Have you heard the buzz about the recent article GOBankingRates published? After ranking 100 different cities in the U.S. they ranked Knoxville the second best city for young professionals! They named several reasons why Knoxville is one of the best cities for young professionals (including some amazing tax incentives), and we’re here to share some of our own reasons in today’s blog post. 

Whether you’re thinking of moving to Knoxville, or you’ve lived here your entire life, we hope our guide to Knoxville, TN for young professionals gives you some new ideas for exploring our amazing community!

Discover Small & Local Businesses in Knoxville

One of the first attributes people notice about our community are all of our local businesses. All across Knoxville you’ll find small and locally owned businesses whose origin story is firmly rooted in our community. These include restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, artists, hand-crafted gifts, vintage and consignment shops, markets, boutiques, home and furniture stores, fitness centers, and everything else you could possibly think of. 

Our friends at New2Knox provide opportunities for you to learn more about local businesses in Knoxville every day. They find creative ways to get out and explore Knoxville while supporting our local business owners. If you’re interested in learning more about how to support local businesses in Knoxville, the entire team at New2Knox recommends following them on Instagram, subscribing to Knox News Sentinel, keeping up with Inside of Knoxville, and following your favorite local businesses in Knoxville on social media as you explore and learn! 

Make Meaningful Connections in Knoxville

Making meaningful connections as a young professional isn’t always easy. Whether Knoxville is your new home, or you’re just looking to build your personal community, there’s a number of options for you!

Young Professionals of Knoxville

At YPK, we inspire Knoxville’s young professionals to connect, develop, and serve to build leaders and improve our community. We provide opportunities throughout the year for you to meet other young professionals, build lifelong friendships, and create lasting business connections. Our members get to learn directly from the leaders of Knoxville with professional development sessions and we give back to our community through volunteer opportunities for local nonprofits. 

Ready to get connected as a young professional in Knoxville? Take the first step today!

New2Knox Small Groups

We’ve already mentioned our friends at New2Knox but did you know they offer a fun, relaxed way to meet new people in Knoxville? They manage a range of small groups that encourage you to explore Knoxville and build relationships as you meet up at different spots in the city across five weeks, with the same 5-10 people!

They currently offer groups for ​​women ages 21-27, women ages 27-35, women 35+, co-ed (singles), and co-ed (couples), but everyone is welcome to apply! Learn more about this opportunity today.

The Volunteer State: Giving Back in Knoxville

Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State and Knoxville is a big part of that spirit! Not only does our city house The University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus, Neyland Stadium, and the Tennessee Volunteers. Our community also houses a lot of volunteer spirit.

Knoxville is home to hundreds of amazing nonprofits who serve our community in important ways. There’s no better place to learn more about getting involved than through Alliance for Better Nonprofits, a program of United Way of Greater Knoxville. Whether you’re passionate about animal welfare, homelessness, education, or mentoring kids, they offer a number of resources for you to get plugged in with the right organization and find ways to give back to the community.

YPK also has a Community Outreach committee that regularly gives back to our community. If you’re looking for a way to make some connections and get involved by giving back, read more about this committee opportunity here!

Knoxville Events & Festivals

Knoxville is known for fun events and festivals throughout the year. From festivals that feature food, art, and music, to parades that feature hundreds and hundreds of dogs, we’re definitely a community that likes to have some fun. But with so many options, how do you stay up to date on everything?

Visit Knoxville’s event calendar keeps our community updated on the latest events! Their calendar features a variety of categories to help you find how you want to spend your time. Plan an evening, entire day, weekend, or week! No matter what activities you choose, you also have to make sure you get familiar with Knoxville’s local restaurant scene.

The Best Restaurants in Knoxville

Local restaurants are an underlying heartbeat in Knoxville. We’re known for our local eateries, breweries, bakeries, and coffee shops. But we’re not the only ones who think so! Knoxville’s restaurants have hosted some star-studded customers:

• Celebrity Chef Alton Brown named Kbrew one of his favorite coffee shops in 2014.

• Critically-acclaimed actor Harrison Ford has been known to visit Pete’s Restaurant, Knox Mason, Boyd’s Jig & Reel, and Kopita in Downtown Knoxville.

• Director Peter Jackson has been spotted at SunSpot on UT’s campus.

No matter what kind of food you prefer, Knoxville has an option for you. Our city’s restaurants include international cuisine, western bistros, Appalachian-inspired flavors, and everything in between. Review Visit Knoxville’s comprehensive list of local restaurants to learn more and find your next favorite!

Local Arts & Culture (Visit Knoxville)

Looking for a little bit of culture in Knoxville? Our community is steeped in history and culture. All you have to do is look in the right places!

The Tennessee Theatre

The Tennessee Theatre is where history and culture collide into a beautiful experience. This historic theater went through a massive renovation that truly has served as one of the driving forces behind the growth of Downtown Knoxville. 

This beautiful venue now hosts Broadway at the Tennessee, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s events, Knoxville Opera’s events, as well as a number of concerts and special movie features throughout the year. To learn more about this cornerstone of our community, visit their website today!

Knoxville Museum of Art

The Knoxville Museum of Art features a number of permanent and visiting exhibitions that capture the color of East Tennessee’s local art scene throughout history, as well as colorful displays from around the world. Some of the exhibits featured in the past include work by Beauford Delaney, Walker Evans, and more! 

Admission to KMA is always free! They do ask visitors to pre-register for visiting due to current COVID-19 capacity restrictions. 

East Tennessee History Center

Knoxville’s East Tennessee History Center walks visitors through the rich history and heritage of our region. Their signature exhibits include walking through history of the Cherokee, pioneers, women’s suffrage, African American contributions, country music, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the history of Oak Ridge, and more! They also feature rotating exhibitions and special events that highlight East Tennessee’s past and present.

Learn more about visiting East Tennessee History Center today!

Outdoor Adventures in Knoxville

There truly is something for everyone to do in Knoxville. One of the biggest attractions for newcomers is our options for outdoor activities and adventures! Living at the gateway of the Smokies has its perks if you like spending time outside. If you like chasing waterfalls, coursing rivers, and climbing every mountain, Outdoor Knoxville should be your first stop for these outdoor adventures!

Outdoor Knoxville’s website features a calendar of events, as well as a guide to the different activities available. You can choose to stay in your backyard and find just as many adventures as exploring the wonders of the mountains that surround us! No matter what an ideal day filled with adventure looks like to you, there’s something that East Tennessee has to offer.

Knoxville: The Choice for Young Professionals

The list of reasons why young professionals should consider Knoxville, TN is long and grows longer every day. As new businesses open up, job opportunities are created, events are planned, and our community grows, our city grows ever more vibrant and full of life. The perks of living in Knoxville aren’t new to us, but we’re glad that the rest of the world is discovering the joy that East Tennessee has to offer!

Young Professionals of Knoxville is a membership-driven, non-profit organization with a mission to inspire Knoxville’s young professionals to connect, develop and serve to build leaders and improve our community. For more information about our objectives and mission, visit our website! If you’re not a member of YPK and would like to learn more about becoming a member, discover our member benefits and fill out our application online.