Calendar of Events

Returns for 10th season with expanded schedule! Locally owned Home Federal Bank joins its love of downtown Knoxville and Christmas this winter through its continued role as presenting sponsor for the City of Knoxville’s Holidays on Ice. Knoxville’s only open-air ice rink opens to the public on Friday, Nov. 27. This year marks the 10th season for the ice rink on Market Square. In celebration of its anniversary and based on popular demand, the rink is extending its season by 15 days. “This is an exciting time for Holidays on Ice,” City of Knoxville Director of Special Events Judith Foltz said. “For the first time in many years, the rink will be completely open air. We’re removing the tent, enhancing the rink with overhead lighting and extending the season by 15 days.” In 2014, the rink hosted 19,000 skaters and 20,000 spectators. For more information including operating hours and admission rates, visit http://www.knoxvillesholidaysonice.com.

For information on Christmas in the City: City of Knoxville Special Events, 865-215-4248,
http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/special_events/christmas_in_the_city/

Students, family, friends, and the public are invited to a reception and awards ceremony Tuesday, December 8 from 6 to 8pm at the Knoxville Museum of Art. The event is free and open to the public.

The Knoxville Museum of Art and the Tennessee Art Education Association celebrates the 10th anniversary of the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition Friday. Now in its tenth year, the exhibition offers middle and high school students from around East Tennessee the opportunity to participate in a juried exhibition and to display their talents and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment. The East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition is open to students in grades 6-12, attending public, private, or home schools in 32 counties across East Tennessee. Fewer than a third of the more than 964 entries in this highly competitive show made it through a rigorous jury process. The best-in-show winner will receive a purchase award of $500, and the artwork will become a permanent part of the collection of Mr. James Dodson, on loan to the Knoxville Museum of Art's Education Collection.

Since 2005, the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition has presented the work of nearly 3,000 students who have competed for a total of $7 million in scholarships made available to eligible juniors and seniors by colleges and universities from around the nation.

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

By Ed Howard, Joe Sears, and Jaston Williams. In this hilarious sequel to Greater Tuna, it's Christmas in the third smallest town in Texas. Radio station OKKK news personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie report on various Yuletide activities, including hot competition in the annual lawn display contest. In other news, voracious Joe Bob Lipsey's production of "A Christmas Carol" is jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. Many colorful Tuna denizens, some you will recognize from Greater Tuna and some appearing here for the first time, join in the holiday fun.

"A hoot!" —NY Times
"So funny it could make a racoon laugh affectionately at Davy Crockett ... It's far too good for just Christmas." —The New York Post
"The hilarity ... never lets up." —The Village Voice

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

A group of fifteen students from across the Lakeway area have been hard at work these past two months writing and rehearsing an original drama that they hope will make a positive impact in their community. The Rose Center Council for the Arts is proud to present the third YouthWorks student-written production, Out of the Dark.

Rose Center’s Nathan McGhee serves as the director for this project. “The script really doesn’t follow the typical format of a show. It comes across more as a work of performance art rather than a run of the mill production. The piece goes through a plot line but during the performance, we will have collections of monologues, speeches, and poems as well. It’s really a beautiful piece that focuses on various problems that many of our students face daily: bullying, abuse, depression, suicide and how each issue correlates with the next. The level of commitment and maturity these students have put in on such difficult subject matter is inspiring.” The students began writing the script two months ago under the supervision of McGhee and various guest instructors including child psychologist, Allison East.

Out of the Dark runs for only one weekend, November 27-29. Performance times are November 27th and 28th at 7:30PM and November 28th and 29th at 2:30PM. Due to the mature themes explored, this show has been rated PG-13. Tickets are only an eight dollar donation towards the Rose Center educational programs. To reserve your tickets, please visit www.rosecenter.org or call the Center at 423-581-4330.

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Norris is hosting an Open House on Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28. Come by and enjoy refreshments while you visit and shop. For more information, stop by the Center, located at 2716 Andersonville Hwy, call 865-494-9854, or visit www.appalachianarts.net.

Regal Celebration of Lights
November 27, 2015
Krutch Park Extension, Market Square, Market Street
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Free Admission

Join us for the lighting of our new 38' tree in Krutch Park Ext. Enjoy live music, carolers, train rides, pictures with Santa, face painting, marshmallow roasting and more. WDVX Holiday Ho Ho Ho Down will be on Bill Lyons Pavilion from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. Market Street will have local businesses doing crafts with children, stop by Home Depot's Little Elves Workshop, and make a card to be sent to our soldiers with American Red Cross ‘Cards for Heros’. And don't forget to stop by and see the miniature train set! The lighting of the tree ceremony begins at 6pm, other activities will begin after.

