Calendar of Events

The Appalachian Ballet Company will present the annual holiday tradition - The Nutcracker in their 48th anniversary season. The production features live music by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Two weekends, Two venues!
WHEN: Saturday, December 7th - 7:30 pm & Sunday, December 8th - 3 pm
WHERE : Knoxville Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, TN

WHEN: Friday, December 13th - 7:30 pm & Saturday December 14th - 3 pm
WHERE: Clayton Center for the Arts, Maryville, TN

Dancing the role of the Nutcracker Prince for the Knoxville shows will be Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer, Da’Von Doane (dancetheatreofharlem.com). This well-known guest artist will be partnering ballerina Kylie Morton Berry, the Sugarplum Fairy, formerly with North Carolina Dance Theatre. The 13th and 14th of December, Berry will be partnered by Connor Walsh, principal dancer with Houston Ballet. Mr. Walsh has been the principal dancer for Houston Ballet since 2007. (houstonballet.org).

This year’s production will include several new pieces of choreography and feature guests artists Alex Gonzaga and Laura Morton from Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre based in Atlanta as the Snow King and Snow Queen. James La Russa of Staibdance in Atlanta will dance the role of Herr Drosselmeyer bringing an air of magic and mystery.

For over 100 years, this classic story has proven to be a favorite, enchanting audiences of all ages. Come see the magic with lavish scenery, over 215 costumes, dancing soldiers, swirling snow-flakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium or The Clayton Center for the Arts – the first and second weekend of December.

For more information: 865-982-8463, www.appalachianballet.com

Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Austin Bradford Friday, Dec. 6 from 6-9 pm.

Austin's passion is photography and he specializing in landscapes and portraits.

Please join us for some amazing photos, light refreshments and of course great coffee!

Awaken Coffee is a live music venue, espresso bar, craft beer & wine bar and organic restaurant in the heart of downtown. Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

Hours: Mon-Thu 7 AM - 9 PM, Fri 7 AM - 10 PM, Sat 8 AM - 10 PM, Sun 2-8 PM
(865) 951-0427 or https://www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/

Please join us for an opening reception on Friday, December 6 from 5-8 p.m. Meet the artist, explore the gallery’s holiday collections, and enjoy seasonal fare. The show will be on display through January 4.

A moment of quiet can make all the difference. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, we invite you to join us in taking a moment to pause and appreciate the quiet moments in Joe Parrott: Across the Valley. Through an unparalleled depth of experience, Parrott’s richly painted landscapes render our common understanding of light and darkness, high points and low valleys.

Gallery Hours: Monday - Friday 10-5:30, Saturday 10-4

The District Gallery & Framery, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 200-4452 or www.TheDistrictGallery.com

PostModern Spirits, 205 West Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

PostModern Spirits will welcome Kara Lockmiller’s musician portraits on First Friday, December 6, and all month long. To view Kara’s artist portfolio visit www.KLockmillerArt.com.

For PostModern craft distilling doesn’t mean small or hand-made; it means challenging the traditions and staleness of mainstream spirits. Craft distilling is about using flavors and colors from real ingredients and botanicals that were grown and not “born” in a laboratory. It’s about putting your own unique mark in the spirits world that is filled with copycats.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1337471143101261/

First Friday Reception: December 6, 5:30 – 9 p.m.

MARILYN DWYER - BARNS- ‘ROUND EVERY BEND
Pastel & Mixed Media Paintings - Roadside Views of our East Tennessee Landscape
“Not knowing farm life, I have always been intrigued with these monumental structures and the life around them. As I’m driving, I find myself noting that the cows on Springbrook are close to the road mid-afternoon or the sun lights up the farm buildings on River Road at sunset. These scenes will inevitably disappear. I want to remember them before they’re gone.” Originally from Mobile, Marilyn was captivated with the beauty and heritage of East Tennessee while visiting the area. After graduating from Auburn with a BFA, she moved here, raised a family and recently retired from a career in graphic design. She spends as much time as possible drawing and painting at Studio 212 in Maryville, where she also teaches teen and adult drawing. Her charcoal and pastel work reflects a graphic arts background, with strong compositions and a contemporary style.

Julia A. Malia, Fiber Artist
I am a fiber, jewelry, and stained glass craftswoman as well as a watercolorist and musician. As a fiber artist specializing in wearable art, I use a variety of fibers and techniques. The styles of my original designs are usually either classical or folk-style in nature, drawing inspiration from historic or ancient themes. For instance, I often base garment designs on our family’s Irish and Scottish roots, and I also favor Japanese kimono garment shapes. Rich textures and colors are central to my life and my work, and I utilize techniques that combine and enhance color variegations. I am a juried member of the Foothills Craft Guild as both a fiber artist (specializing in knitting and crocheting) and a jewelry maker. I also am a member of the Tennessee Valley Handspinners Guild, the Precious Metal Clay Guild of East Tennessee, and the Fountain City Art Center. I am drawn to fabrics and, as a child, used to play at sewing garments and piecing quilt squares for my grandmother, eventually learning standard clothing construction techniques as a teen. My mother taught me how to knit when I was a young child, and I learned to crochet from a friend when I was in my early 20s. In 1977, I won second place in the state of Iowa for my original design and creation of a hand-hooked rug entitled “Sarah’s Fantasy Rug.” In 2013, I had two of my original fiber designs selected for runway appearances at the Dogwood Arts Festival Diva Luncheon Fashion Show in Knoxville. In 2014, I was the invited featured artist for the month of July in a one-woman fiber art exhibit at the Charles City Art Center in Charles City, Iowa. My exhibit, entitled “Wearable Art: Themes and Variations,” was a retrospective of my craftwork in fibers and jewelry over the decades.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 1-6. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net

