Calendar of Events

Enjoy the chilly winter season with this family hike and movie. After a winter hike, we'll head back to the center to warm up with some hot cocoa and settle in for a fun, family movie... a modern take on a classic fairy tale! Free to members, $5 for non-members. Educators: Peg Beute & Kara Remington. Please call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110 to register.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Call for Visitor Center hours. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

The Carolina Chocolate Drops have spent years revitalizing and refreshing the glorious tradition of string-band music. But this is no mere trio of nostalgia-miners, they’ve also spent plenty of time reinventing newer compositions like Blu Cantrell’s R&B hit "Hit ’Em Up Style." This is definitely a performance you don’t want to miss, so go ahead and buy your tickets now. You’ll regret it if you don’t...
Bijou Theater
Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.

The Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival takes place in Pigeon Forge , December 8-10, at the Ramada Inn and Smoky Mountain Convention Center. Featured acts include Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, III Tyme Out, Carolina Road Band, The Larkins, Jerry Butler & the Blu-Jays, Goldwing Express, The Lewis Tradition and many more. For tickets and information the number is 1 (800) 223-6707 or on line at www.larkinmusic.com.

WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

Virginia Derryberry's "Alchemical Narratives" includes large scale oil on canvas figure paintings that blend narrative elements from mythology and alchemy, the forerunner of modern science. My intent is to suggest multiple interpretations rather than straightforward illustration of a specific narrative.

Clayton Center for the Arts
Blackberry Farm Gallery
Open Monday- Friday 10-6

Denso Gallery, Clayton Center for the Arts
Exhibit open Monday-Friday 10-6

The Tennessee Artists Association is a volunteer organization created by artists for artists of all levels of ability.

Saturday 12/10, Shiny and the Spoon & Kata Hay
Monday 12/12, Vagabond Swing & Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and Andru Bemis
Tuesday 12/13, Mandy Barnett
Wednesday 12/14, The Morgans
Thursday 12/15, John Francis & Les Kerr
Friday 12/16, Megan McCormick & Renee Wahl
Saturday 12/17, Tilford Sellers & Oldest Boy and Girl
Monday 12/19, Kory & Kelsey Wells, Sweet Fancy Moses, and Maggi Vaughn
Tuesday 12/20, The Madelines
Wednesday 12/21, Christabel and the Jons, Rene Moffatt
Thursday 12/22, Wade Hill and the Hillians
Friday 12/23, Todd Steed and the Christmas Sons
Saturday 12/24, Robert Anderson
Tuesday 12/27, The Harp Dogs
Wednesday 12/28, The Skipperdees
Friday 12/30, Oona Love
Saturday 12/31, Naughty Knots
Tuesday 1/3, Barbara Lamb, Caroline Doctorow
Wednesday 1/4 WestWend

The simple joys of an old-fashioned Christmas await Museum of Appalachia visitors through December 24th. Recalling times past when Christmas was a simple family holiday, cabins will be decorated in pioneer style with cedar Christmas trees draped in paper chains, popcorn strings, sweet gum and sycamore balls.

Special holiday exhibits include the Children's Display in the Hall of Fame, with toys and furniture made by loving parents and grandparents; and Granny Irwin's traditional Christmas Crazy Quilt. "Christmas in Old Appalachia" runs from December 3 to December 24.

Christmas shoppers may browse the gift shop for unique regionally hand-crafted items or simply rest by the fireside in wooden rockers. Hot, country-style lunches are served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Museum restaurant; home-made holiday desserts are available all day.

The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in December except for Christmas Day. It is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, exit 122.

Appalachian Ballet Company presents: The 40th Anniversary season of The Nutcracker
Presented TWO WEEKENDS in TWO VENUES accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Knoxville Civic Auditorium
Saturday, December 3rd - 8:00 pm
Sunday December 4th - 2:00 pm
School matinees also available on December 1st and 2nd at 10:00am

AND Clayton Center for the Arts
Saturday, December 10th - 2:00 and 8:00pm

Tickets are on sale at the following locations:
Appalachian Ballet 865.982.8463
Knoxville Tickets 865.656.4444
The Clayton Center for the Arts 865.981.8590

Advance - $36, $31 & $21
At door - $41, $36 & $26
Student and Senior Discount $5 Off
Ask about Group Rates

This 40th anniversary production featuring over 80 dancers and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will showcase guest artists Kylie Morton as the Sugarplum Fairy and Aaron Smyth of Australia as the Cavalier. This magical production of The Appalachian Ballet Company's Nutcracker is filled with lavish sets, scenery, costumes, orchestra, choir and dancers. Come enjoy Knoxville's tradition of 40 years and now also playing in Maryville.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present its National Juried Exhibition of 2011, a new exhibition featuring selected works from 38 artists in the Southeast and Midwest . The National Juried Exhibition was developed in 2006 to provide a forum for local artists to compete on a national scale and display their highest quality work. The exhibition features both traditional and non-traditional work and will be displayed at the Emporium Center Gallery from December 2, 2011 - January 27, 2012. A public reception will take place on Friday, December 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM with a brief awards ceremony at 6:00 PM in which $1,000 in cash awards will be announced.

The reception on Friday, December 2, is free and open to the public, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. The National Juried Exhibition of 2011 is on display December 2, 2011 - January 27, 2012 at the Emporium Center , 100 S. Gay Street , downtown Knoxville . Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturdays, December 3 and January 7, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Please note that the Emporium will be closed December 22 – January 1. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit our Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Dec. 2 -25, Friday and Saturday 12:00 - 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 PM
Dec. 26, 27 and Dec. 29 through Jan. 1, 12:00 - 6:00 PM

general admission $6, children 4 and under free

An exhibition, utilizing audiovisuals and interactives, to explain a major international research project with the goal of demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy. The U.S. ITER Project Office is hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, with partners Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey and Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina. AMSE Second Level.

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

At the Fairfield Art Guild, 451 Lakeview Drive, Crossville, TN 38558

www.isiksonmez.com