Calendar of Events

April 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. | April 6 and 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Pellissippi State Community College presents “Unnecessary Farce,” the new classic American farce, the first two weekends of April. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at www.pstcc.edu/tickets.

“Unnecessary Farce” is the tale of a police sting gone awry after a bumbling mayor, a pair of lusty civil servants and an incomprehensible Scottish hit man are thrown together. “I guarantee this will be the funniest play you see this year,” said Charles R. Miller, Theatre program coordinator and Liberal Arts professor.

“Unnecessary Farce” is one of the events that make up The Arts at Pellissippi State. The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts.

For more information about The Arts at Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu/arts or call (865) 694-6400. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

Saturday, April 5 and/or Sunday, April 6, 2014
Time TBA
At the Princess Theatre; Free to the public
Sophomore music students present a solo program of music studied while at Roane State.

http://www.roanestate.edu/?5585-Roane-State-Presents-Theatre-Performances

A community-wide annual event that coordinates the pick-up of debris and litter along the 50-mile shoreline of the Tennessee. Approximately 35 sites to choose from. Free/Volunteer opportunity.

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

Downtown sidewalks become the canvas for professional and student artists during this street painting festival in Market Square and Krutch Park.

Most of the Festival’s wide range of arts events, performances, and exhibitions are offered to the public free of charge. Dogwood Arts Festival: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES is a live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. This stunning concert event takes you back in time with the legendary foursome. They'll deliver a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to the Beatles.

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

Old-time String Band
The Charleston based South Carolina Broadcasters are an award winning old-time trio featuring Ivy Sheppard on fiddle, banjo, guitar and vocals; Sarah Osborne on banjo and vocals; and David Sheppard guitar and vocals. Tight harmonies and exceptional instrumentation give the group a powerful old-time sound. They draw their inspiration from the Carter Family and early country duos.

Jubilee Community Arts, 1538 Laurel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916. For information: 865-522-5851, www.jubileearts.org. For tickets: 865-523-7521, www.KnoxTIX.com

Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, President of the United States, Philosopher, and Scientist, wrote that “the greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.” The Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum is honored to present Peter Hatch, Emeritus Director of Gardens and Grounds at Monticello, to speak on Jefferson’s revolutionary garden on Saturday, April 5th at the Knoxville Museum of Art. Hatch’s recently published A Rich Spot of Earth, the most thorough book ever written on Jefferson’s vegetable garden, explores Jefferson’s horticultural experiments and his lasting legacy on American culinary traditions.

Saturday, April 05, 2014 - 10:00 am, Knoxville Museum of Art
Tickets to this fascinating lecture are $25 for members, $35 for non-members, $10 for students with a college ID.
Please call 865-862-8717 or email dana@knoxgarden.org for reservations.

Doors open at 6:30 pm. Vintage Threads and Curios Studio will have displays and items for sale.
At 7:30, The Uptown Stomp will take the stage, playing vintage jazz, blues, and western swing. It's gonna be really swingin', so don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!
Vintage fashion contest at 8:30 pm, with fabulous prizes.
Admission - $6 at the door
Sponsored by Curios Studio (formerly Ludlow's Curiosities), 1515 N. Central Street.
For every $10 spent on purchases at Curios Studio, receive a coupon good for $2 off one admission to show.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Tennessee Valley Jazz & Blues Foundation, Inc.

Relix Theatre, 1208 N Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-474-1017, www.relixvariety.com

BG will present "Willing Hands" at the Middlebrook UMC on April 5 at 3:00 and 7:30. This performance will include dances from all the company levels in Act I, with live music by John Thomas Oaks, and original choreography by Jackie Sobel of Momentum Dance Lab, and Joan Kunsch of The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. Act II will be an all original contemporary ballet with music written and performed by Wendel Werner and a choir of voices!

This is a family friendly event.

Tickets are available at the Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts at 865-689-8525 or email us tcfa@comcast.net. $15/adults and $10/seniors & students. Tickets will also be available at the door. Box office will open 1 hour prior to show.

At Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, 7234 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37909
https://www.facebook.com/events/1403659163229000/

"Energy Month at The Muse Knoxville!" April marks a month long variety of activities at The Muse Knoxville and in the community focused on How Solar Energy works and other areas of renewable energy. Energy Month is sponsored by TVA and its energy partners within our community.

April 5th Hands-On Activities at The Muse (10-12pm) “How Solar Energy Works”

The Muse Knoxville is a nonprofit institution committed to inspire and empower generations at the intersection of science and art. Our facility is located in the historical Chilhowee Park directly across from the Jacob Building and next door to the Knoxville Zoo. Visitors can explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math exhibit and play experiences. Preschool aged children can discover the fun of learning as they touch, listen, build and create in our Kidspace area. Kids and adults alike can explore the planets, stars and beyond inside our Akima Planetarium! The center also presents hundreds of programs, field trips, activities and events each year.

The Muse Knoxville, 516 N. Beaman Street, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-594-1494, www.themuseknoxville.org

The Great Llama Race is a day full of fun for everyone! April 5, 2014 will be the first annual Great Llama Race, held at World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, TN. The events will take place from 11AM - 4PM, and everyone is welcome to come out and participate.

The Great Llama Race will be a foot race in which local celebrities are paired with a Knoxville school and a llama provided by Southeast Llama Rescue. The race will be run in heats, with the final heat determining 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The winning schools will win a percentage of funds raised to go to a project of their choice. Southeast Llama Rescue will also receive a percentage of the funds raised, with the remainder of the money going to Casa de Sara, an international non-profit with headquarters in Knoxville. All proceeds will go to sponsor their elementary school in La Guardia, Bolivia.
http://www.thegreatllamarace.com/

KNOXVILLE’S CASA HOLA PRESENTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON MEXICAN “GUEST WORKERS” IN THE US

Hola Knoxville, the local Hispanic organization that promotes communications between Latinos and the people of our community, will host a series of special events during April that focuses on the experiences of bracero workers and their families. The bracero program (bracero means “manual laborer”) which brought millions of Mexican guest workers to the US just after the end of WWII, ended in 1964 under mounting criticism for exploiting Mexican workers and depriving jobs from American workers. Since most Americans know very little about bracero, the nation’s largest experiment with guest workers, these programs provide an understanding that is so especially important in current times. In 1962, Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association, later to become the United Farm Workers. Under his leadership, farmworkers with allies in other unions, churches and community groups, were able to put enough pressure on politicians to end the bracero program and to work toward improving the conditions of farmworkers. Chavez died in 1993. The bracero program was controversial in its time and braceros experienced exploitation but also opportunity. The program was truly bittersweet and an overlooked chapter in American history.

Four programs will be provided to the public without charge during April that will provide a better understanding of the controversial bracero program.

EXCLUSIVE SHOWING OF THE FILM “CHAVEZ”
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the City of Knoxville and Regal Cinemas will provide an exclusive showing of “Chavez” at the Pinnacle Theatre on April 5th at 3:00 PM that will include an address by Mayor Rogero.

For further details of these events, go to casahola@holafestival.org or contact 865-335-3358.