Calendar of Events

Just in time for the holidays! Join us for a community swap meet. Buy, sell & trade your camera gear at the Knoxville Community Darkroom. If you'd like to reserve a spot at a table to sell your gear, there is a fee of $10 to participate in the event. Shopping and swapping are free and open to the public.

The Knoxville Community Darkroom, 126 Jennings Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. www.theknoxvillecommunitydarkroom.org

Beannachtaí na Féile!
Happy Holidays!

KIS Second Saturday and Holiday Party on December 14th, 2019 aty 3:00PM.
Come on out to celebrate the Holiday Season with the Knoxville Irish Society!
This month we'll be celebrating the Holiday season and celebrating the end of semester with KIS' beginner's Irish Gaelic class. We'll be at Finn's Irish Restaurant and Tavern this year.

Finn's will provide some complimentary food items and a generous 25% discount on other food items for KIS members only. Finn's Tavern also has happy hour until 7pm on Saturdays.

Like past years, we'll also learn a few facts about Christmas in Ireland, and a play a game of Dirty Santa or Daidí na Nollaig as it's known in Irish. Please bring a gift under $10 for the game (handmade gifts are also welcome.)

Finn's Irish Restaurant and Tavern
9000 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923
3:00 - 5:00 pm

www.knoxvilleirish.com

Beaux Arts Ball, A Fundraiser for A1Labarts
December 14, 2019 8pm – 12am
23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37921
A1LabArts presents an evening of fun on Saturday, December 14 from 8pm to midnight. Proceeds benefit the art space and member collective.

Costume and ticket required for entry.
Admission is $5 for A1LabArts Members, $8 for General Public. Extra donations welcome – this is a fundraiser event for A1LabArts. Tickets available to purchase at the door or online at this link.
(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beaux-arts-ball-a1labarts-fundraiser-tickets-80069817981?fbclid=IwAR2_IAwcYWeHw2PzGN2BBYSaR7WLc7Mlwlj_OYsHSxXjtNAwHHkvmvGy2Qs)

Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Award for best costume: Surrealist/Abstract/Artsy/Architecture/anything related to the arts.
A1LabArts @ the Center for Creative Minds, 23 Emory Place, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: www.a1labarts.org

Saturday at 3 PM – 6 PM
At Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville

Looking for something in addition to the traditional Christmas wreath? Come learn the Japanese art of kokedama! Participants will learn and practice the Japanese inspired art of growing plants in unique mixture of growing media wrapped as a ball of moss with a holiday twist! We will learn about the materials, methods, and maintenance required for Kokedama. We will learn about plants some of the best plants to use with this technique and explore festive ways to dress them up for the holidays!

David Pease received an M.S. in Plant Sciences in 2018 specializing in facilitating Therapeutic Horticulture programs and public educational workshops. David earned a BFA in Studio Art, with a minor in Art History in 2009. He has led hundreds of educational programs and workshops since 2013 when he first joined the Every Child Outdoors staff and began leading art workshops at UT Gardens.

Cost: $75, Non-members; $65, KBGA Members; $50, Neighbors*
https://www.facebook.com/events/2575708262686192/

The Contemporary Dance Ensemble ‘Holiday Spectacular’ is a holiday performance filled with excitement, laughter, and emotion. Enjoy the passion of the season with dance numbers ranging from the graceful lyrical to the ever-popular upbeat HipHop. The antics of Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch combined with the athleticism of the dancers are sure to please even the most humbug of audience members!! Come and join us for an evening of joy and delight. A must for your Holiday Season!

7:00 PM at Knoxville Civic Auditorium
https://www.knoxvillecoliseum.com/event/oak-ridge-academy-of-dance-contemporary-dance-ensemble-holiday-spectacular-2/

The best way to give somebody a love and appreciation of their culture is to start ‘em out when they’re young. Hosted by Sean McCollough, Kidstuff on WDVX is a show full of great music that kids and kids at heart will love.

Tune in or join us. 89.9 | 102.9 | 93.9 | wdvx.com

Knox County Jug Stompers join us this morning for Kidstuff Live. Grab your adult & join the fun!

WDVX, 301 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-544-1029, www.wdvx.com

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.

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#/

Saturdays from 10 am – 2 pm

The Market Square Farmers’ Market is an open-air farmers’ market located on Market Square in the heart of downtown Knoxville. Everything at the MSFM is grown or made by the vendor in the East Tennessee region. Products vary by the seasons and include produce, eggs, honey, herbs, pasture-raised meat, bread, baked goods, salsas, coffee, artisan crafts, and more. With interactive fountains, delicious local food, and surrounded by shops and restaurants, the MSFM is a perfect family destination.

Free parking is available on Saturdays at several parking garages downtown including the Market Square, Locust Street, Walnut Street, and State Street Garages, as well as in commercial loading zones. https://www.nourishknoxville.org/market-square-farmers-market/