Calendar of Events

"BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR" WITH MIKE MELDRUM including a box lunch

Tour Cades Cove and discover parts of Cades Cove that most visitors never experience or hear about. Discover Cades Cove a short walking distance off the Cades Cove Loop Road and see and learn about:
*Gregory's Cave and the thriving business of Joe Gregory
*The story of the Primitive Baptist Church
*Managing wildlife in Cades Cove and the Deer Exclosure
* The CCC Camp
*The WW II Memorial Tree
*Cable's Lodge
...and much more

Departs at 9:30 am from the GSM Heritage Center, returns at approx 4:30 pm. Tour will be conducted rain or shine. Guests must be able to walk on uneven ground. $65 per person (Includes box lunch)

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Cades Cove Heritage Tours, PO Box 268, 123 Cromwell Drive, Townsend, TN 37882. Call 865-448-8838 - ask about our private "Behind the Scenes" tours for groups of 10 or more.

The UT Arboretum Society’s Third Saturday Hike for May will be held May 18 at the UT Arboretum. After a long winter, the weather is now warmer so this is a great time to spend outdoors. Learn about the UT Arboretum’s trails on this short trail hike (1 to 1.5 hours). Our May hike is one of the official hikes of the 2019 Covenant Health Dogwood Arts Patch Program www.covenanthealth.com/dogwoodpatch . On the May hike, a route will be chosen going south into the forest looking for wildflowers such as mayapples that are beginning to bloom.

Meet at the UT Arboretum Visitors Center, 901 S. Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge at 9:00 a.m. Please wear clothes appropriate to the weather and boots or good shoes for outdoor walking. Hikes will be varied in intensity level, and the route may be changed due to weather conditions or leader’s choice. These hikes are designed to be suitable for all, but the difficulty level of the hike is dependent on individual fitness. Be sure to bring a water bottle to stay hydrated at you hike. This hike will be led by a volunteer familiar with the UT Arboretum and the trail system.

This is a free program offered by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society. No registration is required. To learn more about this hike or the UT Arboretum Society, go to www.utarboretumsociety.org. For more information on the program, call 865-483-7277.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Join J.P. Schuffman, KCT’s Technical Director, for a Tech Open house where you can learn about the growing number of opportunities for students interested in learning more our set, lighting, costume and prop departments!
You’ll learn more about the kind of technical work we do from design to finished produce and talk to some of our student designers and stagehands about their experiences creating the playscapes of our theatre!
There’s no fee – just send an RSVP to Jennifer@knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com and show up!

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

Saturday at 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Rhythm N' Blooms Music Festival 2019 and Knox Music Coalition are proud to present this free workshop for musicians at all levels of their careers!

How do you get a venue to book you? What's a door deal? When can you ask for a guarantee, and how much should you be getting paid? How many times should you follow up before you just GIVE up? And how do you route a real tour, anyway? Self-booking is one of the biggest stress points for independent musicians. But never fear, we're here to help! Panelists include independent artist Scott Hinds of the Royal Hounds, who self-books his band internationally as well as working for a booking agent for other artists; Bernadette West, who has booked thousands of acts at her venues Preservation Pub and Scruffy City Hall (among others); and Chris Rusk, who also wears the hat of both a self-booking indie artist and professional booking agent with a roster that includes acts like Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. This expert team can help guide you toward success! https://www.facebook.com/events/409381133218074/

Directed by Sarah Campbell

After history professor John Oldman unexpectedly resigns from the University, his startled colleagues impulsively invite themselves to his home, pressing him for an explanation. But they're shocked to hear his reason for premature retirement: John claims he must move on because he is immortal, and cannot stay in one place for more than ten years without his secret being discovered. Tempers rise and emotions flow as John's fellow professors attempt to poke holes in his story, but it soon becomes clear that his tale is as impossible to disprove as it is to verify. What starts out as a friendly gathering soon builds to an unexpected and shattering climax. Acclaimed science fiction writer Jerome Bixby, writer of the original 'Star Trek' and 'The Twilight Zone', originally conceived this story back in the early 1960's. It would come to be his last great work.

