Calendar of Events

December 13, 7:30 p.m.
December 14 & 15, 2:30 p.m.

A Christmas Comedy for the Whole Family! The WordPlayers, in collaboration with The Arts at Pellissippi State, presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids--probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!

Performances are at Clayton Performing Arts Center on the main campus of Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Rd., Knoxville, TN. Tickets are: $15/Adults, $12/Students(13+), $8/Children (12 and under). Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at pstcc.edu/arts/theatre or wordplayers.org. For more information, call 865-539-2490.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is part of the Arts at Pellissippi State, an ongoing opportunity for the community to enjoy cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the visual arts.

The WordPlayers is a 501(c)3 company of Christian theatre artists based in Knoxville. Support for The WordPlayers' 2019-2020 Season is provided by Care Around the Block (Silver Sponsor). The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Presenting Sponsor is Classical Conversations. Upcoming programming includes a Black History touring show in February. For more information, call (865) 539-2490, Email: wordplayers@comcast.net or visit: www.wordplayers.org

All theatre performances are in the Clayton Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets at www.pstcc.edu/tickets.
Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932.

Instructor: Megan Schefter

All ages and experience levels are welcome to participate in this event. This could be fun for the family, kids love the Raku process; or it could be a great “date night” event. The immediacy of Raku firings allow you to take home a beautiful piece of pottery for your home that night, but these decorative pieces are not food safe.

$35.00 - All Materials Provided

Mighty Mud, 127 Jennings Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Hours: Tu-F 11-6, Sat 9-5. Open studio time on Thu 6-9. Information: 865-595-1900, www.mightymudclay.com

With Soul Connection
Alive After Five is a unique live music series that takes place in the smoke-free, casually elegant setting of the Ann and Steve Bailey Hall in the Knoxville Museum of Art. There is a live band on stage, seating at tables, two cash bars, food from area restaurants, free freshly popped popcorn, and free parking. Audience members can enjoy listening to music, dancing, and browsing the museum’s art galleries. Admission is $15 for general and $10 for museum members and college students with ID. Ages 17 and under are admitted free.

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

Celebrating 25 years of Holiday Homes Tours!

Day Tour
9-11:30am and 1:30-4pm

Lunch at Cherokee Country Club, 12 noon

Invitations to the 25th Anniversary of the Holiday Homes Tour will be mailed to active KMA members on November 6, 2019. Members must be in good standing as of September 15, 2019. Each member may purchase up to four individual tickets. Reservations will only be accepted from the enclosed reply card/envelope via US mail.

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 | 8PM

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

Join us at the Mast Store in Knoxville for a holly jolly evening celebrating A Knoxville Christmas Night with our friends from Downtown Knoxville, local authors, and local vendors. It's a wonderful place to pick up a special gift from the local area and to be a part of a special release of Downtown Knoxville merchandise.
https://www.facebook.com/events/458037918240816/

Mast General Store, 402 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-546-1336, www.mastgeneralstore.com/knoxville

On Friday, Dec. 13, at 6, Mast General Store, where our favorite Christmas gift, Historic Knoxville: The Curious Visitor’s Guide, has been selling well, will host a book signing with Jack Neely. Mast is an especially appropriate place for a downtown holiday party; a century ago, it was Newcomer’s Department Store, which always featured the real Santa Claus, and lots and lots of toys.

Knoxville History Project, 516 West Vine Avenue #8, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-300-4559, www.Knoxvillehistoryproject.org

Hosted by 54 Film Fest - Knoxville and Central Cinema
1205 N Central St, Knoxville, TN 37917

The Knoxville 54 Film Festival will be hosting a special one night event. "54 FLASHBACK" A screening of selected Knoxville 54 Film Fest favorites of the past. Doors open at 5pm. Screening is from 6pm to 9pm including a few awards and prizes. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15. All ticket sales will help sponsor the Knoxville 54 Film Fest 2020. Film lineup coming soon!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2256546317977494/

Zoo Knoxville celebrates the magic of the season with a special after-hours holiday event. Winter Nights presented by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union will take place Thursday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. each evening.

Winter Nights will feature thousands of lights throughout the zoo’s East Tennessee Plaza and Boyd Family Asian Trek. Guests can share their Christmas wishes by writing a letter to the North Pole and pose for photos with Santa Claus in the magical, Christmas-tree-filled Santa’s Village. The holiday festivities also include carolers and the chance to meet beloved winter characters Elsa and Anna.

Cookie decorating, festive food and drinks and professional photos with Santa will be available for purchase. Tickets will also be available for rides on the Fuzzy-Go-Round carousel and the Holiday Express Train in Santa’s Village.

General admission tickets are $10 each for ages 4 and up, and children 3 and under get free admission. Zoo Knoxville annual passholders and Circle of Friends members tickets are $8 each for ages 4 and up. Parking is free.

Tickets may be purchased in advance online or at the ticket window upon arrival.

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open every day except Christmas. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org

Circle Modern Dance continues its annual holiday tradition of Modern Dance Primitive Light, a Winter Solstice celebration of the arts December 12-14 at the historic Laurel Theater.

Modern Dance Primitive Light features performance art by area choreographers, dancers, and musicians. Each performance showcases live music, directed and scored by David King, performed by King and other local musicians. Featured choreography includes the work of two of Circle Modern Dance’s original founders, Claire Barrett and Kimberly Matibag. Also included are works from guest artists Intersect Dance Theatre and Momentum Dance Lab.

“Modern Dance Primitive Light has been a favorite holiday tradition of my family since we moved to Knoxville five years ago” said Lydia Alford, co-director of the production. “Each year is special, but this year’s performance has so much artistic variety, there is truly something for everyone to connect with and enjoy!”

Performances will take place Thursday, December 12 at 8:00 PM; Friday, December 13 at 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM; and Saturday, December 14 at 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM at the historic Laurel Theater (1538 Laurel Avenue). Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $15 for general admission seats. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite and may also be purchased at the door. Penny4Arts tickets must be purchased at the door. Info: Lydia Alford, 865-309-5309, circlemoderndance@gmail.com, or http://www.circlemoderndance.com/upcoming-performances/

Geoffrey A. Wolpert Gallery, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Gallery hours: M-R 8:30-5, Fri 8:30-4, Saturdays call ahead. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org

Celebrating our first season in the new "Old City Performing Arts Center" in downtown Knoxville's Old City! Our 2019-2020 inaugural season will include three productions: The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph's Baby [December 11-22, 2019], Constellations [March 4-15, 2020], and Sweat [April 22-May 3, 2020].

THE UNUSUAL TALE OF MARY & JOSEPH'S BABY: AN ORIGINAL FOLK MUSICAL - DECEMBER 11-15 AND 18-22

Written by Tennessee-based award winning recording artist Don Chaffer and NYC-based playwright Chris Cragin-Day.

The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby dares to take the classic story at its word. There really is a pregnant virgin. There are shepherds, angels, foreign dignitaries (a.k.a. wise men), a ratty extra room/stable at an inn, and a maniacal, bloodthirsty dictator whose menacing shadow hangs over everything. And obviously, it’s a comedy. Seriously it is. With a racially diverse cast, a exciting new set, and an emphasis on simple storytelling, The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby surprises virgin-believing and non-virgin-believing audiences alike, engaging this oft-told story with a sincerity and humanity that bursts with imagination and wonder. The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby received its first production at the New York City International Fringe Festival under the direction of River & Rail Co-Founder Amelia Peterson**.

Old City Performing Arts Center, 111 State St. Knoxville, TN 37902
https://www.riverandrailtheatre.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/buy-tickets-launch-a-season-river-rail-theatre#/