A reminder: Motorists should anticipate some short-term street closures throughout downtown Knoxville on Friday night and Saturday – and in West Knoxville on Saturday as well – as three holiday events unfold.

The biggest effect on parking and commuting will be Friday evening’s 45th annual WIVK Christmas Parade, which steps off onto Howard Baker Jr. Avenue at 6:45 p.m. and proceeds to Church Street, turns right onto Gay Street, then continues several blocks before turning right on Jackson Avenue and disbanding at Patton Avenue in the Old City.

The parade features entries from 112 community groups and businesses, as well as six marching bands.

Anticipate closures along the parade route from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. In addition, the eastbound lanes of Howard Baker Avenue between Hall of Fame Drive and Hill Avenue will be closed from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Summit Hill Drive will be closed at Gay Street, with detour routes onto Central and Walnut streets.

In addition, anticipate temporary no-parking zones beginning at 4:30 p.m. on these streets:

• Gay Street, between Cumberland and Jackson avenues;
• Market Street, between Clinch and Union avenues;
• Union Avenue, between Walnut and Gay streets;
• Church Avenue, between Hall of Fame and Gay;
• Jackson Avenue, between Gay and Patton streets; and
• Central Street, between Willow and Depot avenues.

Parade goers are encouraged to park for free in any City-owned downtown garage and walk to their favorite spot along the parade route for prime viewing. Visit www.parkdowntownknoxville.com.


ALSO THIS SATURDAY, DEC. 2

Holiday Market – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the first four Saturdays in December

Nourish Knoxville’s month-long series of Saturday Market Square Holiday Markets kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Market Street and Union Avenue near Market Square will be no-parking zones beginning at 6:45 a.m. Saturday, and the streets will be closed to non-vendor traffic from 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Rocky Hill Christmas Parade – 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

Rocky Hill’s parade starts at the Rocky Hill Baseball Park at Alki Lane, proceeds south on Morrell Road, then east on Northshore Drive and concludes in the parking lot of Rocky Hill Baptist Church, 7409 S. Northshore Drive.