Calendar of Events

African American Appalachian Arts, Inc. (AAAA); City of Knoxville; Cornerstone Foundation; Knox County Government; Tennessee Arts Commission; Green Mountain Coffee (Sponsors of Kuumba Kamp); Pilot Travel Centers, LLC.; WBIR; Knoxville News Sentinel; WUOT; UT Minority Student Affairs; UT Black Cultural Programming Committee. and area sponsors are delighted to present one of Knoxville's most anticipated and attended events the KUUMBA Festival 2010, June 24 through June 27, 2010 at four premier locations throughout Knoxville: Knoxville Museum of Art, Downtown/Market Square and Chilhowee Park.

KUUMBA (Ki-swahili for "creative") Festival is a multi-event celebration with more than 200 entertainers performing throughout the festival, demonstrations, and service by more than 100 crafts' people and food vendors. (AAAA) Chair says, "This is going to be the best KUUMBA ever and a marvelous time that people will remember for years to come." The KUUMBA Festival is the largest African American Cultural Arts Festival in East Tennessee.

Beginning Thursday, June 24, KUUMBA kicks off at the Knoxville Museum of Art from 5 PM - 9 PM with African Food featuring "A Taste of Africa Buffet;" artist exhibits: silent auction with art work by Bobbi Crews. Featuring performing Artist Chocolate: Christian Comedian, Live Jazz band, Knoxville’s own Kuumba Watoto Drum & Dance Company, Ekpe!: Master Storyteller and Musician. Spoken Word Café featuring Knoxville Poetry Slam. Hosted by Bert Tanner, singer/ storyteller/ performance artist/ Actor: renowned artist of the “Carpetbag Theater”
Admission: $10.00.
Continuing on Friday, June 25, from 11 AM - 2 PM is the Kuumba Youth Arts Extravaganza on Market Square. Also, starting in Downtown Knoxville at 6 PM the JUNKANU Parade on Gay Street and Market Square (features festival participants, the original Free Spirit Stilt Walkers, Kuumba Watoto Dance and Drum Company, churches, and community groups who strut, drum, and dance), culminates with a live concert on Market Square at 8 PM. Featuring R&B Artist Steph Jones opening for recording Artist Vivian Green!
Saturday, On June 26 at Chilhowee Park gates open at 11 AM until 10 PM enjoy the African Market Place with traditional crafts, clothing, and foods; the World Children's Village; and two entertainment stages featuring local and up and coming Artist, Kuumba Watoto Dance and Drum Company and the Free Spirit Stilt Walker will precession through the festival. On Saturday at 8pm the main act will perform Recording Artists Ginuwine. Admissions: $5.00 before 5PM; $10.00 after 5PM. children 6yrs. & under FREE.

Ending on Sunday, June 27, gates open at 12 noon until 9 PM relish in the African Market place as the early afternoon brings forth the Gospel with GOSPEL IN THE PARK and the Knoxville Zoological Garden's Petting Zoo (Children's World Village) from 3 PM - 5 PM. Last, the premier artist, The Temptations Revue, a tribute featuring Nate Evans will perform at 7pm. Admissions: $5.00 before 5PM; $10.00 after 5PM; children 6yrs. & under FREE.

Info: http://sites.google.com/site/kuumbafestival/, 865-546-9705, kuumbafestival@myspace.com

Two sessions: Thurs., June 24 & Sat., June 26. Ages: 2- and 3-year-old with adult partner Explore the wonderful world of colors this summer with your young one. Games, crafts and nature-related fun, both indoors and out. Free to members, $10 for non-members. 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

The Alice Project is an educational software that teaches students computer programming in a 3D environment. This two-week course takes place Tuesday-Friday for $80 (HOLA members) and $160 (non-members). The class is taught in English and Spanish by college instructor Isabel Rosenblitt. 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 109, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-335-3358, www.alice.org

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM; Saturday: 10AM-4PM; Sunday: 1-5PM. For information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

1st through 5th Grades. How do animals survive? During this week of camp, we will be exploring some special adaptations of plants and animals. To register call Sarah Brobst, 577-4717, ext. 24 or e-mail: sbrobst@ijams.org.

