City Closures, Celebrations for Juneteenth

City of Knoxville offices will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

This closure includes the 311 and 211 call centers operated by the 311 Center for Service Innovation. Residents who need to make service requests on the holiday should use the My Knoxville mobile app or text 888-601-5669 to use the Rocky Bot chatbot. Social service resources are available online at https://easttn211.org/.

The City's four recycling drop off centers will be closed on Juneteenth and resume normal operating hours on Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The City's Solid Waste Facility, 1033 Elm St., will be closed on Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, resuming normal business hours on Monday, June 22.

All trash and recycling services will run on a regular Friday schedule.

City Parks and Recreation Community Centers, including the Knoxville Arts Center, will be closed June 19. Inskip and Ed Cothren outdoor pools will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find additional pool information at https://www.KnoxvilleTN.gov/aquatics.

On June 19, Knoxville Area Transit fixed-route and paratransit service will operate on a Sunday schedule. KAT Customer Service will be open 8 a.m. to noon, and administrative offices will be closed. Visit KATBus.com for more information.

Juneteenth celebrations this week include:

• On Thursday, June 18, Dancing Machine, a tribute to The Jacksons, will headline Concerts on the Square presented by First Century Bank. The City of Knoxville and Beck Cultural Exchange Center present this special Variety Thursdays performance to celebrate Juneteenth through the power of music and community.

The concert is free, 7-9 p.m. on Market Square. Bring chairs and blankets for first-come, first-served seating. Learn more about Concerts on the Square at https://KnoxvilleTN.gov/concerts.

Beck Center staff will be on site selling Juneteenth T-shirts and providing information about the exhibits, archives and other resources at its 1927 Dandridge Ave. location, which will be open on Juneteenth. Learn more about Beck Cultural Exchange at BeckCenter.net.

• The 2026 MLK Jr. Parade and Juneteenth Celebration, organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission of Knoxville, steps off at 10 a.m. Friday, June 19, with dozens of local schools, community groups, churches and other organizations participating.

Mayor Indya Kincannon, members of City Council and City staff also walk the parade route from Chilhowee Park Gate 13 on North Beaman Street, down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Dr. Walter Hardy Park. The parade route and cross streets will be closed to traffic from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m.

Starting at 8 a.m., Knoxville Area Transit will provide free shuttles that continuously run between Chilhowee Park and designated stops - the Knoxville Family Justice Center (400 Harriet Tubman St.) and Tabernacle Baptist Church (2137 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.). Shuttles will return parade goers to these locations after the parade, until approximately 12:45 p.m.

• The free, family-friendly Juneteenth Celebration will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dr. Walter Hardy Park (2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.). Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue between Cruze and Dewey Roberts Sr. streets will be closed to through traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the event.

• Mabry Hazen House (1711 Dandridge Ave.) presents Juneteenth Tours as part of its New Birth of Freedom Summer series at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, June 19, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20. Tours are free but capacity is limited. Visit https://www.MabryHazen.com/event/juneteenth for more information.