Looking at ways to entertain the kids? Look no further than our 75+ Fun Family Activities in Knoxville! From museums to cooking classes, we’ve got something for everyone in the family!
75+ Fun Family Activities in Knoxville
Museums
McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture: Open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm and Sunday 10:00aam-5:00pm. The museum is closed on the following dates: January 1, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and 25. Stroller tours and family fun days are also offered. Admission & Parking are FREE, but you must book your visit in advance.
Muse Knoxville: General Admission $12.00 (ages 1-64), Reduced Cost Admission $6.00 (Senior Citizens 65+, Tennessee Educators with Valid ID, Military & Guests with Valid Military Personnel ID), Members & Children under the age of one are FREE. Planetarium shows are free and unlimited with paid admission. The summer hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00am-5:00pm and weekends 9:00am-5:00pm. The summer hours begin on Memorial Day. The school year hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm.
Knoxville Museum of Art: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm–5:00pm. Admission FREE. Closed on Mondays. Check website for special events, tours and other workshops.
American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge): Tickets Adults $10.00, Youth/Seniors/Active Military/Students with IDs $5.00, Children ages 5 and under FREE. Open Monday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm. The museum is open daily, except Christmas Eve, Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge: Adults $10.00, Seniors (Age 62+)/Active-Duty Military/Teachers $5.00, Children 3 to 17 $8.00, Children under 3 FREE. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm, Sundays 1:00-4:00pm. Closed: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Museum of East Tennessee History: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors (ages 55+), and FREE for children 16 and under. Admission is FREE each Sunday. ETHS Members always receive FREE admission. Monday-Friday 9:00am–4:00pm, Saturday 10:00am–4:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm–5:00pm.
Museum of Appalachia (Norris/Clinton exit): Adults (18-64) $20.00, Seniors $18.00, Youth (6-17) $10.00, Children (under 6 with parent) FREE. January and February open 10:00am–4:00pm daily; March to May Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm. June-August 9:00am-6:00pm Daily. September and October Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm. November-December 9:00am-5:00pm.
Beck Cultural Exchange Center: Self-guided and guided tours are available. Guests are encouraged to call (865) 524-8461 before visiting.
Farragut Folklife Museum: Open Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-2:00pm. Free admission. Docents provide tours of the museum.
Knoxville Sunsphere: Observation deck is open Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. (Note they are closed from 12:30pm-1:30pm Monday-Saturday for employee lunch break.) Adults & Kids over 12 $10.00, Kids 12 & Under $5.00, Veterans $1.00 off ticket price (only available when purchased in person). Tickets may be purchased here or at the Sunsphere Welcome Center.
Lenoir Museum (Norris): Historical artifacts from early life in East Tennessee. Open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm. Old Timey Bluegrass Music is performed from 2:00pm-5:00pm most Sundays. Call (865) 425-4500 for more information. Admission is FREE.
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: Admission is $8.27 for adults, $6.19 for seniors (62+), Youth (6-15) $6.19 and Children under 5 FREE. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-5:00pm.
Blount Mansion: Admission is $15.00 for adults, $12.00 for seniors & AAA/CAA Members, and $10.00 for children (6+), free for children 5 and under. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm. Open Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm. Free tours are offered to children ages 6 to 17 when accompanied by an adult. Last tour starts at 3:00pm.
Mabry-Hazen House: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for students (must present student ID), Children under 13 are free. Open March to December Monday-Saturday. Must schedule tour online.
Historic Ramsey House: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors (55+), $8.00 for children (5-17) and children under 5 FREE. Open Thursday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm.
Crescent Bend House & Gardens: Admission is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students, children 12 and under FREE. A $2.00 discount on an adult admission is given to AAA, AARP and Knox Heritage members. Open by appointment only.
Knoxville Bleak House: Admission is $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors (65+), $6.00 for students (12-18) and children 12 and under are FREE. Open March to December Wednesday-Friday 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Marble Springs State Historic Site: Tours of historic buildings $10.00 for adults 18+, $8.00 for seniors, military and children (Ages 5-17), FREE for children 4 years & under. Self-Guided Tours/Hiking/Picnicking FREE. Open Wednesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm. Guided tours at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
James White’s Fort: Tour Knoxville’s first home! Admission is $10.00 for adults, AAA/Seniors/Military $9.00 and $5.00 for children (Ages 5-17). Open April-November Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm. Open December-March Monday-Friday 10:00am-4:00pm.
Cooking
The Cutting Edge Classroom: A cooking school located in West Knoxville offering fun hands-on classes taught by local chefs. Kids, adult, and parent/child classes are offered. Prices vary.
Cook n Craft Academy: Cooking and crafting classes for kids of all ages located in historic Loudon. The instructor has worked and crafted alongside Martha Stewart and other notables. Gift certificates are available.
DIY/Crafting
Creative Art with Miss Shelley at Smart Toys and Books: Enjoy fun year-round kids’ art classes and summer camps in the art studio with professional artist and pre-k to 5th grade art educator Miss Shelley. Classes are held at Smart Toys & Books.
