Calendar of Events

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will open its doors free of charge on Saturday September 26, 2015, as part of Smithsonian magazine's eleventh annual Museum Day Live! On this day only, participating museums across the United States emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington DC-based facilities, which offer free admission every day, and open their doors for free to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in June 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women's basketball. With the 2015 Induction, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame celebrated its 16th Anniversary and added six new members to the prestigious Hall, honoring 145 inductees.

The Museum Day Live! ticket is available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues for one day only. One ticket, per household, per email address is permitted. For more information about Museum Day Live! 2015 and a full list of participating museums and cultural institutions, please visitSmithsonian.com/museumday .
September 26, 2015
700 Hall of Fame Drive - Knoxville, TN 37915 - www.wbhof.com

In celebration of Smithsonian magazine’s annual Museum Day Live!, several area museums are offering free admission on September 26. The event represents the commitment of the Smithsonian and other museums to make learning and the spread of knowledge accessible to everyone, giving museums across all 50 states the opportunity to emulate the admission policy of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. Last year’s event drew more than 400,000 participants, and this year’s event expects to attract more museum goers than ever before.

Local participants include: The Emporium Center, Marble Springs State Historic Site, McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, the Museum of East Tennessee History, and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (in Knoxville); American Museum of Science and Energy (Oak Ridge); Sequoyah Birthplace Museum (Vonore).

Visitors who present the Museum Day Live! ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating museums for this one day only. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. The Museum Day Live! ticket can be downloaded at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

Join us for our biggest and one of our most popular events of the year featuring contests, competitions, music and demonstrations. $5 per person, Free for GSMHC members

All Day: Townsend Artisans Guild Art tent - Fair-goers can once again create their own art project to take home.
Maggie the Mayfield Cow - Maggie will be at the fair. Bring your camera and take some pictures - this cow won't moo!
Student Art and Floral Competition - The 2015 student art on paper and floral show - theme is "East Tennessee beautiful!"
Beekeeping Photography Contest - As a part of the honey show, photographs will be judged in the Close-up, Scenic and Portrait categories.
Farmer in the Cove - Children's interactive & hands-on activities throughout the day. Check schedule for times & activities when you arrive for the Blue Ribbon Country Fair
Livestock Association Grill - Plan to grab a burger or snack at theConcessions Porch, then "set a spell" and listen to music on the Print Shop Porch

Check final schedule at the Heritage Center Blue Ribbon Country Fair to confirm times and location of events on the Heritage Center grounds

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 3/4 mile east of traffic light at the Highway 321 and 73 intersection towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM. Information: 865-448-0044, www.gsmheritagecenter.org

The Guild of the Knoxville Museum of Art presents Art Fair KMA 2015! This second annual event raises funds to support the museum and presents art for sale by artists from the region and across the United States.

Friday, September 25: A Vernissage/Opening Preview and Sale takes place from 6 to 9pm. This gala event includes a cocktail party, silent auction, and VIP access to art for sale. Tickets are $95 per person and may be purchased online at http://www.knoxart.org/events/art-fair-kma.html.

Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27: The Art Fair takes place the following Saturday (10am-6pm) and Sunday (12noon-4pm) and is free and open to the public. Visitors can enjoy individual artist booths featuring original art, free art and craft activities for children, and free photo booth. Founding sponsor of Art Fair KMA is Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson.

For more information, visit www.knoxart.org or email artfairkma@gmail.com.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Admission and parking are free. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

The annual Knoxville Lindy Exchange is a weekend long event where dancers travel from all over the southeast, midwest, and beyond to dance to some of the hottest swing music in the country and explore our city. The KSDA is proud to present this year's musical line up, including a big band formed specifically for our event. Friday and Saturday night dances both include a free beginner drop in dance lesson. Discounts with KSDA benefit cards or Knox/Blount/Anderson county student IDs. The line up for this year's main events:

Fri, Sept 25, 7:15 pm - 12 am: Mint Julep Jazz Band from Durham, NC at the Flynn Square Dance Center, https://www.facebook.com/events/1634879900094748/

Sat, Sept 26, 7:30 - 11:30 pm: Gamble Wilson Swing Orchestra from Asheville, NC at Bridgewater Place, https://www.facebook.com/events/720130741448199/

Sun, Sept 27, 1 - 5 pm: Scruffy City Syncopators from Knoxville at the Laurel Theater, https://www.facebook.com/events/1646366178974047/

Full information for all weekend events: http://klx.swingknoxville.org, https://www.facebook.com/events/1542063946032071, swingdanceknoxville@gmail.com, or 865-224-6830

The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum invites you to join us for 2 exciting Heritage School events in celebration of the History of the American Girl Doll! Bring your favorite doll and enjoy an afternoon of Fun!

September 19, 1-3 PM - "Movie & Slumber Party"
$5.00 per person - Includes movie, cupcakes and a self-guided tour of the Museum
Registration Deadline: September 15

September 26, 1-3 PM - "Tea Party"
Adults $10; Children $5.00 - Includes lunch, presentation about American Girl Dolls & a self-guided tour of the Museum
Registration Deadline: September 22

522 West Madison Avenue, Athens, TN 37303. Museum Hours: Tuesday - Friday (10 am -5 pm); Saturday (10 am -4 pm). Info: 423-745-0329, www.livingheritagemuseum.com

Featuring a wide variety of 2-D and 3-D artwork by our members!
Opening reception Friday, Sept 18, 6:30-8:00 PM

Free and open to the public! Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tu & Th 9-5, W & F 10-5, Sa 9-1. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com

Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr., a musical stage version of the classic 1989 Walt Disney Studios film, specifically adapted for children and families. The play will be performed September 18 through October 4, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sundays at 3 PM.