"The Man From Earth restores dignity to science fiction of the mind."
—Michael Guillen, Twitch (www.twitch.com)

"A tall tale ... that ends with a devastatingly clever twist."
—Michael Janusonis, The Providence Journal

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 800 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

The music festival that brought artists like Jason Isbell, Amos Lee, Young the Giant, The Decemberists, Mutemath, and so many more returns to Knoxville’s Historic Old City May 17-19, 2019. Festival producers, Dogwood Arts and Attack Monkey Productions, are pleased to release the first wave of the 2019 festival lineup, which includes headliners Dawes and Tyler Childers as well as additional artists The Black Lillies, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and My Brightest Diamond.

Day and weekend festival passes are on sale now at http://www.rhythmnbloomsfest.com/

This year, Rhythm N’ Blooms will also include a Street Fair that will be free and open to the public. Jackson Avenue will be closed from S Central St. to Morgan St. and will feature live music on the Kid Curry Stage, two bars, an Art Market, and several vendors.

In celebration of the festival's tenth year, Rhythm N' Blooms is excited to welcome back some favorites from years past. Dawes headlined the festival in 2013, and the band has seen explosive growth since their previous Rhythm N' Blooms performance. The genre-bending My Brightest Diamond also appeared in 2013, dazzling festival attendees with a now-legendary post-midnight set that was so packed audience members watched from outside the open windows of Boyd's Jig & Reel. Knoxville-based Americana darlings The Black Lillies (and frontman Cruz Contreras) have been involved since the festival's inception, headlining the very first year at the Knoxville Botanical Garden and returning in some capacity almost every year since.

New to the festival this year is headliner Tyler Childers, whose Sturgill Simpson-produced album Purgatory has put him solidly on the map as his generation's preeminent Southern Gothic songwriter and storyteller. Also festival newcomers, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real have had a watershed year - Lukas (son of Willie) wrote or co-wrote the majority of the music for blockbuster film "A Star is Born" and he and the band appeared in the film and on the soundtrack, backing Bradley Cooper.

The Art Market will be unique addition to the festival, featuring artists who create jewelry, leather goods, paintings, natural body products, and more!

Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival is presented by Yee-Haw Brewing Company and produced in partnership by Dogwood Arts and Attack Monkey. For more information, visit http://www.dogwoodarts.com or www.attackmonkey.net.

Ijams Nature Center is happy to bring back the Seventy Thirty Creatives for the 3rd year in a row to present Shakespeare’s lighthearted comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. There will be three performances for this theatrical performance:

Friday, May 17th, 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 18th, 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 19th, 2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes prior to the event start time.

Follow the wives of Windsor as they gossip and scheme to foil the advances of wanna-be playboy, Falstaff. While Falstaff woos the wives, Mistress Page and Mistress Ford band together to prank the fat fool. Meanwhile, Mistress Page’s daughter, Anne Page, is pursued by three odd suitors; Mistress Ford’s husband deals with his all-consuming jealousy; and Falstaff’s rag-tag group of friends sit back and watch as he is humiliated for the whole town to see.

Ijams Nature Center is a picturesque venue nestled in the heart of South Knoxville. Bring a chair or a blanket, soak in a late spring day, and enjoy the show! Ticket are $12 for an individual ticket or you can get two tickets for $20. For tickets and other information, please visit http://ijams.org/events/special-event-seventy-thirty-creatives-presents-the-merry-wives-of-windsor-2/

KNOXVILLE WALKING TOURS – THE CIVIL WAR IN KNOXVILLE
MAY 17, 2019 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
A City Divided - It’s been over 150 years since the battle of Knoxville, one of the most sharply divided cities during the civil war. Occupied by both sides with recruiting offices set up on Gay Street on the same day, Knoxville was home to spies, street fights, and family feuds that outlasted the war.
Visit the downtown sites and then get an overview of the battles and fortifications from the observation deck of the Sunsphere. Details: Meet on the porch of the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street. Tours last approximately 90 minutes. Adults: $25. Children 6-12: $17 (Group rate available). For more information or to book your tour, please visit the Knoxville Walking Tours Website
*Proceeds from this tour help to support the Knoxville History Project

