Calendar of Events

The Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timer's Day offers guests an opportunity to take a step back in time and enjoy a variety of bluegrass bands, storytellers, arts and crafts booths, Appalachian traditions and children's activities. Voted several times as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast, the festival celebrates Southern Appalachian Mountain culture and heritage. The 2009 event will also be centered around the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains. As the leaves begin to change in late September, enjoy the fall atmosphere and take in all the fabulous entertainment, including bluegrass and mountain music performances, an antique tractor and engine show, storytelling, children's activities, crafts by local artisans, and demonstrations of a variety of traditional skills, such as basketry, spinning, weaving, sorghum molasses, apple butter making, lye soap, beekeeping and blacksmithing.

Townsend, Tennessee Visitors Center, 7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, Tennessee 37882
For more information: www.smokymountainfestivals.org/#/fall

Music, food, balloons!

September 25, 4:00-9:30 PM and September 26, 12:00-9:30 PM
Imagine a pond surrounded by glowing hot air balloons, set against the nighttime backdrop of an East Tennessee rolling landscape. That's one of many attractions spectators will enjoy at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville. The sixth annual Pellissippi State Hot Air Balloon Festival brings balloonists from across the country to participate in the event, which also features live music and entertainment, children's activities, food, arts and crafts vendors, and tethered balloon rides. The Southeast Tourism Society has ranked the two-day festival as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for September 2009. The “balloon glow,” always the most popular activity, lights up the sky beginning at dusk each evening. Tethered balloon rides (weather permitting and for an additional fee) offer a view of the landscape most people have never experienced. Admission is $10 for a vehicle pass, per day. Walk-ons will be charged $5 per person. 10915 Hardin Valley Road. For additional information and a complete list of activities: 865-694-6400, www.pstcc.edu/balloons.

Juried Mixed Media Exhibition by Regional Artists
Opening reception, September 12, 7–9; Gallery Talk at 6:30, Awards Presentation at 7.

201 Badger Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9-5; Saturday-Monday, 1-4. For more information, visit the Web site or call (865) 482-1441.

Reception: Fri., Sept. 18, 6:30-8:30PM

213 Hotel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9-5, Wednesday & Friday 10-5, Saturday 9-1. More information: (865) 357-2787, www.fountaincityart.org

The annual Latino Arts Exhibition at the Knoxville Museum of Art honors Hispanic Heritage Month. Widen your horizons for free! 1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. Free parking. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Based in Knoxville, A1LabArts is a nonprofit dedicated to multi-disciplinary and experimental exploration of contemporary art issues in all media. Opening reception September 11, 6:00-8:00 PM. 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Information: 865-335-2670, www.a1labarts.org

+ Field of Dreams (PG) on September 11
+ The Goonies (PG) on September 18
+ Kung Fu Panda (PG) on September 25
+ Casablanca (PG) on October 2
+ Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (G) on October 9
+ Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PG 13) on October 16
Pull out your lawn chair or blanket and join the fun for Knoxville's favorite outdoor movies series every Friday night. For information, call 865-215-8750.

By Ed Graczyk, Directed by Courtney Woolard
Showtimes: Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 8:00 pm and Sunday @ 3:00 pm
Tickets: Thursday, Sunday $10; Friday, Saturday $15.
319 N. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917.  865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, based on the writings of Anne Frank

Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM & 5 PM, Sundays at 3 PM

865-599-5284; www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com

A visual tour and continuing celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Smoky Mountains National Park. In this exhibition, the Gallery is premiering photography collections of our local mountain treasure by Ronald Burke as well as Robert Batey, both
local artist/photographers. 5607 Kingston Pike. 865-584-6097, www.hansongallery.com

UT Photojournalism professor Robert Heller always has his camera with him when he travels. Heller's photographic exhibit, "City Light," examines the confluence of architecture, people and light, as found in cities such as San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Warsaw and elsewhere. Open to the public M-F 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, downtown Knoxville. 865-524-1223 or www.easttennesseefoundation.org