December 6th 6-9PM (Will be on display the entire month)

This December our wall will feature art from four of artists: Mike Ham, Cynthia Markert, Pippin Long and Brian Pittman. Come celebrate First Friday with us and find the perfect art original to give to someone special this holiday season!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2869424669737278/

Rala, 112 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902
HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 10:00am to 8:00pm, Fri - Sat: 10:00am to 9:00pm, Sun: 11:00am to 5:00pm
PH: (865) 525-7888, Instagram: @ShopRala
https://shoprala.com

Knoxville Children’s Theatre will present “Elf: The Musical Jr,” based on the Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin.. The play will be performed December 6 - 22, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; Sundays at 3 PM, with additional performances at 7 p.m. on Sunday December 15, and Sunday December 22.

This hilarious musical play is based on the 2003 comedy film. Buddy Hobbs, a young orphan child, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Years later, Buddy finds out that he's an ordinary human being and heads off to New York City in search of his father, Walter Hobbs. But Walter, like many New Yorkers, doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Neither does Buddy’s brother Michael! Buddy must win over his birth family and help New York City remember the true meaning of Christmas.

KCT student Jacob Sousley will make his directorial debut with this production with Musical Director Paul Jones and Choreographer, Donya Walker. Bella Patterson is the stage manager. The show’s designers are all high-and middle-school students: Eric Magee (scenery), Sydney Allen (lighting), Reece Brown (costuming), and Anna Kate Stanley (Properties).

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

Adapted by Joe Landry

Sit back, as if in your family living room in the 1940s, and listen to the familiar story told in its entirety, complete with sound effects and commercials. George Bailey, a small town businessman and father, thinks he’s a failure and plans to kill himself on Christmas Eve. He is saved when a guardian angel shows him how his town, family, and friends would turn out if he’d never been born.

“One of the best holiday shows around. This is a fresh and inventive way of reconnecting with a classic story of love and redemption.”
—Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times

“A well-loved tale told with style, charm and a heart so big it could burst the ribcage of the harshest Grinch.”
—Kerry Reid, The Chicago Tribune

“A fresh theatrical context that creates just the right kind of retro warmth. If you cry every time you see the movie, you’ll be blubbering away right on cue … Guaranteed.”
—Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune

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

Join us for the 2019 Christmas in the Cave at Historic Cherokee Caverns!

Stroll along the cave path with your family while you enjoy Christmas music and thousands of twinkling lights among the Stalactites and Stalagmites! Visit Santa and have your family photo made with the cave as your backdrop! (this is available for an extra fee and provided by a professional photographer)
Watch out for the Grinch! That Grinch is so sneaky! He likes to run around in the cave and sneak into your pictures!

Joke around with Cousin Eddie from "christmas vacation".
Shop our Vendor Booths for unique gifts and treats!
Food Truck and concessions available.

Open December 6-8, 13-15 and 20-21. Friday hours are 5:00-8:00PM, Saturday and Sunday hours are 3:00-8:00PM.

There are no advance tickets for sale.
You simply purchase tickets when you arrive at our ticket booth.
This event will never sell out.
Admission is $10 per person for ages 4 & up.
Children under 4 are admitted free.
Cash & Credit Cards accepted at our ticket booth.
The cave is handicapped and wheelchair accessible
Parking is Free

Historic Cherokee Caverns, 8524 Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville, Tennessee 37931.
https://cherokeecaverns.com/christmas-in-the-cave

The Knox Heritage Salvage Shop lease at 619 N. Broadway has ended and it is time to say goodbye.

Knox Heritage first began coordinating salvage with volunteers in 1991 and eventually assembled a small collection that was housed in the basement of the Carriage House at Greystone (our former office). In 2014 we undertook a major expansion of the program by opening a stand-alone retail shop at 619 N. Broadway near Emory Place. Running a retail operation as a nonprofit can be very challenging and it is time to rethink how our organization can best serve the needs of this community.

We are so grateful for the many volunteers, donors, and shoppers who have used the Salvage Shop as a resource for architectural salvage and vintage items. A lot of beautiful and useful materials have been saved from the landfill and repurposed.

The Salvage Shop will close its doors on December 14. Please drop by and take advantage of the final opportunity to purchase salvaged and vintage items from Knox Heritage.

HOURS
Sunday, Monday & Tuesday | Closed
Wednesday | Noon to 6pm
Thursday & Friday | Noon to 5pm
Saturday | 10 AM to 3 PM
https://knoxheritage.org/

ZOO KNOXVILLE OFFERS $5 OFF WINTER ADMISSION
Kroger Discount Days offered December 1 through February 29, 2020

During Kroger Discount Days, guests can discover why winter is an enjoyable time to visit the zoo. Many animals, including red pandas, river otters, elephants, gorillas, red wolves, lions and tigers, enjoy the cooler temperatures. On days when the temperature drops below 40 degrees, some animals will be moved indoors, but visitors can still see most in their indoor viewing areas.

Discounted tickets can be purchased at the zoo ticket window during regular zoo hours and online at zooknoxville.org. Discounted admission tickets must be used by Feb. 29, 2020, and cannot be combined with any other promotion, discount, or coupon.

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

Students, family, friends, and the public are invited to a reception and awards ceremony Tuesday, December 10 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 present the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition. Now in its 14th 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. Approximately 316 works of the more than 840 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 4,000 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