Summer is here again and brings with it a plethora of excitement and adventure. Beach vacations are booked, study abroad trips are commencing and the daily grind of school life is a momentarily distant thought. However, for those stuck in Knoxville this summer due to work or summer classes, fear not. While Knoxville may be seven hours from the nearest beach, the city offers plenty of warm weather fun.

Music on the Square

Knoxville is known for its passionate commitment to the arts, especially music. This summer, Knoxville has paired with WDVX and Stellar Visions and Sound to proudly display a variety of local musical talent through a dual concert series, Jazz on the Square and the Market Square Concert Series. Taking place in the Bill Lyons Pavilion in Market Square, Jazz on the Square will offer live entertainment from local jazz ensemble, Marble City 5, every Tuesday evening from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., with guest appearances, such as UT’s own jazz percussion professor Keith Brown. On Thursday nights, visitors to the Square will enjoy a variety of hometown acts such as Baseball the Band, Kelsey’s Woods, and Old City Buskers. The best part? Both parking and admission are free and open to the public. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on but are welcome enjoy the music from the various rooftops and patios of the surrounding restaurants. So if you are looking for a short weekday getaway, grab your friends and head down to Market Square for a warm summer evening filled with great live local music. But don’t forget to check the schedule often at www.cityofknoxville.org for showtimes and cancellations.

Thirsty Thursday at Smokies Stadium

East Tennessee’s favorite minor league baseball team, the Tennessee Smokies, advertises its games as “a nine-inning vacation.” Only a thirty-minute drive from Knoxville, Smokies Stadium offers a variety of weekly promotions and activities for all ages this summer. However, if you are looking to relax and have fun for cheap, then Thirsty Thursday might just become your new favorite night. To accompany the already inexpensive admission prices, the stadium sells all domestic draft beers and Pepsi products for only one dollar every Thursday through the summer season. Check out the Tennessee Smokies website or follow the team on Twitter at @smokiesbaseball for help planning your nine-inning vacation.

Parkway Drive-in Theatre

There is nothing quite like a warm summer night spent at a drive-in theater. And while many drive-ins have slowly disappeared, a handful still remain, offering their retro entertainment to moviegoers during the warmer months. Luckily, the Parkway Drive-in Theatre in Maryville is only a short thirty-minute drive from downtown Knoxville and is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday this summer. Gates open at 7 p.m. and tickets, which include two popular movie features, are $7 for adults, $3 for ages 5-12, and free for children four and under. Be sure to pack a blanket and snacks as the movies often last well past midnight. This weekend’s entertainment includes the Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt sci-fi film, Edge of Tomorrow, and the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore comedy, Blended. Concessions, restrooms and portable rentable radios are all available on site, but remember that the Parkway Theatre only accepts cash payments. So if you are looking for something fun and inexpensive to do this summer in the Knoxville area, a night at the drive-in is perfect.

Tubing in the Smokies

Knoxvillians have the unique opportunity to explore the majestic beauty of The Great Smoky Mountains, which are an easy forty-five-minute trip from downtown. From hiking to fishing and swimming, the mountains selflessly offer their spoils to locals and tourists every summer. And if you are disappointed that you won’t be able to put your feet in the salty cool waters of the ocean this summer, a ride down one of the Smokies many rivers in an inner tube may just quench your watery wishes. Tubing with friends is an East Tennessee tradition and a great way to squeeze in summer fun without breaking the bank. Many tubing companies offer rides on the scenic rivers for as little as $8 a trip and include a shuttle service back to your car. For more information and a list of area tubing experiences, visit www.smokiesadventure.com.

Visit Gatlinburg

For those looking to take an extended vacation close to home, a trip to Gatlinburg offers warm weather adventure and entertainment for all tastes. Free recreation includes hiking, swimming, picnicking, and moonshine tasting,among many others. Additionally, a variety of low cost amusement such as mini-golf, riding the Ober Gatlinburg chair lift, and exploring the multitude of unique shops down the main strip are great options to explore in the summer months. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce has even created a free app that lists and locates all the area attractions. A short one-hour drive from Knoxville, Gatlinburg is the ideal locale for an East Tennessee summer vacation.