Calendar of Events

The Sweetwater Valley Citizens for the Arts (SVCA) will sponsor their annual Holiday Home Tour event to be held in the Willow Creek Community located on New Highway 68 in Sweetwater. According to SVCA board member and Home Tour event coordinator Patricia Richesin, this year’s Holiday Home Tour will feature six homes in Sweetwater’s Willow Creek community. “We are pleased that residents in Willow Creek have agreed to open their homes for the Tour this year”, said Richesin. “Many of our annual patrons who come out for this event are enthusiastic about visiting these homes.”

Doreen Spencer, SVCA board member and president of the Willow Creek Women’s Club said “The women of Willow Creek will serve complimentary refreshments in the community center. We are organizing efforts in the community to utilize the gazebo and the Franklin Park Amphitheatre for other visitor activities to compliment the Small Town Christmas activities in our historic downtown,” said Spencer. Tickets are $10.00 and are available at Bobby Todd Antiques and City Hall in downtown Sweetwater. Tickets can be purchased at the Willow Creek Community Center at the event. “The Holiday Home Tour is an important fundraiser for SVCA”, said Richesin. “We sincerely appreciate all the wonderful support we continue to have for this event each year.”

Sweetwater Valley Citizens for the Arts: 423-337-5976, www.sweetwaterartscelebration.com

Horse & buggy rides, Victorian Costume contests, Pictures with Santa, Christmas lights & decorations, hot chocolate and holiday treats, shopping, and more!

In downtown Sweetwater, (423) 337-5976

Students from grades six through 12 showcase their talents at the Knoxville Museum of Art during the fifth annual East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition, presented by the Tennessee Art Education Association and the KMA, offers students the opportunity to display their artwork and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment. The awards ceremony for the artists on Tuesday, December 7 at 6pm at the KMA is open to the public and free of charge.

Awards for students total over $600,000. The Best-of-Show winner receives a purchase award of $500, and the artwork becomes a part of the collection of James Dodson, on loan to the Knoxville Museum of Art’s Education Collection.

Categories for the competition include ceramic, drawing, digital imagery, mixed media, painting, computer graphics, sculpture, traditional photography, and printmaking. The competition includes works from middle and high school students, grades six – 12, from public, private or home schools in East Tennessee.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM; Friday, 10AM-8PM; Sunday, 1-5PM. For information: 865-934-2036, www.knoxart.org

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, in collaboration with The WordPlayers, presents a delightful evening of holiday entertainment. The first act will be TKD's The Gift of the Magi followed by Nativity on the Square performed by The WordPlayers.

Performances will be at Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 N. Gay St. on Nov. 26, 27 @ 8:00 pm, Nov. 28 @ 3:00 pm, Dec. 2, 3, 4 @ 8:00 pm and Dec. 5 @ 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15 on Fridays and Saturdays and $10 on Thursdays and Sundays.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreknoxville.com or at the door with cash or check. Please call 865.544.1999 for reservations.

The Gift of the Magi, is a warm-hearted, romantic comedy in which a young couple learns the importance of the gift of love. Della and Jim eagerly await their first Christmas together as a married couple. However, times are hard and the two find themselves lacking the money to buy each other the proper Christmas gift. In a strange twist of fate, they end up finding the perfect gifts but at an unexpected cost in this adaptation by Jon Jory of the O. Henry story.

In Nativity on the Square by Tom Long, the figures of a public creche scene come to life on Christmas Eve and attempt to discover who they are. A drunken bag lady explains the Nativity to them in a manner that is both comic and deeply moving.

Theatre Knoxville Downtown's mission is to encourage the growth, expansion and interest in theatre in the Knoxville metropolitan area and to promote the training of persons therefor. For more information, please visit www.theatreknoxville.com. Information about The WordPlayers can be found at www.wordplayers.org.

Stop by for some holiday goodies and wonderful gift shopping! Refreshments and demonstrations with be provided!

