Ho Ho Holiday! ‘Tis the Peppermint Season in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sweet dreams and Scout Elves will bring locals and visitors to the Peppermint Village through Jan. 7 in Downtown Knoxville.

Holidays on Ice presented by Home Federal Bank welcomes adults and children to skate day and night, every day, at the open-air ice rink nestled under twinkling lights in the middle of Market Square. Guests find music, 160,000 pounds of ice, and more through Jan. 7 Admission includes skate rental. Special appearances by Peppermint Panda, Christmas in the City’s mascot, add to the skating and photo fun.

Grab a hot chocolate and stroll around downtown to enjoy trees, windows, doors, and patios dripping in lights and dipped in peppermint. Businesses are decked in peppermint-themed decorations to add to the more than 100,000 lights and garlands draped throughout trees and parks. Snap some family photos in front of store windows competing in the Window Wonderland.

Adding to the peppermint fun, make some stops on the Peppermint Trail of Treats. Downtown restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars, and boutiques are featuring peppermint specials throughout the season creating a delicious Peppermint Village. Guests can help others navigate the trail by posting their favorites at #knoxpeppermint. 

Additionally 36 downtown businesses are adopting scout elves for The Elf on the Shelf® Adventure. Children of all ages can be a part of this returning community-wide scavenger hunt as Santa’s helpers land each day in Downtown Knoxville. Lucky for Knoxville, Santa granted these Scout Elves special permission to stay a little later this year for this fun-filled event.  

In addition to these season-long activities ese additional holiday events include:

WIVK Christmas Parade

Dec. 1, 7 p.m.

Downtown Knoxville

Bands, dancers, floats, characters, and Santa Claus parade down Gay Street bringing fun holiday spirit to all!

Market Square Holiday Market

Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Downtown Knoxville, Market Square

Outdoor market including artisans, food producers, food trucks, and farmers.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” presented by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union

Dec. 10, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., FREE

Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee Theatre

Screening of the 1946 classic film takes place at the beautiful Tennessee Theatre. Doors open one hour before show.

Christmas at Chilhowee

Dec. 8, 6-9 p.m.

Chilhowee Park

Live music by Vine Middle School Chorus will begin the lighting of the tree on the Chilhowee Park Bandstand. There are many free activities including building a gingerbread house with Austin East Culinary Arts Department, train rides for all ages, pictures with Santa Claus, marshmallow roasting, hot cocoa by All Occasion Catering, face painting, balloon animals, hay rides through the trail of lights and more. The Muse Knoxville will have special activities.

Tour de Lights

Dec. 15, 7 p.m.

Downtown Knoxville, starts at Market Square

Bikes, lights, garland, and tinsel. The 11th annual holiday bike ride winds through downtown neighborhoods including 4th and Gill area.

New Year’s on the Square

Dec. 31, 10 p.m.

Downtown Knoxville, Market Square

Ring in 2018 with friends and family. Bicho Brothers will perform on Market Square followed by the ball drop and fireworks at midnight.

This jam-packed, season-long holiday schedule is organized by the City of Knoxville, Visit Knoxville, and the Downtown Knoxville Central Business Improvement District with significant support from a variety of corporate sponsors. Details about what???s happening city-wide can be found at visitknoxville.com. Downtown Knoxville merrymaking can be found at downtownknox.org/holiday.

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