Calendar of Events

At the Museum of Appalachia, log cabins and barns nestle at the base of a hill. Smoke rises lazily from chimneys, signaling warmth from within on a chilly December day. Beginning on December 6th, the Museum will celebrate Christmas in Old Appalachia, a festive winter celebration that captures the beauty and simplicity of an old-fashioned Christmas. Inside the cabins, simple cedar Christmas trees are draped with paper chains, popcorn strings, sweet gum, and sycamore balls. In the Dan’l Boone Cabin, a dormant sapling wears cotton “snow” and scraps of cloth for bows. Pine clippings, magnolia leaves and holly berries line the mantels above the fireplaces. The Little Tater Valley School House is adorned with hand-made ornaments made by local students. Tattered or well-worn quilts are laid under the trees; topped with carved wooden animals, tin horns, rag dolls, wagons, and spinning tops—all of which were presents found early on Christmas morning. Children often opened their Christmas packages to find practical gifts, such as new shoes or books, purchased from a mail order catalog; and relished in the joy of receiving something as simple as an orange or a peppermint stick.

For December 6th-7th the Museum has planned a variety of charming holiday festivities to kick off its Christmas season. Such fun activities include: craftsmen demonstrating traditional arts, warm fires surrounded by traditional porch musicians playing seasonal music, local authors signing their books, and a delicious home-cooked dinner at the Museum’s restaurant. Continuing through December 24th, 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—brought out only on special or festive occasions.

Browse the regional, ‘American made’, hand-crafted gifts and books in the Shop at the Museum for a special Christmas gift. Enjoy hot, southern country-style lunches, served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Museum restaurant. Home-made cakes, pies, cookies, and other holiday treats are available all day, or can be made special to order for Christmas gatherings.

December hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily (8:30 a.m.-3pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas Day). The Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate and a not-for-profit organization, is located 16 miles North of Knoxville, one mile East of I-75, Exit 122. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

This vintage steam engine train takes guests on a 90-minute excursion through some of Knoxville’s most historic and beautiful countryside.

Our Christmas Lantern Express trains feature holiday decorations, holiday refreshments, story time with celebrity readers and a visit with Santa.

DECEMBER
Saturday, December 6 at 9:45 am (sold out), 1 pm, & 4:15 pm (sold out)
Sunday, December 7 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm
Saturday, December 13 at 9:45 am, 1 pm (sold out), & 4:15 pm (sold out)
Sunday, December 14 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm
Saturday, December 20 at 9:45 am, 1 pm, & 4:15 pm
Sunday, December 21 at 1 pm & 4:15 pm

FARES
Adults: $26.50
Senior (55+): $25.50
Child (3-12): $15:50
Toddler (1-2): $7.50
Infant (under 1): Free

400 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902, 865-524-9411, http://www.threeriversrambler.com

On the Saturdays before Christmas each December, many of our vendors return for our annual Holiday Market. From noon-7pm, craft, artisan food vendors, and food trucks will be set up along Market Street & Union Ave. to provide all your holiday shopping needs.

We also have a small farmers’ market each Saturday from noon-3pm. The peak growing season may be over, but many root crops, winter squashes, hearty greens, hydroponic vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, and more will be available from our farmers.

Location: Union Avenue and Market Street, TN 37902
http://marketsquarefarmersmarket.org/markets/market-square-holiday-market/

Candlelight Tour on Saturday, December 6th, 4:00-9:00PM
Sunday, December 7th, 12:30-5:00PM

$10 Advance Tickets on sale at all Knoxville area Kroger Stores and available on line:
www.oldnorthknoxville.com.
$15 Day of Event Tickets/$10 Seniors
on sale at ticket booth.

Park and ride shuttles from Tennova Healthcare/Physicians Regional Medical Center, Woodland Avenue parking lot.
For more information:www.oldnorthknoxville.com, 865 523 4665.

Dogwood Arts is rallying East Tennessee to take part in the community-wide dogwood tree-planting day on Saturday, December 6. As part of the Bazillion Blooms program, Dogwood Arts aims to restore the former vitality and beauty of the dogwood tree population in East Tennessee communities.

