Make a Difference Day of Service
Join in the largest national day of community service during the Make a Difference Day of Service. Participants will volunteer from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 23. Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 19. Register to volunteer here.
Explore Knoxville during Fall Break
If you plan to stay in Knoxville during Fall Break, get out and explore the city. Head downtown for the farmer’s market, shop at the locally owned businesses, or grab a bite to eat at the unique restaurants scattered throughout Market Square, the Old City, and along Gay Street. You can even just walk around the area and sightsee—Knoxville is full of interesting history and architecture.
If you are looking for outdoor activities, start planning your walk, hike, or bike or kayak ride by searching for locations on the Outdoor Knoxville website. From Ijams Nature Center to the city’s greenways and parks, you’ll find the perfect location to explore all the outdoor amenities Knoxville has to offer.
Fall Activities around Town
It’s officially fall and that means there are plenty of opportunities to carve pumpkins or check out a corn maze with your friends. There are many locations that offer both throughout Knoxville and in surrounding counties. Find a location then grab your friends to go pick that perfect pumpkin to carve your Power T jack-o-lantern.
Knoxville and surrounding counties also have plenty of haunted house attractions if you’re in for a scare this month.
This time of year our area is known for its beautiful fall foliage. If you want to see mountains engulfed in shades of yellows, oranges, and reds—head to the Smoky Mountains in mid- to late October to get a glimpse of this scenery.
Halloween on Campus
Have a pet? UT Gardens will host their annual Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade and Pet Expo with a judged costume parade for your pooch, food trucks, and an expo of educational booths, pet businesses, and rescue groups. The event is from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25.
More Halloween activities and events around campus will be announced soon. We will provide an update in a later edition of Vol Update with a full list of events.
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
The Center for Health Education and Wellness will host events this month focusing on substance abuse prevention. Attend a Volunteers Speak UP! Alcohol Edition training where you can become a certified SPEAKologist and learn how and when to Speak UP! for your Volunteer community. Trainings take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, October 9; 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 20; and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, in Hodges Library Room 253.
The center will also host a recovery fair on Monday, October 19, a screening of The Anonymous People, and a panel discussion on Wednesday, October 21, and will partner with the National Pan-Hellenic Council to host a Think Tank Series event: Think Before You Drink! on Monday, October 26.
For more info and a schedule of events, visit the center’s website.