Knoxville Arts Center: KAC is part of the Knoxville Parks & Recreation Department. A wide range of classes for children and adults are offered. For more information, click here.
Home Depot Kids Workshops: First Saturday of the month 9:00am-12:00pm. Advanced registration required. Each child gets a free Home Depot apron.
Indoor
Smart Toys and Books: Call (865) 394-6060 to check Open Play session availability and to book workshops and classes.
Foothills Gym/Tumble Bears Preschool Open Gym: Open gym days vary from 10:00am-11:00am. Cost is $5.00 per child, ages walking to 5-years-old. Limited spots are available so you must register and pay online.
Main Event: Monday 11:00am-1:00am, Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-12:00am, Friday 11:00am-2:00am, Saturday 9:00am-2:00am, Sunday 11:00am-12:00am. Activity passes are $10.00 and up. Attractions include bowling, laser tag, arcade games, and ropes course.
Gym Bugs: Open gym $5.00 per child ($1 discount for siblings); cash or check only. Early September through mid-May. Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30am-11:30am. Open gym hours will resume after Labor Day.
Tataru’s Gymnastics: Open play Monday 10:00am-2:00pm and Tuesday-Thursday10:00am-12:00pm. Admission $10.00 for 1 hour and $15.00 for 2 hours. Parents’ Night Out Friday and Saturday 7:00pm-10:00pm. Admission $25.00 for 3 hours with pizza and drink.
Sky Zone Knoxville: Monday-Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm, Friday 10:00am-10:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-10:00pm & Sunday 9:00am-9:00pm. Standard Weekday & Weekend Pass $26.99 for 90 minutes. Grip socks ($3.00) are required.
Slick City Action Park: Monday-Thursday 10:00am-8:30pm, Friday 10:00am-10:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-7:45pm/Summer After Hours 8:00pm-10:00pm & Sunday 11:00am-8:30pm/Little Sliders Club 9:00am-11:00am. A 90-minute session is $29.99 and a 120-minutes session is $34.99.
K1 Speed Knoxville: Monday-Thursday 12:00pm-10:00pm, Friday 12:00pm-12:00am, Saturday 10:00am-12:00am & Sunday 10:00am-10:00pm. One race is $27.99, two races $50.99 and three races are $65.99.
Onsight Rock Gym: Adult Day Pass (13+) $20.00, Youth Day Pass (12 & Under) $18.00 and Tot Pass (5 & Under) $10.00. All required rental gear $9.00. Monday-Friday 11:00am-10:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday 10:00am-6:00pm.
Cherokee Caverns: Historic Cherokee Caverns holds special events throughout the year. To plan your visit, go to the Cherokee Caverns website or Facebook page.
The Ice Chalet: Admission $9.50, skate rental $7.50, Age 5 & Under $7.50. Spectator Fee $5.50. Check website for times and further details. Group rates are available.
Family Bowl Strike and Spare: Open Monday-Tuesday 11:00am-12:00am, Wednesday 11:00am-1:00am, Thursday 11:00am-12:00am, Friday 11:00am-2:00am, Saturday 10:30am-2:00am and Sunday 10:30am-2:00am. The hourly rates Monday-Friday Open to 6:00pm $24.25, Weeknight 6:00pm to close $27.50 and Weekend Friday 6:00pm to Sunday $32.50. Open bowling rates are Weekday open to 6:00pm $5.05, Weeknight to 6:00pm to close $5.95 and Weekend Friday 6:00pm to Sunday $6.55. Shoe rental: $4.95 plus tax.
Chuck E Cheese: Admission free, games are one token each. Check website for times and location and coupons for pizza/token combos.
Outdoor
Ijams Nature Center: Hiking trails, a zipline course, a natural playground, special events and a nature center are just some of the things for families to enjoy at Ijams. For details visit the Ijams website. Admission is FREE.
Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum: There are 47 acres to explore just five minutes from downtown Knoxville. The garden fashioned after “The Secret Garden” is a favorite among children. The grounds are open to the public for FREE, 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. For more information, including events, go to the Knoxville Arboretum website.
University of Tennessee Gardens: The UT gardens are located in Knoxville, Crossville and Jackson. They are the official botanical gardens of the state of Tennessee. They are open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Admission is typically FREE although certain events may charge an entrance fee to the gardens. For more information, click here.
University of Tennessee Arboretum (Oak Ridge): The UT Arboretum is truly a place for all seasons! There are walking trails available year-round. Workshops, lectures and special guided walks are also offered. The grounds are open for walking daily 8:00am to sunset. The visitor’s center is open Monday-Friday 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:30pm (excluding holidays.) Admission is FREE.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: We’re fortunate to live just a short drive from the most popular national park in the U.S. There’s so much to see and do. Be sure to go to the website to plan your visit!
River Sports Outfitters: You and your family can rent boats like kayaks and stand-up paddle boards along with bicycles from several River Sports locations around our area. Rental prices vary. For more information, click here.
Little Pigeon River Tubing: Venture to the quiet side of the Smokies for a relaxing float trip down the Little Pigeon River! There are several outfits that offer tubing. Schedules and pricing vary. For more information, visit the Smoky Mountains vacation guide website.
