Calendar of Events

Transforms downtown Knoxville's sidewalks into a canvas for professional and student artists during the street painting festival. Saturday 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Information: 865-637-4661, www.dogwoodarts.com.

Visit some of your favorite food and farm vendors from the Market Square Farmers' Market during the Dogwood Arts Festival's Chalk walk on Market St. We'll be set up from 9am-3pm Saturday and Sunday with early spring crops like lettuces, radishes and greens, as well as baked goods, eggs, meat, honey and prepared foods. Plus, this will be your first chance to grab the new edition of the Market Square Farmers' Market poster!

Market Square District Association in Market Square, PO Box 2263, Knoxville, TN 37901. Information: knoxvillemarketsquare@gmail.com, www.knoxvillemarketsquare.com

KMA Hours: Tues-Thurs 10-5; Fri 10-8; Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5. 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org, info@knoxart.org

Includes Blount Mansion, Mabry-Hazen House, Crescent Bend House & Gardens, James White's Fort, Ramsey House, and Marble Springs. More information at
Blount Mansion: http://www.blountmansion.org
Mabry-Hazen: http://www.mabryhazen.com
Crescent Bend: http://www.crescentbend.org
Ramsey House: http://www.ramseyhouse.org
Marble Springs: http://www.discoveret.org/jsma
James White's Fort: http://www.discoveret.org/jwf

Old-Time String Band
Those who had the pleasure to see the fabled Freight Hoppers perform from 1992 to the band’s lay-up will certainly know what a sight and sound it is to witness the fiddle and banjo combination driven by David Bass and Frank Lee. The Freights were one of the hottest bands on the old-time circuit back in the mid 90s. Now, Lee and Bass are back and have brought in Isaac Deal on guitar and vocals and Bradley Adams on upright bass. With two original members reunited and joined by Deal, whose ardent high lead and tenor voice holds the line and traverses the music’s authentic spirit and Adams on powerhouse bass, a string band has been created to rival the best that ever kicked up dust. Jubilee Community Arts, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. For information: 865-522-5851, www.jubileearts.org. For tickets: 865-523-7521, www.KnoxTIX.com

As an Official Activity of the Dogwood Arts Festival and in celebration of the wonders of springtime and the rich heritage that is represented in the many public house museums located within and around Knoxville, two 3-hour bus tours will be offered. The two tours will be divided into a Morning and Afternoon tour. The Morning Tour, (9:00am -12:00pm), will begin at Blount Mansion, with stops at The Mabry-Hazen House, and Crescent Bend House & Gardens. The Afternoon Tour, (1:00pm – 4:00pm), will begin at James White’s Fort, with stops at Ramsey House Plantation, and Marble Springs Historic Farmstead. Each tour will have bus step-on tour guides who will discuss additional points of interest, history, and will hi-light historic landmarks in and around Knoxville. The tour will stop at each historic house museum on the route so that guests may tour the historic homes, grounds, and gardens. An hour in-between the morning and afternoon has been created so guest may have lunch if they wish to do both tours. Free parking is available at both Blount Mansion for the morning tour and James White’s Fort for the afternoon tour. The cost is $20.00 per person per tour. Information: 865-637-3163, Tickets: www.KnoxTIX.com

Presented by Wild Wing Café & WDVX Community Radio
Micro Beer Festival sampling, food, exhibits featuring music performances by Robinella, Balsam Range, Chillbillies and more to be announced. Sponsors: Wild Wing Café, WDVX, Eagle Distributing & Cherokee Distributing and more to be announced
Wild Wing Café, 11335 Campbell Lakes Drive, Farragut
Admission: $20 in advance, $25 at the door; includes 4 oz. souvenir glass. Receive $5 off with Rhythm ‘N Blooms Festival Pass. Proceeds of the ticket sales to benefit WDVX Community Radio and the Dogwood Arts Festival. 865.777.9464, www.wildwingcafe.com, www.WDVX.com.

This is a great event that supports The Wellness Community programs for people affected by cancer. Featuring fresh start furnishings for your home - auction & open house at Cherokee Mills, 2230 Sutherland Avenue. $25 includes 2 drink tickets; desserts & cash bar. Info: 865-546-4661, www.wellnesscommunitytn.com

The Knoxville Garden Club and Garden Study Club announce the 46th Annual Talahi Plant Sale, the oldest plant sale in the area. This year's theme is "Thyme after Thyme" with an emphasis on plants that "time after time" will grow back each year in our area. Garden enthusiasts will be able to purchase hundreds of varieties of perennials, annuals, wildflowers and herbs as well as plants that were lovingly grown and nurtured in members' gardens. Josie Sibold will once again bring her concrete garden art and the Knoxville Recycling Coalition will present an educational session on composting and recycling. The sale will also feature "Ask an Expert" where some of Knoxville's most experienced gardeners will be available to answer questions during the sale. New this year are the "Stay for Lunch" cookbook, which is a president's collection of favorite recipes from board meeting lunches of the Knoxville Garden Club, and the Heirloom Vegetables area, which will include a variety of tomato, pepper, eggplant and lettuce plants along with blueberry bushes. All proceeds from the sale benefit community and education projects in the Knoxville area.
At Lakeshore Park. http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/support.html

(Ages: 9 to 14-year-olds) This month’s Junior Naturalist Program features beginning birding. The workshop will introduce birding basics, including binocular use, song recognition and identification tips for many of our local birds. So grab your field guides and binoculars (if you do not have either, we will supply) and join educator Emily Boves in search of both year-round residents and spring migrating species on the trails of Ijams. Cost: free to members, $15 for non-members. To register call Sheila at 577-4717, ext. 10.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Visitor Center: Monday: by appointment only for tour groups and school trips; Tuesday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM; Sunday: 1-5PM (March 1 - November 30). For information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

EarthFest 2010 is going to be held at Pellissippi State's main campus off of Hardin Valley Road in Knoxville, TN. Join us on April 17 from 10am-5pm for a day of food, fun, entertainment, and lots of environmental education opportunities. Admission is FREE! Great fun. Lots of vendors and activities geared to the earth-friendly, green-living lifestyle. EarthFest 2010 is aiming to be a Zero-Waste Event again! Exhibitors and food vendors will be required to control the types of materials they sell or distribute. EarthFest organizers, sponsors and volunteers will provide recycling and composting opportunities for everything distributed at the event.

For information: www.knox-earthfest.org

Get thee to Shakesfest, where Knox County Public Library invites teens to make merry for Shakespeare's birthday at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street. Young Adult author Lisa Klein, known for her Shakespeare-themed novels, Ophelia and Lady Macbeth's Daughter, will be discuss her writing experience and host a free writing workshop. Teens can also enjoy Knoxville's very own players-the Tennessee Stage Company-featuring improvisational comedy, stage combat, and more. Come and revel in such stuff that dreams are made on! The Library is also teaming up with Magpies bakery to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday in the sweetest of ways...with cupcakes! For April 19th through 22nd, a percentage of all cupcake sales will go to the Library. Then, for one day only--April 23rd--Magpies will be presenting the special Shakespearean ShakesCakes.

Schedule: 1:30 p.m., Demonstrations by Tennessee Stage Company, featuring improvisational comedy, stage combat, and more
2:15 p.m., Birthday cake for the Bard
2:30 p.m., Young adult author Lisa Klein will present "My Life With Shakespeare"
3:30 p.m., Harp performance by Carmen Bonnell
4:00 p.m., Writing workshop with author Lisa Klein, registration not required for this open workshop

For more information on Shakesfest, please call Melissa at 947-6210 or www.knoxlib.org.