $15 and attendees will receive League of Legends branded merchandise while supplies last. The event will be broadcast live from the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles to select theaters across the country.

Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office or kiosks, on the Regal mobile app and through REGmovies.com.

Juneteenth Celebrations | June 19

The annual Martin Luther King March and Juneteenth Celebration celebrates freedom, heritage and community. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at Chilhowee Park and the celebration begins at 11 a.m. at Dr. Walter Hardy Park.

Mabry-Hazen House also presents its annual “…And Then I Became Free” event. Visitors will learn about the lives of African Americans connected to Mabry-Hazen House, their achievements and struggles and the various methods they used to gain freedom.

Special Juneteenth Mabry-Hazen House tours will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 19 and at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 21. Executive Director Patrick Hollis will give a talk about the life and emancipation of Wiley Mabry at 6 p.m. June 19.

Admission is free but limited to 24 visitors per tour.

Concerts and shows to check out

DeRay Davis | June 14

• 7 p.m. at Bijou Theatre.
• Tickets are $35-$60.
• More information at knoxbijou.org.

Fred Armisen | June 20

• 7 p.m. at Bijou Theatre.
• Tickets are $35-$45.
• More information at knoxbijou.org.

Looking ahead for even more fun in Knoxville!

Knoxville Brewfest | June 21

Breweries and beer enthusiasts gather for a summer afternoon sampling fresh beers of all colors, styles and flavors at World’s Fair Park. There are two sessions: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

Tickets are $60 for attendees and $30 for designated drives. Only a limited number of tickets are available. Tickets can get purchased at knoxvillebrewfest.com.

Fortune Feimster | June 21

The comedian brings her “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” tour to the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Tickets start at $40 via Ticketmaster as of June 9.

Patriot Festival | July 4

Country star Dylan Scott set to headline this year’s Patriot Festival in Pigeon Forge, the city’s annual Independence Day celebration and concert. The lineup also includes artist-songwriter Alana Springsteen, former “American Idol” hopeful and Seymour, Tennesseem native Bryson Quick and the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus.

FanBoy Expo | July 11-13

Tennessee’s largest pop culture event features celebrity guests, comic industry pros, cosplay, vendors, live entertainment and more. Tickets for adults start at $35, Information is available at fanboyexpo.com/knoxville.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter @dturner1208. 

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