Calendar of Events

The Athens Area Council for the Arts announces the return of the perennial favorite holiday event for three performances. Jazzy Little Christmas IX opens Friday December 5 and runs through Sunday, December 7 in the Sue E. Trotter Theater at The Arts Center. “Jazzy” is perfect for music lovers looking for an exciting kick-off to the holiday season. Directed by Pam Thigpen, the evening features local musicians singing and playing their favorite Christmas tunes cabaret-style with an emphasis on fun, inspiration, and holiday cheer. Light hors d’oeuvres, homemade desserts, and a cash bar available at 7:00 pm (1:30 pm for Sunday matinee). The show begins at 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday.

Veteran voices in the ensemble include: Lauren Brown Shepherd, Jen Nunley, Whitney Kimball Coe, Liz Schreck, Christina Sjoberg, Janet Martin, Ellen, Art, Lindsey, and Andrew Kimball, Matt Dannel, Rusty Patterson, Tim Frazier, and Josh Bragg. They are joined by newcomer, TWC music business major, CJ Garrett, and accompanied by the Joe Littleton Holiday Band. Advance reservations are required; tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students. Make reservations by phone at 423-745-8781 or in person at The Arts Center at 320 North White Street in downtown Athens, Tennessee.

Jazzy is just one of the fun-filled events the community can enjoy this holiday season. November 20-22 is the Holiday Trunk Show, AACA’s 6th annual sale of fine arts and crafts by regional artisans. The community is invited to Shop early. Shop local. The Preview Party starts at 6:30pm on November 20, and is $5 or a donation of non-perishable food. November 21 & 22 are free and open to the public. December 13 is a chance for supporters of arts in schools to don tacky sweaters at AACA’s 2nd annual “Eat Drink, & Be Tacky” Holiday sweater party, which is a fundraiser for arts in education programming. Tickets are $15 and include finger foods, desserts, and an open bar. The fun starts at 8:00 pm.

December 5 will mark the opening night of the southern premiere by local playwright Lisa Soland. The renovated theatre in Loudon is home to the Lyric Theatre Company and they are producing Ms. Soland’s play THE CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL RADIO DRAMA, which was adapted from this playwright’s first children’s book.

The story is about an angel ornament that is given as a gift on Christmas Eve. Once placed on the tree, the angel meets new friends who share the news of what will become of them when Christmas is over. Determined to escape the dreaded storage box, the angel and the soldier work together on an idea that just might bring them the freedom and purpose they desire.

Actor Bill Landry of The Heartland Series will be performing the role of the narrator, Dec. 5 at 8 pm and again on Dec. 6 at 2 pm. Humorist Sam Venable of the Knoxville Sentinel, will be recreating the same role for the Dec. 6 performance at 8 pm and again for the closing performance, Dec. 7 at 2 pm.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL RADIO DRAMA opens at the Lyric Theatre in Loudon Dec. 5 at 8 pm and plays Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, and closes after the Sunday 2 pm performance on Dec. 7. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.lyrictheatrecompany.org/tickets, or prior to performances at the Lyric Theatre box office (320 Grove Street in historic downtown Loudon). Seating is limited, so make sure to purchase your tickets early. This production is made possible by presenting sponsor, The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, and supporting sponsor, Wampler’s Farm Sausage.

The American Poultry Association's National Poultry Show will be held at Chilhowee Park, December 5th - 7th. Hundreds of different types of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys will flock to the Jacob Building for the event.

The judging will begin at 9am on Saturday and 10am on Sunday with the winners being announced Sunday afternoon. This is the first A.P.A. National in the state of Tennessee.

Louis E. Buck from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture will be in attendance. Buck is working to implement a strategic plan for rural Tennessee, agribusiness development and biofuels. Also giving a lecture about Heritage Breeds is P. Allen Smith, an award-winning designer, gardening and lifestyle expert.

To learn more about the American Poultry Association visit their website www.amerpoultryassn.com

SISTER ACT is Broadway's feel-amazing musical comedy smash! The New York Post calls it "RIDICULOUSLY FUN,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement! Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to REJOICE!

