Celebrate Hallo-Week at Ijams!
Celebrate the fun of fall at the fourth annual Hallo-week at Ijams, a host of festive programs for all ages! Embrace fall with events like night hikes, tricks and (lots of) treats in an enchanted forest, haunted tale-telling, and much more!
Oct. 20 - Ijams Sunset Social: Spooky Poetry Night (7-9 pm)
Join the Knoxville Poetry Slam and Ijams for a hauntingly fun night of haikus, poems, sonnets, and more at the Spooky Poetry Night! This event features an Open Mic for poets who wish to share their work. Bonus points for bringing works that feature a spooky theme!
Oct. 21 - Playing 'Possum (6-7 pm)
Come on out to learn all about Ijams' newest animal ambassador: a Virginia opossum! These misunderstood marsupials enrich our ecosystem and utilize lots of cool adaptations to survive in their environment. Along with an animal presentation, participants will learn the basics of nature journaling and make their own opossum masterpiece to take home with them!
Oct. 23 - Ijams After Dark: Mischief Night (7-9 pm)
Discover Ijams after dark during this experiential adventure! Participants will meet some of Ijams’ nocturnal animal ambassadors, learn about the not-so-creepy critters that inhabit the night, and take a fun-filled, guided night hike on the trails. This Halloween-themed session will be focused on all of the mischief that nocturnal critters can get up to at night!
Oct. 24 – Storytime at Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve (10 am-12 pm)
Head into the woods to listen to a selection of books read by our volunteer storytellers. This week's theme is Fairy Tales. We’ll also do some themed crafts and explore the Playscape! This program is free to attend.
Oct. 24 - Ijams Enchanted Forest (3-8 pm)
Dress up in your costume and get ready for a night of tricks and (lots of) treats in the Ijams Enchanted Forest! You'll enjoy seasonal crafts, games, and activities; meet some animal ambassadors; and nab some tasty treats! Throughout the Enchanted Forest, you'll have the chance to meet other magical life-sized puppets of critters who have come to life for one night only through the partnership of Cattywampus Puppet Council!
Oct 25 - Full Moon Paddle: Celebrating the Hunter Moon (6:30-8:30 pm)
Get ready for a beautiful evening on the river under this month's full moon! Join Ijams naturalists for this 2-hour, guided paddle to uncover the secrets of the Tennessee River after dark and learn about the beautiful night sky while searching for unique plants, animals, and geologic features along the way.
Oct. 25 - Full Moon Hike: Celebrating the Hunter Moon (6:30-8 pm)
Get ready for a magical evening out on the trails under this month's full moon! Join Ijams naturalists for a 1.5-hour, guided walk to uncover the secrets of Ijams Nature Center after dark and learn about the beautiful night sky, all while searching for unique plants, animals, and geologic features along the way. Blacklights and headlamps will be provided!
Oct. 27 - Ijams Sunset Social: A Night of Scary Stories with Smoky Mountain Storytellers (7-8:30 pm)
They're BACK! The Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association is back to share a night of classic ghost stories, urban legends, historic horror, and more. There will be fun and frights for all to enjoy. Join them at Ijams on Tuesday, Oct. 27, as the tellers share some of their favorite stories, old and new!
Oct. 28 – Nature Nuggets (10-11 am)
Nature Nuggets is a free event for children 18 months and up and their caregivers. This week we will be celebrating birds of prey! We will meet at Jo's Grove, hike, and meet Zoe, our resident turkey vulture who serves as an Ijams animal ambassador.
Oct. 30 – Starlight Paddle (7-9 pm)
Join Ijams naturalists for this 2-hour, guided paddle to uncover the secrets of the Tennessee River after dark and learn about the beautiful night sky while searching for unique plants, animals, and geologic features along the way.
Oct. 31 - Fall Fungi ID: Beginner Workshop (10 am-12 pm)
Out in the field, fungi identification doesn’t leave mush-room for guessing! Join an Ijams fun-guide (naturalist) for this immersive workshop where you’ll learn the basics of fungi and lichen anatomy, identification, and their pivotal role in our ecosystems.
Oct. 31 – Storytime at Ijams Nature Playscape at Grayson Subaru Preserve (10 am-12 pm)
Head into the woods to listen to a selection of books read by our volunteer storytellers. This week's theme is bats. We’ll also do some themed crafts and explore the Playscape! This program is free to attend.
Oct. 31 – Playing ‘Possum (11 am-12 pm)
Come on out to learn all about Ijams' newest animal ambassador: a Virginia opossum! These misunderstood marsupials enrich our ecosystem and utilize lots of cool adaptations to survive in their environment. Along with an animal presentation, participants will learn the basics of nature journaling and make their own opossum masterpiece to take home with them!