Appalachian Arts Craft Center: 2716 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-6PM; Sunday 1-5PM. For information: 865-494-9854, www.appalachianarts.net

Director and Musical Director: Barry Wallace
Movement and choreography: Gayle Greene
The holiday sequel to G.I. JUKEBOX takes our Hollywood stars to the 'front' for a holiday reunion. It's Christmas-time, the world is at war, and for 90 brief minutes, the world is at peace as our singing stars deliver some of the best music of the 1940's, framed by a collection of holiday and Christmas music, ranging from the classic to corny to silly and sentimental! G.I. HOLIDAY JUKEBOX is the perfect holiday gift for everyone!

Erin Presbyterian Church, 200 Lockett Road, Knoxville, TN

Unique holiday shopping at the outdoor Christmas Market opens Fri. Nov. 26 at 12 Noon to 9 pm., at Krutch Park & Market Street. The outdoor Christmas Market will continue on Sat. Nov. 27 from 10 Noon to 5 pm.
865-215-4248; http://www.cityofknoxville.org/christmas

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, comes to life in this musical adaptation of the holiday classic. Stingy old Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by spirits and shown that, unless he changes his ways towards his fellow man, he will be faced with a sad fate. A delight for the whole family. Suitable for all ages. NOTE: This production is not a part of regular subsription, but can be added to your subscription.

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

Plan now to visit the UT Gardens in Knoxville for Holiday Express 2010.The UT Gardens and Mark Fuhrman have partnered again to bring East Tennessee an event that will delight visitors of all ages this holiday season. The garden-scale railroad display starts November 24, 2010 and runs through January 2, 2011.

New this year is a bridge that will enable visitors to walk through the display and Special Event Sundays. The bridge will allow visitors to get a close-up look at the miniature landscape and all of the detail that makes Holiday Express such an amazing and unique experience. Come out on December 5 and 19 for our Special Event Sundays. From noon to 6 p.m., families can explore Holiday Express and Knoxville Gardens together by participating in a scavenger hunt, making a few special holiday crafts and visiting with Santa Claus. Activities are free with Holiday Express admission.

The event will be open to the public every weekend from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Cost is $5 per person; children 4 and under are admitted free.

Hours: Thanksgiving Weekend:
November 24 - 27 12 - 8 p.m.
November 28 12 - 6 p.m.
Weekends (December 4 - January 2)
Friday & Saturday 12 - 8 p.m.
Sunday 12 - 6 p.m.

Special Event Sundays
December 5 12 - 6 p.m.
December 19 12 - 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve & Day
December 24 and 25 12 - 6 p.m.

http://utgardens.tennessee.edu

by Charles Dickens; Adapted by Edward Morgan and Joseph Hanreddy. For those who have embraced this Dickens’ classic as part of their holiday ritual -- and for those about to discover it for the first time -- Scrooge, the Cratchitts, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet-to-come return to the mainstage.

December 1-3, December 8-10, December 17, Wednesday-Friday, 7:30 PM - These performances are part of the Penny Performance program for Knox County students ages 5-18. Visit www.penny4arts.com for more information.

1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.org

The Fantasy of Trees has been a holiday tradition in East Tennessee since 1985, and this year's event marks the 26th year of this special celebration of the season. In 2010, this special holiday event will showcase a theme of "A Holly Jolly Christmas," highlighted with whimsical decorations and wintry designs that celebrate and showcase the fun and festive holiday season with reindeer at play, this year's "hot holiday colors" of lime green and bright reds, and twinkling snowflakes, glitter and lights. In addition, new children's activities and shops will also reflect this year's festive theme. All proceeds from admission ticket sales, children's activities, designer sales and holiday shop sales at the Fantasy of Trees benefit Children's Hospital.

November 24, 26, 27 from 9-9
November 25 from 3-9
November 28 from 12-6.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4-11, free for children under 4.

Information: 865-541-8165, www.etch.com/fantasy.cfm

This show will feature primarily oils and watercolors and will be judged. Guild members encourage everyone to attend the reception or at least come by the Center to view the exhibition. Reception November 12, 6:30-8:30 PM.

Also featuring Knox County Schools Student Art Exhibit: Bearden High & Middle, Cedar Bluff Middle, A. L. Lotts Elem., Cedar Bluff Elem., Rocky Hill Elem., and West Hills Elem.

Closed Dec 20 - Jan 3 for Christmas Holidays. 213 Hotel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityart.com