Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Knoxville this week: we found 21 free outings, including Nature Nuggets at Ijams, 22 Days of Halloween Crafts (South Knoxville) and Saturday Stories & Songs: KSO Musical Storytime (Cedar Bluff), plus 15 library programs. Eight free days and events are coming up, including one museum or zoo free day, each with its date. And six places never charge admission.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s Knoxville list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Knox County Public Library – Farragut · 417 N. Campbell Station Rd., Knoxville, TN 37934
A half-hour Monday morning storytime for preschoolers.
Knox County Public Library – South Knoxville · 4500 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920
A different spooky craft every afternoon in the countdown to Halloween, for ages 2–12. Runs 4–5pm on weekday afternoons this week.
Knox County Public Library – Cedar Bluff · 9045 Cross Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37923
A short storytime made for babies and their grown-ups.
Knox County Public Library – Farragut · 417 N. Campbell Station Rd., Knoxville, TN 37934
A longer storytime aimed at kids getting ready for kindergarten.
Knox County Public Library – Carter · 9036 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37924
An early-afternoon storytime in East Knox County for preschoolers and younger siblings.
Knox County Public Library – South Knoxville · 4500 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920
A 3:30 storytime for families with a little one and an older sibling coming home from school.
Knox County Public Library – Lawson McGhee (Downtown) · 500 W. Church Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
A toddler storytime at the main downtown library.
Knox County Public Library – Powell · 330 W. Emory Rd, Powell, TN 37849
A short storytime for babies and caregivers in Powell.
Knox County Public Library – Halls · 4518 E. Emory Rd, Knoxville, TN 37938
A half-hour toddler storytime in Halls.
Knox County Public Library – Howard Pinkston · 7732 Martin Mill Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920
A preschool storytime at the South Knox branch on Martin Mill Pike.
Knox County Public Library – North Knoxville · 2901 Ocoee Trail, Knoxville, TN 37917
A late-morning preschool storytime on Ocoee Trail.
Ijams Nature Center · 2915 Island Home Ave., Knoxville, TN 37920
A Wednesday outdoor program for 18 months through preschool, with nature play and time to meet other caregivers. Younger siblings are welcome in strollers. Ijams asks families to register.
Knox County Public Library – Sequoyah · 1140 Southgate Rd, Knoxville, TN 37919
A Thursday preschool storytime in the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood.
Knox County Public Library – Fountain City · 5300 Stanton Rd., Knoxville, TN 37918
Stories and activities designed for ages 3 to 5.
Knox County Public Library – Bearden · 100 Golf Club Rd., Knoxville, TN 37919
A lap-time program for infants to age 2 and their grown-ups.
Knox County Public Library – Halls · 4518 E. Emory Rd, Knoxville, TN 37938
A lap-time program for infants to age 2 and their grown-ups.
Knox County Public Library – South Knoxville · 4500 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920
A different spooky craft each afternoon in the countdown to Halloween, for ages 2 to 12.
Knox County Public Library – Cedar Bluff · 9045 Cross Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37923
Musicians from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra bring stories to life with live music, for babies through elementary age.
Knox County Public Library – Cedar Bluff · 9045 Cross Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37923
Stories, crafts and Halloween treats at the library; come in costume.
Ijams Nature Center – Nature Playscape · 3518 Island Home Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920
Volunteer storytellers read fairy tales in the woods at Mead’s Quarry, followed by a themed craft and time on the playscape. Bring a blanket or chair.
Village Green Shopping Center · 11525 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934
A free fall festival with trick-or-treating, costume contests at 2 and 4pm, live music, food trucks and 30-plus vendors.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.
Zoo Knoxville and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame · Knoxville
Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID. The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is free with the card on Saturdays only.
Chilhowee Park Bandstand · Enter at 401 Lakeside Street, Knoxville, TN
6 p.m.
Chilhowee Park Bandstand · Enter at 401 Lakeside Street, Knoxville, TN
6–9 p.m. (tree lit at 6). City of Knoxville event: tree lighting, crafts, free Santa photos, hot cocoa and a holiday Touch-A-Truck.
Founders Park / Campbell Station Road · Campbell Station Rd, Farragut, TN 37934
Dusk–10 p.m. (listed 6–10 p.m.); restrooms until 9 p.m. except Dec 25. Letters-to-Santa mailbox, nightly giveaways. Town of Farragut.
Krutch Park Extension and Market Square · Market Square, Knoxville, TN
5:15–9 p.m.; tree lighting at 6 p.m. Lighting of the 42-foot Christmas in the City tree, kids' crafts on Market Street, a miniature train set and food trucks. Holidays on Ice opens the same day. City garages are free.
Covenant Health Park · Knoxville, TN
3:30–7:30 p.m.; ride starts 6 p.m. Watch decorated bikes roll through Old City, Fourth and Gill and downtown.
Christ United Methodist Church · 7535 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938
10 a.m.–noon. Free breakfast cooked by the United Methodist Men, free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus; open to the public.
World's Fair Park · World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN
Evening; silent disco and live music from 9 p.m., ball drop from the Sunsphere at midnight. Holidays on Ice skating is open until 9 p.m. nearby. Bring chairs (no tents). Free parking in all city garages. Rain or shine.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers at Lawson McGhee and branches across the county.
Weekly at 15 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly mornings
Keep planning
Indoor play in KnoxvilleIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with prices
Thanksgiving weekend in KnoxvilleParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in KnoxvilleKid-friendly countdowns, home by napThis week in KnoxvilleDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
This week we found 21 free outings for ages 0–6, including Nature Nuggets at Ijams, 22 Days of Halloween Crafts (South Knoxville), Saturday Stories & Songs: KSO Musical Storytime (Cedar Bluff) and Trick or Treat at the Library (Cedar Bluff). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Christmas at Chilhowee tree lighting, Christmas at Chilhowee (free Santa photos), Light the Park, Regal Celebration of Lights and Tour de Lights and 2 more are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture, Museum of East Tennessee History, Lawson McGhee Library, Ijams Nature Center and World’s Fair Park and 1 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes: McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture and Lawson McGhee Library. See all of them on indoor play places in Knoxville.
Yes. Knox County Public Library runs free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
Littles Weekly
One short email every Friday morning with the best things to do with little ones in Knoxville that weekend, free ones flagged.
