Knoxville offers a wealth of options for summer entertainment. TNJN's Calendar of Events highlights fun ways to beat the heat with some cool goings on.

July 1 - 7

July 2 - First Friday!
Downtown comes alive with free art, free refreshments and free fun.

First Friday makes for an awesome start to the long 4th of July weekend. If you're joining the festivities, at 6 p.m. check out the One Eighty magazine release party at Sapphire. Vox vodka will be doing a taste sampling, Cherokee Distributing will be handing out 180 free beers...as if free wine, free food and free art weren't already enough.

July 3 - Fireball Moonlite Classic 5K
9 p.m. Begins in front of UT Veterinary School on Neyland Drive
The annual Fireball Classic 5K is open to casual and competitive racers alike. The course wraps around the UT campus, with the turnaround at Neyland Stadium.  Refreshments served after the race.

July 4 - Festival on the Fourth
2 p.m. at World's Fair Park
WDVX North Lawn Stage features performances from the Black Lillies and the Brother John Myers Band, Tennessee Boarder Line, Freddy Smith and his Patriotic Poultry Show featuring Wade Hill and the ''Cluck & Pluck'' Band. The WDVX stage starts at 3 p.m and goes until the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra starts from the South Stage at 8 p.m.  And, of course, there will be fireworks. The lighting of the night sky is scheduled to begin at 9:35 p.m.  Admission is free.

July 5 - Mighty Musical Monday
Noon at Tennessee Theatre
Spend a lunch dining in the Tennessee Theatre's as Dr. Bill Snyder fires up the theatre's own Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.  Bring a lunch or purchase a bag lunch from Lunch Box in the lobby for $5. Admission is free to this monthly event.

July 8 - 15

July 10 -  Second Saturday Concerts at The Cove
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Cove at Concord Park 
The July version of Second Saturday Concerts at The Cove features folk, blues and roots music with singer/songwriter Maggie Longmire.   The free, family-friendly concerts are held the second Saturday of each month, June through September, at 11808 Northshore Drive.  Admission is free.

July 10 - Hard Knox Roller Girls
6 p.m. at Knoxville Coliseum
Double bill with Brawlers taking on the Springfield Roller Girls at 6 p.m. and the Allstars battling against Alamo City Rollergirls in the main event at 8 p.m.  The event benefits Special Olympics.

July 10 - Canoe Tour on the Tennessee River
8 a.m. at Volunteer Landing
All ages and skill levels are welcome to paddle through a tour of the Holston and Tennessee rivers. Tour and canoe rental is $20 per person and life vests are supplied.

July 14 - WDVX Blue Plate Special on Market Square
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Market Square Stage
WDVX presents the outdoor Blue Plate Special every second Wednesday of the month throughout summer. The July show features performances by Christabel and the Jons and Mandolin Orange.

The Blue Plate Special invites the public to come listen to more free live music each Monday through Thursday at noon at the Knoxville Visitor's Center (corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill Drive) and Friday at the Square Room (back of Cafe 4).  Admission is free.

July 15 - Shakespeare on the Square  - Opening Night
7 p.m. on the Market Square Stage
Another season begins with Romeo and Juliet then alternates days with The Complete Works by William Shakespeare (Abridged).  Dates for the performances are listed below.  Lawn chairs are welcome.  Admission is always free.

Romeo and Juliet: July 15, 17, 23, 25, 29, 31; August 6, 8, 12, 14.  The play is directed by Tom Parkhill. Romeo And Juliet is the classic story of star crossed love.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged): July 16, 18, 22, 24, 30; August 1, 5, 7, 13, 15. The play is directed by Jenny Ballard. Three actors in 36 plays completed in 90 minutes, equals non-stop entertainment.

July 16 - 31

July 16 - Summer Movie Magic
Continuing the summer classic movie series, Tennessee Theatre presents Breakfast at Tiffany's at 8 p.m.  Matinee performance on July 18 at 2 p.m.

July 20 - Twilight Tour at UT Gardens
6 p.m. at UT Gardens
Tours depart from the Friendship Plaza, at the entrance to the UT Gardens.  The twilight setting makes for a special view of the garden.

July 22 - Free live music with Cowboy Junkies
1 p.m. at Disc Exchange, Chapman Highway
In-store show, free to the public.

July 23 - Free live music with Chatham County Line
5:30 p.m. at Disc Exchange, Chapman Highway

July 23 - Carnival of Madness Tour
4 p.m. at Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Local radio station 94.3 the X presents five bands in its annual X-Fest, featuring performances by 10 Years, Sevendust, Puddle of Mudd, Chevelle and Shinedown.

July 23 - Smashing Pumpkins
8 p.m. at the Valarium
Take a psychadelic romp through the music of Billy Corgan when the Smashing Pumpkins play the Valarium.  It is unfortunate that concert goers have to choose one, between the three concerts scheduled that night,  The Pumpkins were announced well after Carnival of Madness and Yim Yames and company, but should still draw a good crowd to hear Corgan croon his "Gish"-like serenades.

July 23 - Appalachian Voices featuring Yim Yames, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore
8 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre
Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, singer-songwriter Daniel Martin Moore and cellist and vocalist Ben Sollee will embark on a nine date “Appalachian Voices” tour in an effort to raise public awareness of the devastating practice of Mountaintop Removal coal mining throughout Appalachia.

Appalachian Voices, the tour's namesake, is an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal coal mining in central and southern Appalachia.

July 23 - Summer Movie Magic
Continuing the summer classic movie series, the Tennessee Theatre presents the Wizard of Oz -  at 8 p.m.  Matinee performance on July 25 at 2 p.m.

July 23-25 - Grainger County Tomato Festival
It's all about those fabulous tomatoes when Grainger County hosts a festival dedicated to this delectable fruit.

July 28 - Tennessee Shines
7 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre
Tennessee Shines will feature Tim O'Brien, The John Cowan Band, The John Hartford Stringband with special guests Alison Brown and The Dismembered Tennesseans. WDVX program director Tony Lawson serves as special guest host with back up from Dave Nichols and the Red Kap Band.

August at a glance

August 7 - Tomato tasting - Market Square - over 30 varieties of tomatoes!

August 13, 14 - Pro Wakeboard Tour - Volunteer Landing

August 13-14 - Stringtime in the Smokies - Pigeon Forge

August 14 - Cove Concert at Concord Park

August 18 - Welcome back students - classes kick off for Fall '10

August 21 - Rubber duck race

August 21 - East Tennessee Irish Fest

August 28 - Knoxville Jazz Festival - Krutch Park - 2 p.m.

August 28 - Gospel on Market Square - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sept. 3 - First Friday

Sept. 4 - Football returns at UT

Sept. 5 - Boomsday!

Sept. 10 Tenn. Valley Fair Starts

Sept. 10 - Movies on Market Square returns

Dates and times are subject to change.  Updates are posted as new information is obtained.  Check back for the latest.