Legacy Parks Foundation will host a weekend of urban adventure at the 2014 Outdoor KnoxFest presented by Pilot Flying J, with events for everyone from the novice nature-lover to the outdoor expert. The two-day signature event of the Dogwood Arts Festival is scheduled for April 26-27 and will feature trail rides, runs, hikes, paddles, climbing and more for anyone looking to Get Out & Play in Knoxville!

 

The Outdoor Adventure Center at Knoxville’s Volunteer Landing will be the hub for people of all ages, experience levels, and interests to experience the natural beauty of East Tennessee with a focus on the Urban Wilderness, a 1,000-acre playground just minutes from downtown Knoxville. Clinics and demos will provide an opportunity to try new activities or hone skills, and the rides, runs and paddles will make for a day of fun for both experts and newcomers alike.

 

New this year is the Mini Adventure Challenge taking place on Saturday. The Mini Adventure Challenge encourages kids and new adventurers of all ages to test their skills, discover new outdoor activities and be rewarded for accepting the challenge! Pick up your Challenge Card when you check in and let it guide you through the dozens of activities offered at Outdoor KnoxFest. Try your hand at six of the day’s activities and get a free water bottle. Try 10 and be entered in a drawing for great prizes. Challenge Cards will be available Saturday at registration tables at the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center and the Outdoor KnoxFest booth on Market Square.

 

Most of the activities are free and will include:

20, 40  and 60 mile Road Rides

Mountain Bike Ride for All Levels

Scenic Bike Rides

Fly Fishing Clinics & Demos

History & Wildflower Hikes

Hiking & Biking Clinics

Sailing Demo & Clinics

Disc Golf Clinic & Demos

Free Paddle Board & Kayak Paddles

Climbing Wall and Slack Lines

Urban Wilderness Trail Run

Mountain Bike Race

 

The event has attracted participants from throughout the region, including Asheville, N.C., Chattanooga, Nashville and Atlanta.

 

Proceeds from the event benefit Legacy Parks Foundation. During the past five years, Legacy Parks Foundation has raised more than $3 million for parks, greenways and recreational venues, added more than 400 acres of parkland to Knox County and helped protect nearly 1,000 acres of farm and forestland in East Tennessee.

 

The Outdoor Knoxville initiative is championed by Legacy Parks Foundation as a major step toward putting Knoxville on the map as a premiere outdoor recreation community. Launched in 2012, the three-pronged project capitalizes on the exceptional outdoor recreational assets found in and around Knoxville. It includes the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center, a website and the Outdoor KnoxFest presented by Pilot Flying J, promoting outdoor activities for people of all ages and skills.

 

For more details and to register for events, visit OutdoorKnoxville.comFor more information on Legacy Parks Foundation, visit LegacyParks.org