Calendar of Events

Anvil shooting used to be a fairly common way that rural folks celebrated special events--they "shot the anvil" to celebrate the nation’s Independence, Christmas, and even Davy Crockett’s election to the U.S. Congress.

Activities run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., starting with the opening ceremony and anvil shoot. A replica of the Liberty Bell is rung precisely at 2 p.m. in conjunction with the National Bell Ringing Ceremony. The Sons of the Revolution will raise the Liberty Pole, commemorating the colonial spirit that protested British rule.

Mountain skills will be demonstrated, ranging from rail-splitting, basket-making, whittling, sheep herding, quilting, spinning, blacksmithing, and more. The old-time circular sawmill will be in operation, and Ruby Patterson will play the role of Betsy Ross sewing our nation’s first flag.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716 (16 miles north of Knoxville at I-75, exit 122, then one mile east). Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9:30AM-5PM (April – December, excluding home football Saturdays); Monday-Friday, 10AM-4PM (January - March). For information: 865-525-6514, www.jameswhitefort.org

The Festival on the 4th promises once again to deliver a wide variety of family fun including entertainment, activities and treats at the City of Knoxville’s Fourth of July celebration! Held at The World's Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, join us for fireworks, music and loads of family fun. Music features: Christabel and the Jons, Mountain Soul, Kids Stuff (live) with Sean McCollough, Wade Hill and the Hillians, and WDVX DJ Freddy Smith ("Rise and Shine") with his Patriotic Poultry Show. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will perform beginning at 8pm followed by fireworks!

http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/events/4th

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra returns to World’s Fair Park for the 27th Annual FREE Pilot Independence Day Concert complete with popular patriotic tunes, classical favorites and a fireworks finale! The performance, conducted by KSO Music Director Lucas Richman, will be on the South Lawn of World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville. This event is part of the City of Knoxville’s Festival on the Fourth.

New this year, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will host a live blogging experience available through a mobile site. As each work on the concert is performed, the site will update with information regarding the background of the work, biographical information about the composer, pop-culture references, why the piece was chosen for the program and offer insights to various musical components.

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, 100 S. Gay St, Ste 302, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information and tickets: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

July 4: Featuring Beckye Thomas

Come hear the Tennessee Theatre's own Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. Listen to various tunes played by Dr. Bill Snyder, house organist of the Tennessee Theatre since 1979. Bring your lunch from home or pick it up on the way - or purchase a bag lunch in the lobby for $5. Soft drinks, bottled water, popcorn, and other snacks will be available for purchase.

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

Knoxville Zoo honors service men and women on independence day by honoring them with free admission during the salute to service weekend.

Knoxville Zoo, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.knoxville-zoo.org

“Personal Perspective,” features art created by local artists with developmental disabilities and physical limitations who have utilized groundbreaking techniques to express themselves on canvas. Approximately 25 acrylic paintings by 12 local artists will be on display in the Clayton Center’s Denso Community Gallery.The artists will host a reception in the gallery on July 14th from 6-8 p.m.
The artists are clients at Open Arms Care, a nonprofit organization in Knoxville that provides intermediate care facility services and an array of residential services for adults and children diagnosed with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in the state of Tennessee.

Clayton Center for the Arts: 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

Haunting and beautiful photography by local artist and activist, William Isom.
Artist statement: "Traditionally working in photography to express the impressions of my environment, I'm aiming to continue my themes of the considered obsolete and discarded. Expressing this through textured materials encountered on backroads intrigues me. I hope to infect the viewer with my blurred glimpses and meditative moments found just east of town."
50% of all sales will go to benefit the Neighborhood Center at 800 North 4th Ave and Gill Street (formerly The Birdhouse). First Friday reception: 6-9 PM

URBhana, 115 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-951-5454, www.urbhana.com

Unarmed Merchants is honored to have the paintings of Cynthia Markert & Asa McEwan for the month of July. This will also be the final month that Unarmed Merchants will be open in its current capacity. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have had for almost 4 years now. So help me celebrate a good time with these two wonderful artists - at an awesome gallery in the best city I have ever called home. Not to mention there will be plenty of refreshments, fun, surprises and free stuff.

Unarmed Merchants, 129 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-549-5769, http://www.allknox.com/businesses/4

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition of 2-D works by the Fountain City Art Guild entitled “Summer Solstice Show” in the main gallery of the Emporium Center.

An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on July 1 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com. For more information, visit www.fountaincityartguild.com.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present a new exhibition opening Friday, July 1, at 5:00 PM in the Balcony of the Emporium Center featuring seven local artists:

+ Terrie Boruff-Yeatts (Knoxville, TN) - A contemporary and whimsical view on the subject matter that surrounds our everyday life - www.terrieyeatts.com

+ Stephen Brayfield (Knoxville, TN) - Watercolor paintings depicting life in and around the southern Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains - www.brayart.com

+ Regina L. Garner (Maryville, TN) - Digital photography

+ Chuck Jensen (Crossville, TN) - Contemporary portraits of people making changes on the American Landscape - www.chuckswoodstock.com

+ Terri Jordan (Clarksville, TN) - A suite of oil paintings based on the artist/muse Suzanne Valadon

+ Dawn Kunkel (Knoxville, TN) - Mixed media works

+ Linda A. Waterhouse (Maryville, TN) - An assemblage of colorful faces and instruments in Black & White digital photography - www.lawaterhousephotography.com

The group exhibition will be displayed in the Balcony at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street. An opening reception will take place as part of First Friday activities on July 1 from 5:00-9:00 PM with complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543 or visit www.knoxalliance.com.

Classic movies to be shown this summer:
June 24: "North By Northwest" with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint
July 8 & 10: "The Sound of Music"
August 5 & 7: "Some Like It Hot"
August 13 & 14: "Gone with the Wind"
August 19: "West Side Story"

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