![whipOff Credit Smoke Signal Photo]()
The Whip-Off is always a high-flying hit with Knoxville Adventure Festival crowds. The weekend of fun is set for May 1-2 at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville. Smoke Signal Photo
Outlandish Adventure Festival returns to Ijams Nature Center May 1-2
KNOXVILLE — The Outlandish Adventure Festival is back at Ijams Nature Center this weekend for a free two-day celebration of the outdoors. The live music, large-scale spectacles, and immersive experiences spread across the trails, quarry, and open spaces make this venue unlike anywhere else.
Outlandish is built for those who want a full weekend of adventure and music.
The weekend features spectacles and performances across two days: climbing competitions, a bike whip-off, highline walkers over Mead's Quarry, kayak sprints, nine live music acts, a fire performance, and a late-night rave in the woods. Families are welcome, and there's dedicated programming for kids throughout the weekend.
Start your day watching climbers scale the rock face. Spend the afternoon at the water's edge. End the night under the trees with fire in the air and music carrying through the dark. Outlandish is built for wandering. Just show up and follow what pulls you in.
The Outlandish Adventure Festival is a collaborative effort by Knoxville’s outdoor enthusiasts and organizations, including Visit Knoxville, Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC), Knoxville Adventure Collective, River Sports Outfitters, Tennessee Riverline, Two Bikes, The Maker City, and The City of Knoxville. Together, they’ve created a weekend to inspire exploration, connection, adventure, and celebration of Knoxville’s natural beauty.
Four anchor events unfold across the grounds, each showcasing the skill and edge that define the festival:
- 10 a.m. — Climbing Competitions at the Crag
- 11 a.m. — Mountain Bike Whip-Off
- 2 p.m. — Highline Walkers Crossing Mead's Quarry
- 5 p.m. — SUP Sprint at the Quarry
Music from morning to night
The lineup builds from laid-back daytime sets into a full evening experience and closes with fire and a late-night rave under the trees.
The music begins at 11 a.m. with Rough Dreams, followed by Shayla McDaniel, Feral Kitty, Knox Honkers & Bangers, French Toast, JULIA, VEAUX and concludes with the Circus Under the Moon Fire Performance. The Rave in the Woods begins at 9 p.m. with DJ Cheer + Channel865.
For families and young explorers
At both the Ijams Visitor Center and Mead's Quarry, drop-in experiences run throughout the weekend with no set schedule required: Animal encounters! MUSE STEM Activities! Bat House Programming! Primal Playground! Slacklining!
These activities run according to schedule:
Art Making with Cattywampus ! Kids Parade! Kids Social Ride! LRWA Stream School at Toll Creek! Family Rock Climbing at the Crag!
The festival is supported by TVA, Loch & Key, Visit Knoxville, Smoke Signal Media, Tennessee Riverline, Vick Dyer Realtor, Climbing Roots, Blank News, Earthadelic, Anderson Automotive, Pacifico, and ORNL FCU.
