A few local roads will close temporarily this weekend (May 13-15, 2022) to accommodate community events. 

Drums Up Guns Down Peace in the Streets March and Rally is Friday, May 13. Martin Luther King Jr Avenue will be closed between 4:15 and 5 p.m. as Austin-East High School students and staff members walk from the school to Dr. Walter Hardy Park. Neighbors and supporters will gather along the route to show their support, and youth-focused organizations, plus food and entertainment, will be set up at the park until 8 p.m. 

The Market Square Farmers’ Market returned to Market Square for Saturday markets last week, which means related road closures have resumed. Beginning at 6:45 a.m. Union Avenue is closed to traffic between Walnut and Gay streets, and Market Street is closed between Union and Clinch avenues. All streets reopen at 2:30 p.m. 

Open Streets Knoxville returns to Sevier Avenue for an afternoon of car-free fun on Sunday, May 15, from 2-6 p.m. 

Community booths, activities and entertainment will be set up along and in Sevier Avenue between Atchley Street and Foggy Bottom, as well as Waterfront Drive and Foggy Bottom Street. These areas will be closed to car traffic between 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Local traffic will be able to cross at Davenport Road to access houses between Sevier Avenue and Suttree Landing Park. 

Parking for Open Streets attendees is available at the Riverwalk, Dwight Kessel, and City County Building garages. Parking will not be available in lots along Sevier Ave.

ADA parking will be available in the parking lot beside South Knoxville Baptist Church and the old Union Printer's lot. Transit riders can use KAT Bus 41 Chapman Highway to reach the stop at Henley and Blount Avenue and walk to Sevier Avenue. Pick up a free pass at the KAT booth for the return trip. 

The City of Knoxville Office of Special Events works with event planners utilizing public property, including roads and sidewalks, to close streets to traffic, remove parking spaces and schedule Knoxville Police Department officers to monitor intersections and maintain safe passage for event participants and all residents in the area. Learn more at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Events.