Over the years, local dogwood tree populations have dwindled due to age, disease, construction, and neglect. The Bazillion Blooms program goal is to encourage the community to help reverse the trend – and Dogwood Arts will provide you with the opportunity to purchase bare-root trees!

3’-4’ bare-root, disease-resistant Appalachian Snow and Cherokee Brave dogwood trees are available for purchase through November 14 on dogwoodarts.com. Trees will be available for sale at $25 each or buy-four-get-one-free ($100 for five).

To purchase trees, community members should visit dogwoodarts.com and click on “Bazillion Blooms.” Trees ordered from Dogwood Arts must be picked up on Saturday, December 6, from 9:00am to noon at the UT Gardens parking lot off of Neyland Drive. Trees will not be distributed at a later time or date.

Larger dogwood trees, as well as other flowering trees, bulbs and shrubs, will be available for purchase at participating Bazillion Blooms garden centers this fall:
• Ellenburg Landscaping & Nursery – 722 Vanosdale Road, 37909
• Mayo Garden Centers – 4718 Kingston Pike, 37919 and 7629 Kingston Pike, 37922
• Stanley’s Greenhouses & Plant Farm – 3029 Davenport Road, 37920

Dogwood Arts: 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com

Celebrate the season by exploring the 32 main auxiliary websites of exceptional value to genealogical researchers. Students will have access to individual computers and will be guided by the staff of the East Tennessee Genealogical School. Limited to 32 celebrants. Pre-registration is required and will begin on November 24, 2014. Please call 865-215-8809 to register.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

Experience Christmas in the 1800’s with James White’s Fort and enjoy the Treats of the Season. Free; donations appreciated!

James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: 865-525-6514, www.jameswhitefort.org

Storyteller Kathleen Mavournin will entertain our guests with Christmas stories beginning at 1:00 pm. Santa will arrive at 2:00 pm and the open house will end with music by Porter Elementary School from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.

Sam Houston Historic Schoolhouse, 3650 Sam Houston Rd, Maryville, TN 37804
Info: 865-983-1550, http://samhoustonhistoricschoolhouse.org

Originally from Muscle Shoals, AL, Patterson Hood first started writing songs at 8 years old and has been mastering his musical career ever since. Best known as the co-founder and frontman of Southern-rock band Drive-By Truckers, Hood has more recently been working on a more personal solo act with albums like Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs) and Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance. We are pleased to announce that he will be joining us at the Bijou Theatre on Saturday, December 6th

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

Klezmer

Knoxville klezmer band Dor L’Dor returns to the Laurel Theater for this year’s Hanukkah concert. Formed in 1999 by Ken and Susan Brown, the band currently includes about a dozen musicians from a variety of musical backgrounds, including classical training and jazz performance. Klezmer originated in Eastern Europe and borrows from various musical traditions of that region as well as from religious liturgy, musical theater, and American jazz.

Tickets, if available, will be for sale at the door for $12.

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

Knoxville Hilton Ballroom 501 W. Church Ave.
9:00 AM breakfast with featured speakers:
+ Scott Hamilton, Cancer survivor & Olympic Gold Medalist
+ Don Denton, Cancer survivor & author
+ Bonnie Hufford, Cancer survivor, UT professor, & ACS Volunteer
Registration: $30/person by Nov. 21, 2014

11:00 AM Tour - Provision Center for Proton Therapy

1:00 - 3:00 PM Meet & Greet - Knoxville Hilton

4:00 PM - Doors open - Knoxville Civic Coliseum

5:00 - 6:00 PM Event - Scott Hamilton & Friends On Ice - Celebration Dinner Immediately Following, Tickets: $22 - $32.50, www.knoxvillecoliseum.com, promo code: SURVIVOR

Celebration Dinner & Ice Show Tickets: $150 per person and includes: one ice show ticket, dinner for one, a dancing band, and a courtesy shuttle from the Coliseum to the Convention Center, contact: christina.harrill@provisioncares.org, (865) 243-3459

For more info please visit: www.provisioncares.org

International Fine Arts Academy with KWANZAA Presentation and Kuumba Watoto Parent Booster Club Fundraiser

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