Information: City of Knoxville Special Events, 865-215-4248, http://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/special_events/christmas_in_the_city/

The WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown will be November 27, and as in years past, will kick off Knoxville's Christmas In the City Celebration. On the Market Square Stage:

6:30 – 7:00pm – Knoxville Banjo Orchestra
7:10 – 7:50pm Jesse Gregory & Matt Leadbetter and friends featuring special guests Pond Gap Elementary Choir
8:00 – 9:00pm – Robinella

More information on the Christmas in the City Celebration can be found at http://knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/special_events/christmas_in_the_city. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

by Charles Dickens; adapted for the stage by Dennis Elkins; directed by Micah-Shane Brewer. At the Clarence Brown Theatre.

“Don’t miss this one….it’d be like celebrating the season without a Christmas tree or carols or gifts!” Knoxville News Sentinel

Whether you are continuing your annual family tradition or beginning a new one…join us as we tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly businessman who needs the intervention of a few spectral guides to show him the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring beautiful live music, wonderful costumes, and exciting stage effects, Dickens’ tale of hope and redemption reminds us all what’s really worth celebrating.

Clarence Brown Theatre / Carousel Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

East Tennessee Children's Hospital presents the 31st Annual Fantasy of Trees Premier Christmas Event in Knoxville. This year's event is entitled "An East Tennessee Christmas" and takes place from November 25 - 29, 2015 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Get your tickets online today! Daily Show Hours:
Wednesday, November 25, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Thursday, November 26, 3 - 7 p.m.
Friday, November 27, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday, November 28, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, November 29, Noon - 6 p.m.

At the Knoxville Convention Center, http://www.fantasyoftrees.org/

This month, nine local teams of architects, engineers, construction companies and other organizations will construct massive holiday-themed art sculptures made of canned food items – all to help fight hunger in the region.

For the third year, Messer Construction Co. is presenting the “Holiday Canstruction” art exhibition, which will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. The sculptures will be on display Nov. 21-Dec. 3 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

On Nov. 20, the teams will gather at the Knoxville Convention Center for an eight-hour build of their holiday-themed sculptures. Each Canstruction sculpture typically uses between 1,500 and 5,500 canned food items, with only one-quarter-inch plywood or Plexiglas between the rows of cans and one-quarter-inch cardboard tubing for support. The color of the sculptures is determined by the colors of the cans and labels.
After the exhibition, the sculptures will be dismantled and the canned foods donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. Last year’s event contributed 19,000 items to Second Harvest, and organizers expect the donation to surpass that mark this year.
The Holiday Canstruction art exhibition will be open to the public Nov. 21-Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with expanded hours during East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s Fantasy of Trees event, Nov. 25-29.
Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902
For more information, visit http://www.holidaycanstruction.com

Join us for a festive evening of Holiday goodies, hot cider, wine and live music
Opening Reception Friday Nov. 20th 5-8pm

Featuring DERRICK FREEMAN, well-known local autistic artist and oil paintings and prints by Inna Nasonova Knox & Kay List
• Reproductions of Derrick’s originals
• Derrick’s hand made Christmas ornaments
• Christmas cards and bookmarks
• Meet Derrick and his mother Angela Freeman Hunter*
*Envision Art Gallery is donating a portion of sales proceeds to “Our Place”, an organization founded by Angela Freeman Hunter to benefit artists with disabilities. http://www.kaylistart.com/events.html

Envision Art Gallery, 4050 Sutherland Avenue (Corner of Sutherland Ave. and Carr St.), Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: Tue-Thu 10-5, Fri-Sat 10-6. Information: 865-438-4154, www.kaylistart.com

Based on the movie classic, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts—an Official Red Ryder carbine-action air rifle. Set in the 1940s Midwest, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to fulfill his desire for the cov-eted BB gun only to be constantly rebuffed with echoes of “You’ll shoot your eye out!” With tongues stuck to frozen flagpoles; Christmas at the Chinese restaurant; and the “major award,” all the iconic scenes from the film are here, along with exciting new treats for both long-time fans of the film as well as those encountering this delightful coming of age tale for the first time.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com