PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes from Knoxville before game day

Chuck Barrow, left, father of MU punter Trey Barrow, and Alan Martin, an Elvis impersonator, sing "Silver Bells" Friday in Market Square. The square is located in the middle of downtown in Knoxville, Tenn., and is a popular pedestrian mall known for its eclectic culinary scene.

  |  Jaime Henry-White

Cars drive down Gay Street, a main street of downtown Knoxville. The street has played an important role in the city's cultural development and has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   |  Jaime Henry-White

Rodney Anderson attempts to buy and resell tickets for the Missouri vs. Tennessee game on Friday on Cumberland Avenue, also known as “The Strip.” Cumberland is one of Knoxville’s original streets, which has now become a commercialized area.   |  Jaime Henry-White

The Sunsphere reflects in a pool of water in World’s Fair Park at the center of town. The structure, built for the 1982 World's Fair, is meant to represent the sun and the energy theme of the fair.

  |  Jaime Henry-White

Shannon Monaghan jumps onto a bench while hula-hooping in an alleyway near Market Square in Knoxville. Monaghan, originally from Philadelphia, is a backpacker and sells hula-hoops while on the road.   |  Jaime Henry-White

Joyce Jones, left, Gretchen Fort, Norma Cooper, Ben Cooper and Tom Fort drink together at an event hosted by the Mizzou Alumni Association on Friday at Latitude 35, a restaurant in Knoxville. The event is a part of several events organized for alumni this weekend.   |  Jaime Henry-White

Street performer Harley Chapeau, left, performs magic tricks for a crowd in Market Square as Jeff Belk and Traci Williams watch.   |  Jaime Henry-White