Dollywood Parks & Resort: Spanning 150 acres with more than 40 rides Dollywood is an attraction popular with people from all over the world! Splash Country is a great spot to cool down and chill out during the summer months. The relatively new HeartSong and DreamMore Resorts are quickly becoming favorite destinations too. Click here to learn more about schedules, ticket pricing and planning your Dolly experience.
Area Parks & Playgrounds: Knoxville Moms has compiled a list of some of our favorites.
Local Swimming Holes: They can be tough to find, but Knoxville Moms has put together a list that includes a printable scavenger hunt. Dive in and enjoy!
Splash Pads: A perfect way to get a break from the heat! Knoxville Moms has a roundup of Knoxville’s splash-able playgrounds!
Knoxville Family Hiking Trails: Time to hit the trail with the whole family. Check out the Knoxville Moms list of family friendly trails in the area.
Pick-Your-Own Farms: There are so many wonderful places in and around Knoxville where you can pick your own produce! Knoxville Moms has put together a fun list of area pick-your-own farms.
Farragut Golf & Games: This Farragut favorite declares “family fun is our specialty!” Attractions include miniature golf courses, batting cages, a video arcade and a “snack shack.” Be sure to check the daily specials for family-friendly deals. For more information including pricing and hours, click here.
Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center: Sir Gooney’s says it delivers the “most unique and quirky brand of family entertainment” for all ages. Activities include miniature golf, paintball, splash zone water park, go-karts and “Sports Land.” For more information including pricing and hours, click here.
Sporting Events
University of Tennessee Athletics: Cheer on the Vols in one of UT’s many successful athletic programs! Check the UT Sports website for game schedules and ticket information.
Knoxville Ice Bears: Take the family to watch a hockey game! Tickets as low as $10.00. Check website for schedule, times and fun family-friendly themed nights!
Tennessee Smokies AA Baseball: Enjoy an American classic at the brand new Smokies ballpark! Ticket prices vary. Check website for pricing and schedule.
One Knox Soccer: Knoxville’s first professional soccer team is now playing in downtown Knoxville at the new Convenant Health Park stadium. Check website for pricing and schedule.
Hard Knox Roller Girls: East Tennessee’s first all-female flat track roller derby league! All games are played at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall. Check the Facebook page for more details.
Story Times
Knox County Public Library: Nearly 40 story times are held weekly for children ages infant to five years. Times vary starting around 10:00am Monday through Friday. Check the website for the library closest to you and for specific date and age groups.
Barnes and Noble: Saturdays at 12:00pm. Check website for locations and special events.
Smart Toys and Books: Check events calendar on website for story times or call (865) 394-6060 for more information.
Animal Experiences
Zoo Knoxville: Wildly fun for the whole family! Open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Popular events include “Boo at the Zoo” and “Smoky Mountain Lights.” The Clayton Safari Splashpad is another popular attraction. For information on ticket pricing and memberships, visit the Zoo Knoxville website.
Little Ponderosa Zoo & Rescue: Little Ponderosa in Clinton rescues exotic animals from across the United States. The non-profit is open for tours and events. Adults (18-65) $15.00, Seniors 65+ $10.00, Juniors (3-17) $10.00 and children age two and under FREE. Open March to October Monday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm & Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm.
Briarwood Safari Park: Take a scenic four-mile drive and experience animals from six different continents in Morristown. The park includes other attractions as well. Open Monday to Friday from 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturdays and Sundays 10:00am to 5:00pm weather permitting. Ticket prices begin at $20.00. For more information, click here.
Trains, Tea Parties & More
Three Rivers Rambler: Climb aboard a historic train for a ride your family won’t soon forget! Schedules and ticket pricing vary. Popular trips include the Christmas Lantern Express. For more information, click here.
Downtown Connector Bus: The Knoxville downtown bus is a fun way for kids to experience public transportation! It runs every 15-minutes and travels through downtown and the Old City. The ride is fare-free and operates on a 15-minute frequency. Visit the Knoxville Area Transit website to plan your trip.
Knoxville Children’s Theater: This non-profit is dedicated to producing theatrical performances for families and children. The theater has several shows throughout the season. Ticket prices vary. For more information, go to the Knoxville Children’s Theater website.
Apple Cake Tea Room: The Apple Cake Tea Room has been a part of the community for years. Children are welcome to come for a tea party. There is a special menu and even child-size teacups. For more information, visit the Apple Cake Tea Room Facebook page.
The Kraken’s Cup: A delightful new addition to the Knoxville tea scene. The Kraken’s Cup offers a full English afternoon tea and more. Reservations are recommended. For more information, visit The Kraken’s Cup website or Facebook page.
LuLu’s Tea Room: LuLu’s is located in a charming historic home in Powell. Lunch and tea are served Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-2:00pm. Children and hats are welcome! For more details, click here.
Tea Service at The Tennessean: This downtown luxury hotel is now offering weekly Sunday tea service along with specialty tea events. To see the offerings and make a reservation, click here.
We hope you enjoy all these family friendly activities in Knoxville!
