Calendar of Events

A popular Imagination Library book takes the stage!
Knox County Public Library is pleased to welcome Dollywood’s Imagination Playhouse featuring the Penguin Players as they delight audiences of all ages with a musical adaptation of Otis by Loren Long. The show is free and open to the public.

The show premieres at the 7th annual Children’s Festival of Reading on Saturday, May 21st, in downtown Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park. Joining the performers will be amazing authors, illustrators, storytellers, other stage productions, a mad science experiment area, a bouncy house and even a hayride—and over 12,000 people expected to kick off a summer of literary fun! It’s the perfect way to kick off summer reading at the Library. From there, the show hits the road, visiting nearly every corner of Knox County.

Touring Schedule:
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. at World's Fair Park Amphitheatre
Monday, May 23, 3:00 p.m. at Howard Pinkston Branch Library
Tuesday, May 24, 10:30 a.m. at Murphy Branch Library
Wednesday, May 25, 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Bluff Branch Library
Wednesday, May 25, 3:30 p.m. at North Knoxville Branch Library
Thursday, May 26, 3:00 p.m. at Norwood Branch Library
Friday, May 27, 10:30 a.m. at Powell Branch Library
Saturday, May 28, 11:00 a.m. at Lawson McGhee Library
Saturday, May 28, 3:30 p.m. at Burlington Branch Library
Tuesday, May 31, 3:00 p.m. at Carter Branch Library
Wednesday, June 1, 11:00 a.m. at Karns Branch Library
Wednesday, June 1, 4:00 p.m. at Farragut Branch Library
Thursday, June 2, 11:00 a.m. at Bearden Branch Library
Thursday, June 2, 3:30 p.m. at Halls Branch Library
Friday, June 3, 10:30 at Fountain City Branch Library
Saturday, June 4, 3:00 p.m. at Sequoyah Branch Library

Knox County Public Library: http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/10111_Features_and_Events

http://knoxrooms.sirsi.net/rooms/portal/page/10111_Features_and_Events

21 May 2011 at 2:00 pm
21 May 2011 at 8:00PM
22 May 2011 at 2:00PM

The quickly approaching Monty Python's Spamalot is the musical, lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail, tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table and features a bevy of show girls, cows, killer rabbits and french people.

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com. For tickets: 865-684-1200, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Summer Supper at the home of Todd Witcher. Join us at this cool Mid-Century pad for a journey back to Woodstock with food, fashion and music of the classic 1969 festival.

Knox Heritage: 865-523-8008, www.knoxheritage.org

Children’s Festival of Reading is Splashing into Summer with Splish Splash: Summer is back and so is summer reading! Get your splash on as Knox County Public Library jump starts its summer in World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. Now in its 6th year, the Festival has become a favorite way to start the summer. This year’s theme is Make A Splash, and there’s no better place do so than by the fountains at the Park.

In a fun-filled day, the public is invited to meet and greet their favorite authors, illustrators, storytellers, and musicians. The fun continues all day long with a mad scientist, a roaming circus, arts & crafts, inflatables, and a wagon ride. Free and open to the public.

McGhee Lawson Library, 500 W Church Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
(865) 215-8725
http://www.knoxvilletennessee.com/library001.html

The Association is offering a ride to and from the Games for $30 per person, which includes a ride from Blount Mansion to Maryville College at 10:00 a.m., a ticket to the games, and then a return trip to the Mansion at 4:30 p.m. For an additional $15, guests can also purchase tickets to the Scotch Whiskey Seminar & Tasting held at the Games. Events for the day include music, Highland dance, pipe & drum band competitions, athletic competitions, and more.
More information about the Highland Games can be found at http://www.gsfg.org/.