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

Dramatized by Joseph Robinette
June 18, 24, 25, 26 @ 7:30 pm and June 19, 23, 26 @ 2:30 pm
All the charm and excitement of L.M. Montgomery's enduring classic is captured
in this dramatization. From Anne's first encounter with her austere guardian to her thrilling graduation from Queen's Academy, the play faithfully recreates the memorable events and characters from the brilliant novel. Whether the playgoer is an "old friend" of Anne's or meeting her for the first time, this play will solidify a lasting friendship between the audience and one of literature's most unforgettable characters.

Adults - $10, Students/Seniors - $8, Children Under 12 yrs. - $5, Groups of 10 or more $6 (children under 12 in a group $4) Thursday Tickets: PAY WHAT YOU CAN. Tickets available at the door with cash or check.

Performed at The WordPlayers' Theatre at Middlebrook Christian Ministries, 1540 Robinson Rd. at Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923. For information: 865-539-2490, www.wordplayers.org

7 weeks of camps, June 14 - July 2 and July 12 - August 6
Featuring week long camps in visual arts, crafts, music, dance, model trains, science, hobbies and more for ages preschool through Grade 7. All day or half day camps available for grades 1 through 7 half day for preschool. 9am - 4pm

461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. (865) 482-1074; childrensmuseumofoakridge.org

7 weeks of camps, June 14 - July 2 and July 12 - August 6
Featuring week long camps in visual arts, crafts, music, dance, model trains, science, hobbies and more for ages preschool through Grade 7. All day or half day camps available for grades 1 through 7 half day for preschool. 9am - 4pm

461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. (865) 482-1074; childrensmuseumofoakridge.org

Monday, June 14 — Steve Kaufman, Johnny Bellar, Adam Granger, Joe Collins.
Tuesday, June 15 — Adam Masters, Mary Flower, Rusty Holloway and Jeff Jenkins, Robert Shafer.
Wednesday, June 16— Barbara Lamb, Ivan Rosenberg, Keith Yoder, Jim Pankey.
Thursday, June 17 — Russ Barenberg, Casey Henry, Pat Kirtley, Marcy Marxer.
Friday, June 18 — Pete Huttlinger, Steve Kaufman and Friends, Kamp Kompanions.
Monday, June 21 -- Tyler Grant, Andrew Collins, Mike Clemmer, Richard Starkey, Kathy Barwick.
Tuesday, June 22 -- Gary Davis, Mitch Corbin, Tim May, Rolly Brown, Radim Zenkl.
Wednesday, June 23 -- Carlo Aonzo, Kathy Chiavola, Chris and Sally Jones with Ned Luberecki, Keith Yoder.
Thursday, June 24-- Alan Munde, Roland White & Steve Kaufman, Emory Lester, Mark Cosgrove, Murphy Henry and Casey Henry.
Friday, June 25 -- Beppe Gambetta, Sharon Gilchrist, Steve Kaufman and Friends, Kamp Kompanions.

At Clayton Center for the Arts's R & L Nutt Theatre: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Tickets are available at the Clayton Center Box Office M-F 10AM-6PM or by phone or online: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Discover Life In America: All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory captivating illustrations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's ecosystems (plants, animals and micro-organisms) AMSE Lobby

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

A hilarious Tony Award-winning musical tale featuring a quirky yet charming cast of overachievers' vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Six adolescent outsiders in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that the spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Suitable for mature teens and older.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway in Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. For information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com

Collecting shells has been a pastime of many, young and old, for centuries. It is only when collecting becomes a passion rather than a pastime that the finest examples are sought, and the subject is researched in detail. Such is the case with this collection, one of the country's finest, assembled by local physician Dr. Peter Stimpson. Focusing on six families of marine gastropods - cowries, cones, conchs, harps, volutes, and olives - the collection includes over 1,000 species listed in the "Registry of World Record Size Shells". Dr. Stimpson has made a portion of his collection available for public enjoyment in this exhibition.

1327 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Mon - Sat: 9:00A to 5:00P, Sun: 1:00P to 5:00P. Information: 865-974-2144, http://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu