Wildlife Photograph

Annual Special Events

River Rescue - April 5th, 2008

The piles may be shrinking, but trash is still stinking up the shores along the Tennessee River. With your help Ijams Nature Center will stop it! River Rescue is a community wide program that coordinates the pick-up of debris and litter along the 50-mile shoreline of the Tennessee River from its headwaters to Fort Loudon Dam. Though litterbugs continue to leave a mess, River Rescue has made a huge impact on the overall quality of the Tennessee River. A cleaner river means healthier habitats for all creatures that live in and around the river, including human beings! This year's River Rescue is April 5th, 2008. To volunteer this year or for more information contact Alison at 865-577-4717 ext. 24.

WaterFest - May

WaterFest is an annual, day-long festival at Ijams Nature Center for area students that focuses on environmental and water quality education and outdoor activities. WaterFest is designed to teach area students the importance of maintaining healthy watersheds. In the past the event has been attended by more than 900 students and educators from 15 different schools. Exhibits at Waterfest teach participants about local watersheds, healthy wetland ecosystems and aquatic life found in the waters of the Tennessee Valley. WaterFest activities include papermaking, launching water rockets, creating earth parfaits and designing water hats. Also included in this year's event was a community service tree-planting project. WaterFest is an activity of The Water Quality Forum which was established in 1990 and is a cooperative network of agencies, nonprofit organizations and citizens working to improve the health of the waterways in East Tennessee in accordance with the goals of the Clean Water Act.

Native Plant Sale and Garden Festivals - April & October

Usually held in April and October every year, Ijams’ Native Plant Sale and Garden Festivals help sustain East Tennessee’s natural beauty by encouraging the use of native species in our own backyards; native species require less maintenance and provide shelter and food for our native creatures. Native Plant Sales feature regional nurseries specializing in native species along with craft booths, gardening workshops, kids’ activities, live music, food and more. Native Plant Sales are one Ijams’ most important fundraisers; the proceeds benefit Ijams Nature Center Education Programs, which educate all East Tennesseans about the importance of preserving our environment. Admission is free.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rummage Sale - June

In this case, one man's trash really is another man's treasure. The Rummage Sale is one of Ijams' largest fund-raisers and boasts thousands of donated items all for sale at bargain basement prices! You'll find tools and toys, baskets and blenders, toasters and tons more! Every year the loot is a little different, but isn't digging around for that perfect purchase half the fun? The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rummage Sale is typically held every year in June.

Symphony in the Park - September

Symphony in the Park is Ijams' largest fundraiser of the year and the nature center's longest running special event (23 years strong!) The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performs in the twilight of a summer evening, against the backdrop of natural beauty at Ijams as guests dine on elegant gourmet fare set at a table under the stars. This event is a long-standing highlight on the Knoxville social calendar and boasts an unmatched ambiance.  for information about the upcoming 23rd Annual Symphony in the Park please contact Sally Judiscak, Development Officer, at 577-4717 ext. 17.