Calendar of Events

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra presents the 33nd Annual Clayton Holiday Concert on December 20st, 21nd, and 22nd at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Music Director Aram Demirjian conducts the Orchestra and special guests for “Christmas on Broadway.” There are four performances: Friday, Dec. 20th & Saturday, Dec. 21st at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 21st and Sunday, Dec. 22nd at 3:00 p.m.

Musical selections include songs from favorite holiday classics from the Great White Way including pieces from Annie, A Christmas Carol and Mame. Other musical highlights include “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. KSO will be joined by special guests Knoxville Choral Society, Go! Contemporary Dance Works, soloists Kathryn Paden and Jordan Bondurant, and maybe even Santa himself!

Tickets may be purchased by calling 865-291-3310 or visiting the KSO website. Tickets range from $18.00 - $49.00 and children’s tickets start at $10. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 865-521-2337.

KSO Music Director, Aram Demirjian, noted “It wouldn’t be the holidays without live music, and the Clayton Holiday Concerts are a tradition that the KSO has been overjoyed to share with the East Tennessee community for 33 years. ‘Christmas on Broadway’ is a sparkling blend of show tunes and traditional carols, most of which you already know and love, some that you might have had no idea came from Broadway, plus a few new gems that will become regulars on your holiday season playlist. These concerts are a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talent we have in Knoxville featuring our guest ensembles the Knoxville Choral Society, Go! Contemporary Dance Works, plus two soloists born and raised right here in East Tennessee, Kathryn Paden and Jordan Bondurant.”

For more information about the Knoxville Choral Society and its current season, please visit www.knoxvillechoralsociety.org.
For more information about GO! and their upcoming performances visit www.gocontemporarydance.com.

Tickets and information: 865-291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

Tellers: Millie Sieber, Roland Mote, Susan & Stephen Fulbright

Coffee and desserts available. Free Parking. Donations Gratefully Accepted.

Information: www.smokymountaintellers.org, 865-280-2034, or StorytellersAssociation@gmail.com
On Facebook: Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association

Choral, Instrumental, and All-Sing Christmas Festival

The Cathedral is proud to present its’ first Cathedral Christmas Festival, featuring the Cathedral Choir, O’Connor Center Singing Seniors, and instrumental ensembles and musicians of the Diocese of Knoxville, with choral and all-sing Christmas carols!

Admission is Free: Seating is Limited, Tickets are available at the Paraclete Books and Gifts Store (located on the Cathedral campus) 865.588-0338, or at the door (doors open 1 hour before concert) Please Respect our Sacred Space: No Food/Drink/Gum

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EST
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 South Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919

The Cathedral Concert Series is dedicated to providing the community with free low-cost opportunities to experience local, regional, national, and international sacred and classical music ensembles in the effort to support the Arts and foster appreciation for Sacred Music in East Tennessee. https://shcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series/

WHITE CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY FILM SCREENING
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 8:00PM

General Admission tickets, $9 adults, $7 seniors.

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

Telling traditional stories and giving gifts is central to celebration of the December holidays for people of multiple cultures and traditions. Smoky mountain storytellers Roland Mote, Stephen Fulbright, and Susan Fulbright will combine the two by offering a gift of stories on December 20 at Vienna Coffee House located at 212 College Street in Maryville. All are invited to enjoy the free event which will begin at 6:00 pm and continue until about 7:30. In addition to enjoying the stories, the Vienna Coffee House always makes available an array of beverages, sandwiches and other treats. Plus, there is plenty of free parking in the area.

Roland Mote, Stephen Fulbright, and Susan Fulbright are each experienced and gifted tellers of stories. Roland’s stories draw upon the peculiarities and earthy humor gleaned from his family’s oral history, 70 plus year association with rural life, and “just something heard somewhere." Stephen’s repertoire includes traditional tales and personal narratives drawn from a wide array of experiences in both Texas and East Tennessee. Susan’s stories draw upon traditional tales from around the world, historical characters and events, and her personal narratives. In addition, she might just tell an out and out lie.

The Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 and is devoted to preserving and advancing the art of oral storytelling. Members are folks who love telling, listening to, and rejoicing in a rich heritage of stories. There is a multitude of telling styles and genres among members. Traditional Appalachian tales, classical stories from foreign lands, contemporary fiction, and personal narratives are among the narratives shared as each story unfolds. For more information about the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association and its events, visit www.smokymountaintellers.org. For more information about this event or the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association, contact C. Roland Mote at 865-803-8753, or crmote@charter.net.

On Friday, December 20, 2019 from 5:00-8:00 pm, multiple Downtown Knoxville churches will be open for you to enjoy their Christmas decorations, music & tour the churches. Walk from church to church or ride the free Downtown Knoxville Trolley while you experience a festive evening downtown. Event is open to everyone, City People Members are encouraged to bring friends and family. Free Event. This is a self-guided walk. Volunteers will be at the churches to answer questions and provide information.

Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902
St. John’s Cathedral, 413 Cumberland Avenue Knoxville, TN 37902
First Baptist Church, 510 West Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
First Presbyterian Church, 620 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902

FREE Event but your RSVP is appreciated so that we know how many to expect. RSVP at Eventbrite: https://citypeople.eventbrite.com/

Free parking is available in State Street Garage, Market Square Garage and Locust Street Garage when departing after 6pm. Additional free parking is available at Church Street United Methodist Church.

In this season full of holidays, family and remembrance, our collection serves to connect our current Art Center family and those who worked to sustain and preserve our program in the past. Among them are artists, collectors, and family and friends of both. Selections from the Permanent Collection will represent individuals who created, those who collected, and those who contributed to our ability to share the amazing variety and diversity of art with our regional community. Each group represents many memories—funny, fond, and maybe a few not-so-fond—of the individuals who helped make the Art Center a community asset and keep it viable for us to enjoy today.

We are assembling a group work that represents all three of these groups of people—artists, collectors and contributors. Many of the artists represented have been or were members of the Art Center, or have been associated with our program. Others have been, or were, instructors at the Art Center and/or have shown with us in their careers.

We will have a wealth of wonderful pieces to represent the collectors in our midst. Lovingly collected by members and individuals from around the region the pieces were later donated to the Art Center to leave a lasting impact on the cultural tenor of our region. Work included in this group are both regional and international in scope. Sharing these works with our visitors and their delight in viewing work of this caliber in our area is very special. This promises to be a delightful walk down memory lane with some of our favorite people and their memories.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

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#/

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

Reception on Friday at 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Dogwood Arts, 123 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902

December First Friday at Dogwood Arts will feature work by Chrysalis, a group of nine local female artisans working in sculpture, painting, woodwork, stone carving, and more! Participating artists include: Kathy Slocum, Lisa Ruttan Wolff, Gay Morton, Sheila Rauen, Linda Peterson, Nan Jacobsohn, Barb Bewernitz, and Pat Culbertson.

The exhibition will be on display in the Dogwood Arts Gallery (123 W Jackson Ave) from Friday, December 6 - Friday, January 3rd. An opening reception will be held on Friday, December 6th from 4:30-8:30PM. (Gallery Closed: December 23rd-27th and January 1st)

Gallery Hours: M-F / 9AM-5PM

CHRYSALIS: Chrysalis is a group of nine women craft-artisans and artists. They first got together in 2006 to exchange creative energies and offer support to each others artistic endeavors. Their name derived from the fact that they had all been dedicated artists and had all experienced interruptions to their flow of creating. In finding each other, they found their work and energy to create reemerging, new ideas blossoming, and a support that also enveloped their personal lives. In 14 years they have lost sisters and found sisters. Some have changed mediums, learned new creative processes to add to their work, or expanded into additional avenues of creating, growing not only as artists but as strong women and steadfast friends. It's a unique group, whose work when gathered together, inspires not only each other, but those that come to see it.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2550089981888289/