Knoxvillegateway to the smokies

Taking its name from the Market House that once stood at its center, Market Square today houses a large variety of specialty boutiques and is the site of a twice-weekly farmers market that recreates the square's history as a market center and showcases local artisanal products. In the olden days, farmers would travel into downtown Knoxville with their wagons loaded with produce, meat, eggs and milk to sell their wares in the Market Square. You can still see the bell from the old Market House displayed in the square, and there's also an interesting statue commemorating Tennessee's role in the fight for the vote for women. Buskers and food stands populate the square in the spring, summer and fall, and families gather to picnic by the fountain. In the summer, the Sundown in the City concert festival takes place in Market Square on Thursday evenings, and locals and visitors alike turn out to enjoy the free music.