In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home - and her fins - behind and live in the world above. But first she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking. Many of the favorite songs of the Walt Disney film are brilliantly recreated on stage, such as the Oscar-winning “Under The Sea,” “Part Of Your World,” and “She’s In Love.” The script is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and the Disney film , written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. The script is written by Doug Wright, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater. The play is produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

KCT will also host a series of "Under The Sea" tea parties to coincide with Saturday 1 PM and Sunday 3 PM performances of Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. Performances with the tea-party option include September 19, 20, 26, 27; October 3 and 4, as interest and availability dictates. The $25 ticket price includes admission to the performance, as well as food, drinks, crafts and games, all with a special "Under The Sea" theme. Pre-registration is required by calling (865) 208-3677. All tea-party tickets must be pre-paid. Seating is limited.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com

The Town of Farragut Arts Council presents decorative artist Barbara Enser as the featured artist for September and October. Located at the Farragut Town Hall, the exhibit highlights her paintings of various birds.

A Niagara Falls, New York, native, Enser's exhibit features bird paintings done in various media - including colored pencil, acrylics and oils - and painted birdhouses. A graduate of State University of New York at Albany, Enser taught high school mathematics at West High School in Knoxville in the 1980s, as well as at schools in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina. She is a member of the Rocky Top Decorative Painters, the Middle Tennessee Decorative Artists and Society of Decorative Painters.

Each month, the work of an artist or group of artists is featured in specially designed cases on the second floor of the rotunda in the Farragut Town Hall. For more information about this exhibit or to access a Featured Artist of the Month application, please contact Lauren Cox at lcox@townoffarragut.org or 966-7057 or visit www.townoffarragut.org/artsandculture.

The Farragut Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 11408 Municipal Center Drive directly across from the Farragut Branch Post Office.

Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling - in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater at The Arts Center in Athens, Tennessee. A group of gossipy southern ladies in a small–town beauty parlor reveal the deep strength and purposefulness in spirited banter. As the characters move through wedded bliss, the joy of children, and the depths of tragedy, they draw on their underlying strength—and love—which makes them truly touching, funny, and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad. Steel Magnolias is directed by G. David Brown and stars Lacey Starkey as Truvy, Melonie Carideo as M’Lynn, Dianne Griffith as Ouiser, Mary Kennedy as Clairee, Lori Fritts as Annelle, and Sarah Philpott as Shelby.

Show dates are Thursday-Saturday, September 17-19 and 24-26 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, September 20 at 2:00 pm in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater at The Arts Center in Athens, Tennessee. Tickets are $12 adult and $8 student and are on sale now at The Arts Center. Thursday September 24 is “BFF Night” where adult tickets are $10 when two or more are purchased together. To learn more about this or The Arts Center’s other programs visit www.athensartscouncil.org, call 423-745-8781, or drop by The Arts Center at 320 North White Street, Athens, Tennessee.

We've got so much planned for September and are excited for the coming of fall! We've added a few new venues, have some new artists with some wonderful new paintings and we'll even be at the Tennessee Valley Fair this year! We're also doing a "Paint Your Pet" fundraiser benefiting the Feral Feline Friends. Finally, you parents deserve a break after the back to school rush so come out and enjoy the "Date Night" some great food, drink and art with us!

Mon, 9/14/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Mind Yer P's & Q's - Farragut - Still Life 2
Tue, 9/15/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Carolina Ale House - To The Moon
Thu, 9/17/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Original Copper Cellar - **DATE NIGHT** Heart in the Sand
Sun, 9/20/2015, 2:00 - 4:00 PM at The Basement Community Art Studio - Cookies and Canvas ** Special Event ** Lady Bug
Mon, 9/21/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Gavino's Pizzeria and Restaurant - Give from the Heart with Art **Special Event** Feral Feline Friends Paint Your Pet
Tue, 9/22/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Casual Pint Hardin Valley - The Torchbearer
Mon, 9/28/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Uncorked Knoxville - Rooster
Tue, 9/29/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at R. J.'s Courtyard - Alcoa - My Daisy
Wed, 9/30/2015, 6:00 - 9:00 PM at Buffalo Mountain Grill - Oak Ridge - Tennessee Theater at Night

Wine & Canvas: Knoxville, TN, 865-356-9179, http://www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

Oak Ridge Art Center invites you to the 47th Annual Open Show, a juried mixed-media exhibition open to all artists which showcases exceptional work produced throughout our region. Open Show 2015 will be displayed September 12 through November 7.

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 12, 7:00-9:00PM. Gallery opens at 6:00PM for viewing with a gallery talk at 6:30.
Daily gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM, Saturday through Monday, 1:00-4:00PM.

201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge. 865 482 1441 or www.oakridgeartcenter.org for more information.