Knoxville quarry has more than just swimming, with monthly music, food trucks and beer
After the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club started meeting at the trailheads near Mead's Quarry a few years back, Ijams Nature Center began to realize these regular Tuesday gatherings could be popular beyond the club.
“Our Big Fun Tuesdays are just a way for people to come out and be social, either with family or friends,” said Sarah Brobst, visitor services director for Ijams. “To connect with nature every way that they can, whether it is going for a bike ride, a swim or a picnic with their family and just enjoying the fresh air for a little bit.”
New this year, Ijams is adding an educational and fun component that "provides a glimpse into all of the other things that we do that they may not see or notice,” Brobst said.
Big Fun Tuesdays have been happening for a while, but the formalization as a monthly event is new, thanks to the addition of food trucks and extended hours for the Ijams concession stand and beer garden.
Big Fun Tuesdays usually are held 6-9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month between May and October. However, due to the Fourth of July, this month's event has been moved to July 11.
“We are going to have a sustainability market,” Brobst said. “Ijams has taken on a big initiative, making people aware of sustainability both externally and internally at the Nature Center. At Big Fun Tuesdays, we will have people set up booths with educational materials, and some people may have things to sell.”
Ijams Nature Center has held conservation discussions this year, touching on ways people can take action on a small scale. Examples include learning about composting with Green Heron Compost or the importance of incorporating native plants in the garden with Native Plant Rescue Squad.
Brent Hyder, who served as guest artist for the Fleurish runway event in April, will return July 11 to perform around 6:30 p.m.
Food will be available for purchase from the G.I. Taco food truck. In addition to tacos and a kids' menu, they have a Taconey – that is, a hotdog wrapped in bacon and served with peppers, onions, avocado aioli and Cotija cheese. The food truck also sells nachos and queso chorizo.
Further details and weather updates will be added online as the event approaches at ijams.org/calendar-of-events.
“The event is super kid-friendly and free; we want people to feel comfortable bringing their children,” Brobst said.
River Sports Outfitters will stay open a little later to rent out watercraft, and the summer-inspired Ijams Pale Ale by Alliance Brewing Company will be available on tap at the concession stand and beer garden. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company sponsors the monthly event.
“We noticed we would draw big crowds, but there was still a lot of space,” said Brobst. “This year we took it to the next level and started off with a celebration of National Bike Month on May 2. Bike Walk Knoxville, Kickstand Community Bike Shop, Catalyst Sports and I Bike KNX participated.
"There are a lot of biking groups that do amazing programming, are educational and help connect to the biking community, not just at Ijams. It was a huge hit.”
Musician Owen Tharp, along with the Children’s Entrepreneur Market, were featured at Big Fun Tuesday in June.
“Mead's Quarry is really hopping, and it is growing in leaps and bounds,” Brobst said. “We wanted to give people something to do on a Tuesday night. A lot of people may only visit the quarry and not know that we do movie nights and student camps at the Nature Center, so we are bringing the programming down to them.”
Plenty of overflow parking is available for those who want to attend, in addition to the two lots next to Mead's Quarry.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ijams Nature Center activities include Big Fun Tuesdays at the quarry