Reservations must be made before May 18.
Blount Mansion, 200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information: 865-525-2375, www.blountmansion.org

(All ages) Join roving naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales and Ijams member and local dog aficionado Janet McKnight (she has such a way with man's best friend, she's almost a dog whisperer) for a dog-walking walkabout at Victor Ashe Park (4901 Bradshaw off Pleasant Ridge Road). Janet has worked with hundreds of dogs, training dozens and will give us all tips on our beloved canines so that we do exactly what they want us to do, including walking multiple dogs at the same time. (Janet will walk five of her 10 dogs at once. Yes, it's possible.) Free for members, $5 for non-members. To register: 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). www.ijams.org

Learn how to capture a perfect garden photograph while enjoying an early morning walk through the gardens. A member of our staff will lead an hour-long walk focusing on the best lighting and garden location during that particular walk. This event is a unique opportunity to have time with fellow photographers and garden lovers while having some serious photography time in the garden. Photography walks will be held every third Friday: May 20, June 17, July 15 and August 19. Walks begin at 7:30 a.m. and depart from the Friendship Plaza at the entrance to the Gardens.

We are excited to have a variety of monthly walks. Walks are rain or shine, and will be cancelled only in the event of dangerous lightening. All walks are FREE and meet at the entrance to the Gardens. (Advance registration appreciated, but not required.)

The former Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games is now the Smoky Mountain Highland Games. This will be a wonderful weekend for games, food, and reconnecting with your Scottish roots. Along with many other clans, both the Ramsey Clan and the Ramsey House Plantation will have booths and we invite you to come and visit with us!

Friday, May 20. 3 p.m. Scotch Tasting
6 p.m. Gala Reception

Saturday, May 21 8 a.m. Gates & Field Open
12 p.m. Opening Ceremonies
1:30 p.m. Scotch Tasting
4:30 p.m. Massed Band Concert & Awards Ceremony
7:00 p.m. Ceilidh

All day Saturday: Scottish country dancing, Border collie demonstrations, children’s activities, clan challenge, athletics, entertainment, dance & piping competition

Sunday, May 22 8:30 a.m. Gates & Field Open
9:30 a.m. Worship Service & Kirkin’ O’ The Tartans
12:00 p.m. Pipe Band Concert
1:15 p.m. Parade of Tartans & Massed Bands
1:45 p.m. Scottish Dog Parade & Talent Show
3:00 p.m. Free-Style Band Competition

All day Sunday: Scottish country dancing, amateur athletics, children’s activities, heritage seminars, entertainment

On the Maryville College Campus. Info: 865-546-0745, www.ramseyhouse.org

May 20-22 - 30th Annual Smoky Mountain Highland Games in Maryville - A weekend of getting to know all about your Scottish clan.

Ramsey House Plantation, 2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open year around (except Mondays & Holidays). For information: 865-546-0745, www.ramseyhouse.org

Thirty local artists have graciously volunteered to create beautiful works of art on 55-gallon rain barrels to help the Water Quality Form raise awareness about water conservation and water pollution. 87 unique rain barrels and been created and through their sale, education and conservation efforts will be funded.
On display at at the Museum of Art and online.
You can have access to the website with the following link:
http://www.drygap.com/rdbo/2011/index.html

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: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Featuring nineteenth century Tennessee-made earthenware and stoneware
Tennessee Turned: Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee 1800-1900 is a major exhibition of nineteenth-century pots made in East Tennessee. This once-in-a-lifetime grouping of more than 200 distinctive regional pieces will make for an unforgettable exploration of this chapter of Tennessee history.
“This pottery, of which we are justifiably proud, provides a unique link in the continuum of the American potting tradition as it spread across the United States.”

The exhibit will explore all aspects of nineteenth-century pottery production in East Tennessee, as well as featuring comparative examples from other parts of the state. Visitors will learn how to “read” a pot, how a pot was made in the nineteenth-century, the difference between earthenware and stoneware, and the importance of pottery for households.

On Friday, June 3, ETHS will host the Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival at the History Center for an opening reception, pottery demonstrations, and a viewing of the Tennessee Turned exhibit. Two special “Pottery Day” events to be held June 25 and September 17 will invite the public to bring in pottery objects they may have in their families for possible identification and to be documented photographically for historical purposes.

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

Get involved in a research project and learn from wildlife biologists and ecologists. Ijams is conducting two biological species inventories to determine species of various taxonomic groups on the new Ross Marble site. Inventories will establish a baseline survey of different classes of organisms, including fungi, plants, insects, fishes, herbs, birds and mammals.

The BioBlitzes will take place from dawn to dusk. Children are welcome to attend but may only be able to participate in select activities. Registration is required. Please e-mail Laura Marsh at laurakmarsh@gmail.com or call 577-4717 ext. 27.