Annual Garden Events
April 5, 2026This special early morning gathering honors the importance of the Easter holiday, especially in the Black Christian community here in Knoxville. Taking place in LeConte Meadow overlooking the mountains, community gathers to watch the sun rise above the skyline and to listen to sacred texts and spiritual reflections offered by local church and community leaders.
April 24* & 25Fill out your garden this spring with offerings from the Garden’s Spring Plant Sale. Every purchase directly benefits our ongoing efforts to keep this beautiful landscape thriving and accessible to our community. The sale features perennials propagated right here at the Garden by our horticulture team, as well as plants from local partners and growers. A wonderful variety of native perennials, ornamental shrubs, and herbaceous plants will be available for purchase.
*Friday - KBGA Members’ Only Preview
Saturday - General Public Welcome
April 17, 2026A truly one-of-a-kind fundraising event, Hats In Bloom is a spring brunch that invites guests to wear their best floral fascinator or purchase a designer hat from milliner Patricia Frankum.
June 2026Garden supporters gather for cocktails al fresco, live music,
and a solstice meal for the benefit of the Garden.
September 3, 2026
Knoxville Symphony at the Garden
In partnership with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Garden hosts a free evening of music that invites community to discover pockets of music throughout four garden spaces on the property, with a culminating set in the Rita Johnson Garden where musicians play as the evening light fades and the sun reflects on the floor to ceiling windows of the Dogwood Center.
October 2026
A celebration of the season, this free community event features hay rides, music, food, local artisans, partner nonprofit organizations, and a lot of fun. Pick from a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials perfectly suited for fall planting.
Setpember 27, 2026Green Thumb Gala is the largest fundraising event for the Garden. Guests gather for a memorable evening under the tent on the Great Lawn—surrounded by iconic stone walls, a picturesque maple grove, and the magical Secret Garden.
The evening features a festive cocktail hour and garden-inspired silent auction, followed by a seated dinner, live entertainment, and a one-of-a-kind live auction.
