Calendar of Events

1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Hwy

A birthday celebration for TN's first governor includes re-enactors, crafts, music, and period children's games. www.discoveret.org/jsma or (865) 573-5508

Hypertufa is an artificial stone made from a few simple ingredients, used to create planting containers and garden art. Knoxville Botanical Garden Senior Gardener Mathew McMillan will show you how easy it is to make beautiful faux stone containers to liven up your garden. The class will cover materials, forms, colorants, and more. This will be a two part class; at our first meeting you will be making your own hypertufa container. Our second meeting will cover further ways to artificially age and finish your container. This also includes an hour long basic container planting class where you will be able to plant your hypertufa container. All materials will be provided including plant material for the second session. Things can get messy so dress accordingly.

Instructor: Mathew McMillan (KBGA staff)
Dates: Saturday, September 26 10-noon and Thursday, October 1 6-8pm
Location: Garden Club Room
Cost:$30 members, $40 nonmembers (Cost covers both parts of this two-part class)

2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville, TN. 865-540-8690, www.knoxgarden.com

Jam-jazz fusion band The Disco Biscuits return to Knoxville to make their debut. Following up their biggest Camp Bisco yet, this fall the band will release songs from their latest release, Planet Anthem, in clusters on three multi-media digital EPs featuring singles, remixes, and music videos. All that starts in September, but right now you can download two free mp3s from discobiscuits.com. Tickets to their show on sale via the Tennessee Theatre box office, Tickets Unlimited outlets, by phone at 865-656-4444 or online. www.tennesseetheatre.com

Last Fall, some of East Tennessee's favorite bluegrass musicians came together to form a new band, BRAND NEW STRINGS. Randall Massengill, Tim Tipton, Mike Ramsey, Stuart Wyrick and Matt Leadbetter. Brand New Strings are currently recording their first album in Cumberland Gap,TN with studio owner and Producer, Steve Gulley. Come hear this SPGMA Award Winning Band. Their first time at the Palace. Tickets are $13 in Advance and $15 at the Door plus tax. Downtown Maryville Tennessee 865-983-3330 Tickets www.palacetheater.com

Come see how Knoxville Zoo enriches the lives of our animals!
Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

Organic gardening costs less, yields the same and does not fill our soils and waterways with excess fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, plus food grown organically is healthier and cheaper for you and your family. Nature's way is the best way. Program is free, please call 865-577-4717 ext. 10 to register. www.ijams.org

In partnership with the YWCA of Knoxville and the Knox County Public Library's Big Read, Ijams will conduct an owl prowl. This year's Big Read novel, "Bless Me, Ultima," follows a natural healer. Join naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales for a wildflower walk at Ijams Nature Center. He'll be looking for some of the plants that were once used locally for folk medicines. Program is free. To register, call 865-577-4717, ext. 10. www.ijams.org

45-minute informative, entertaining presentations by all-stars of the UT Knoxville College of Arts & Sciences faculty. UT Digs Greece: New Light on the Bronze Age with Aleydis Van De Moortel, Associate Professor, Department of Classics. At the UC Ballroom, Room 213. Visit www.artsci.utk.edu/outreach/Pre_Game.asp or call 865-974-5332.

Admission: $15.00 plus applicable service fees. Tickets on sale at 865-522-0832 or www.knoxbijou.com

The foremost harpers of Ireland and Scotland present their Two Sides of Celtic concert. Tickets: $15 at the door. Grove Theater, 123 Randolph Rd., Oak Ridge, TN. More information: Rick Hall 865-803-7875

An invitational ceramics exhibition featuring the work of eight nationally-celebrated ceramicists. Please join us for a First Friday Reception October 2 from 5-9pm. The exhibition includes works by Pennsylvania artist Adelaide Paul who will be present at the reception, North Carolina artist and UT Alumus Michael Kline, Bonnie Seeman from Florida, and Georgia artists: Ron Meyers, Ted Saupe, Sunkoo Yuh, Andy Nasisse and Lauren Gallaspy. Ted Saupe, current head of the ceramics area at the University of Georgia, taught ceramics at UT from 1980 through 1992. The exhibition features a wide range of ceramic forms with innovative surfaces from traditional vessels to figurative sculptures. 106 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. 865.673.0802 or www.ewing-gallery.org/New_Downtown/Index/DT_Index.html#

A celebration of the traditional music, crafts, and heritage of Townsend, Blount County, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Spend the weekend with us! There is no better time to experience the culture and history of the Smokies--dozens of great activities all in one weekend. Enjoy bluegrass music, arts and crafts, a country fair, and relive the days of mountain railroads. Events take place in Townsend, Tennessee: Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day, Friday and Saturday at Townsend Visitors Center. Blue Ribbon Country Fair, Saturday at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Nawger Nob Arts and Crafts Show, Saturday and Sunday at Nawger Nob Craft Settlement. Railroad Days, Saturday at Little River Railroad Museum. For information: Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau, 7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882, 800-525-6834, www.smokymountains.org