Knoxville is going all in on spring, and Dogwood Arts is running point. The nonprofit has stacked April with its signature Dogwood Trails, a one-day Chalk Walk that takes over Market Square, a rare peek into private gardens for one weekend, and a three-day arts festival at World’s Fair Park. Translation: if you like flowers, art, or people-watching, your calendar just filled up.
Trails and gardens open April 1 to 30
Dogwood Trails, which began as a neighborhood beautification project in 1955, is open April 1 through April 30 and now stretches more than 90 miles across 13 Knoxville neighborhoods. According to Dogwood Arts, featured routes this year include Lakemoor Hills, Island Home, and Chapman Highway, and the group publishes a downloadable Trail Guide and camera-site list for anyone who likes to plan their drives and photo ops in advance.
The trails program remains the backbone of Dogwood Arts, and it also includes organized hikes, bloom walks, and community ribbon-cuttings early in the month, turning those pink-lined streets into full-on neighborhood events.
Chalk Walk turns Market Square into a sidewalk gallery
Chalk Walk returns to Market Square on April 11, when hundreds of artists will turn downtown sidewalks into temporary murals while families dive into kid-friendly activities on the side. Artists are slated to work from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an awards ceremony later that evening on the Market Square stage, according to Eventeny.
The one-day event is billed as a major spring draw for downtown, pulling in vendors, live music, and a big crowd of art lovers who are more than happy to stare at the ground all day.
Three private gardens open one weekend only
Dogwood Arts’ Spring Featured Gardens will open three private properties on April 18 and 19, with general admission set at a $5 donation per garden. As reported by the Knoxville News Sentinel, this year’s lineup includes GATOP on Delrose Drive, Savage Garden in Fountain City, and the Ross Glen Garden, with the latter available only to visitors who purchase a shuttle ticket in advance…