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

Visit A1LabArts for their annual fundraising sale.
Sale times: Friday Dec. 5, 6:00-10:00PM and Saturday Dec. 6, 12:00-5:00PM.
The Center for Creative Minds, 23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917.
for more information: www.A1LabArts.org.

Dec. 5, 2014 (first Friday) 4:30-6:30pm

Dec. 6, 2014, 10:30am – 12:30pm

Gallery located at 1136 Keowee Ave. (Sequoyah Hills)

Contact Deborah Whelan at 865-406-1841 or dancingwhelan@gmail.com

December 5 & 6: Holiday Craft Sale
2 to 8 pm on Friday, December 5
9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, December 6

December 5, 6:30-8:30pm
Holiday Open House and opening reception
for “Knoxville Watercolor Society” exhibit

442 W Second North Street
Admission is free
581-4330 or RoseCenter.org
info@rosecenter.org

All aboard the Killarney Railway for a night of celebration at the Museum!
Music by ORHS String Quartet and ORHS Chorus
Featuring the Knoxville Pipes and Drums with Champion Highland Dancer Claire MacMillan

Cocktails and dinner by the Scottish Cottage, and live and silent auctions with auctioneer Bear Stephenson.

Explore the Edinburgh Castle for authentic Scottish and Irish appetizers, John Mulligan's Pub for a Black and Tan, and the National Museum for our silent auction. Tickets are $125 per person, of which $60 is tax-deductible.

Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Info: 865 482 1074 ext. 105 or www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.

We are pleased to announce that three-time Grammy winner Delbert McClinton is bringing his Texas roots music to the Bijou Theatre on Friday, December 5th! The singer-songwriter plays a variety of instruments including guitar, piano and harmonica, and is known for blending country, blues and rock music together seamlessly. McClinton is best known for his duet with Tanya Tucker, "Tell Me About It."

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com, www.ticketmaster.com

· Gay Street in Downtown Knoxville
· One of Knoxville's Christmas favorites
· Floats & decorated vehicles
· Marching bands & dancers
· Special appearance by Santa Claus!
· Live on WVLT

The parade route is as follows: Howard Baker Jr. to Church Street, right onto Gay Street, right onto Jackson Ave. (Floats will continue over Gay St. Viaduct and conclude at Depot.)

Marketplace Vendors will be selling holiday gifts, Fine Art, and baked goods. Vendors include, Jackie Holloway, Kuumba Watoto Parent Booster Club, The Liberian Association featuring Hawa Ware & Family, and other Artists.

African American Appalachian Arts, The Emporium Building, Suite 106, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Friday, December 5, at 7:00 pm, the CCC will be welcoming in the holidays in a most heartwarming way – as we present our first-ever salute to Tinseltown’s four-legged stars!

The feature portion of our evening will find us unspooling a gorgeous Technicolor print of Son of Lassie. Produced in 1945 by MGM, the film finds Lassie parting from her pup Laddie, who enters the canine corps, going on to outwit Nazi troops in occupied Norway. On screen humans include young Peter Lawford, June Lockhart, Donald Crisp, Nigel Bruce, Donald Curtis and Nils Asther. Breathtakingly photographed and filled with excitement, sentiment and plenty of tail-wagging, Son of Lassie will be captivating you from start to finish.

Son of Lassie will be preceded by another animally-enchanting drama, “Blind Faith,” a 1955 episode of the memorable CBS-TV series, My Friend Flicka. Ten-year-old Johnny Washbook is cast as Flicka’s pal, Ken, while Anita Louise and Gene Evans play his parents, Nell and Rob. All deliver super performances in the wrenching “Blind Faith,” whose story has Flicka accidentally hit by a hunter’s bullet. The hunter turns out to be a surgeon – and he is begged by Ken to operate on the horse. Believe me, folks, what transpires here will have all of you misty-eyed.

However you’ll sure be grinning from ear-to-ear at the outset of our December program – as Porky Pig holds court in The Pest That Came to Dinner (1948).

Our location: The spacious clubhouse of the Windover Apartments. The journey there will take you to Cheshire Drive (off Kingston Pike, near the Olive Garden); going down Cheshire, turn right at the Windover Apartments sign, then go to the third parking lot on your right, next to the pool. There, the building that houses the clubhouse and offices of the Windover will be just a few steps away! Info: CresthillCinema@aol.com