KNOXVILLE WALKING TOURS – SHADOW SIDE 2
MAY 17, 2019 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Old City Ghosts - The lively entertainment section now known as the Old City wasn’t always so friendly. The neighborhood has a history of dark times and dark deeds, and the remnants aren’t just in the architecture. Formerly known as the Bowery, the district was home to saloons, dance halls, pool rooms, and bars, where famous gunmen, thieves, ladies of the evening, and troublemakers of all kinds bumped elbows with naïve travelers and honest working folk. Life here was violent—and often short. Details: Meet in front of The Phoenix Pharmacy and Fountain, 418 S. Gay Street. Tours last approximately 90 minutes. Adults: $20. Children 6-12: $14 (Group rate available). For more information or to book your tour, please visit the Knoxville Walking Tours Website
*Proceeds from this tour help to support the Knoxville History Project

KNOXVILLE WALKING TOURS – GUNSLINGERS
MAY 18, 2019 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
When Knoxville was the Wild West - Knoxville’s history is colorful and the predominant hue is blood red. Take a walk on the wild side, from the Old City to Gay Street, down to the river and beyond. The now peaceful streets were once the scene of violence and mayhem of all descriptions—family feuds, duels, lynchings, and riots. Telling all the stories might take years, so this tour varies its route and our guide is always finding fresh tales to share. Details: Meet in the Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 S. Gay Street. Tours last approximately 90 minutes. Adults: $20. Children 6-12: $14 (Group rate available). For more information or to book your tour, please visit the Knoxville Walking Tours Website
*Proceeds from this tour help to support the Knoxville History Project

http://knoxvillewalkingtours.com/

Arrowmont's workshop instructors are nationally recognized artists and university faculty. With over 150 classes being offered in a variety of media, instructors and students come to Arrowmont from across the globe to share skills and ideas, foster new thinking, artistic growth and creative camaraderie.

To honor our instructors and showcase their talent, Arrowmont presents an annual group exhibition. Their work is a true expression of Arrowmont's vision and mission - to enrich lives through art. We are privileged to celebrate our instructors and their work.

Sandra J. Blain Galleries, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Saturday, May 11 from 6 to 10pm. Awards announced at 7pm
Closing Night: May 18 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

This exhibition will be available to view on the Second Saturday rather than First Friday. Featuring works by the following artists: Jennifer Corum, Booder Barnes, Sara Blair McNally, Skyler Childress, Anna Lawrence, Sarah Brobst, Bob Thompson, Diana Noe, Wendy Noe,Elizabeth Porter, Joe Strong, Veronica Ludlow, Melanie Kidder, Sandy Lee, Jessica Gregory, Mary Nietling, Donna Headrick Moore, John David Allen, Mignon Naegeli, Aase Vaslow, Neranza Noel Blount, John Fairstein, Shelly Mangold, & Athanasios Bayiates

With First Fridays becoming so busy, A1LabArts finds it difficult to see all of the amazing art in 3 short hours on the First Friday of the month. Hosting the exhibition on the Second Saturday is planned so that the public can have more time to spend in each of the spaces as well as viewing this exhibition. You can find details about this exhibition and other upcoming events at www.a1labarts.org.

23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917

The Knoxville Museum of Art presents this groundbreaking design exhibition which brings together works from the U.S. and abroad that express the notion of the dynamic passage of time in textiles, carpets, ceramics, lighting fixtures, vessels, clocks, and furniture.

The twenty-two studios and designers represented in the exhibition all incorporate markers of time’s passage: seasons and growth cycles, the orbiting sun, chemistry, and physical forces (magnetism, crystallization, and tides). Where the shape and form of most designed objects is intended to communicate their physical presence, the creation of objects that express the dynamic passage of time offers a counterpoint, a visual expression of life itself.

Design by Time is organized by the Department of Exhibitions, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, and is curated by Ginger Gregg Duggan and Judith Hoos Fox of c2 curatorsquared.

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

Showtimes
Fri May 10, 2019 | 8:00PM
Sat May 11, 2019 | 8:00PM
Sun May 12, 2019 | 2:00PM
Thu May 16, 2019 | 8:00PM
Fri May 17, 2019 | 8:00PM
Sat May 18, 2019 | 8:00PM
Sun May 19, 2019 | 2:00PM

There’s always a good time down at Truvy’s beauty shop, where six Southern ladies, each as gentle as a magnolia yet tough as steel, share in the laughter, tragedy, and celebrations of life in their small Louisiana town. Though they may be boldly independent and not always see eye to eye, they still lean on each other through thick and thin. Make an appointment to join these three generations of women as they solidify an enduring bond of friendship and sisterhood.

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