Calendar of Events
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Tennessee Theatre: Christmas Vacation
Category: Film and Kids, family
CHRISTMAS VACATION
HOLIDAY FILM SCREENING
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21
3PM - ON SALE NOW!
8PM - SOLD OUT
General Admission tickets.
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com, www.ticketmaster.com
UT Arboretum Society: Third Saturday Hike
Category: Free event, Health, wellness, Kids, family and Science, nature
Enjoy the beginning of winter in the woods
The UT Arboretum Society’s monthly Third Saturday Hike for December will be held December 21 at the UT Arboretum at 9:00 a.m. December is a beautiful and peaceful time to observe the beauty of the forest before the hustle and bustle of the holidays begin.
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 as you hike. This hike will be led by a volunteer familiar with the UT Arboretum and the trail system.
The hike is a free program offered by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society. No registration is required. No pets, please. 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.
Celebrating 54 years in 2019, this program is one of many lectures and activities that will be offered this year by the UT Arboretum Society. The program is cosponsored by the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center.
11th Annual Strollstice - Candlelight Solstice Walk
Category: Festivals, special events, History, heritage and Kids, family
Saturday at 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Historic Market Square, Knoxville
Banish the darkness with us at our annual Candlelight Stroll through Downtown, celebrating friends, community, and fellowship. We'll sing old songs, say a few old words, and and hear new stories of Knoxville Christmas past with Laura Still of Knoxville Walking Tours.
No reservations. No charge. Just show up at the bell!
https://www.facebook.com/events/763826074122626/
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: 33rd Annual Clayton Holiday Concerts

Category: Dance, movement, Festivals, special events, Kids, family and Music
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
Oak Ridge Art Center: Selections from the Permanent Collection
Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts and Free event
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
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: Mid Artists-in-Residence Exhibition
Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts and Free event
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
River & Rail Theatre Co: The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph's Baby
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#/
Nourish Knoxville: Market Square Farmers' Winter Market
Category: Culinary arts, food, Exhibitions, visual art, Festivals, special events, Fine Crafts, Free event, Kids, family and Science, nature
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/
Awaken Coffee: Photography by Austin Bradford
Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event
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/
The District Gallery: Joe Parrott: Across the Valley
Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event
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: Exhibition by Kara Lockmiller
Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event
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/
Art Market Gallery: Featuring Marilyn Dwyer and Julia Malia
Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts and Free event
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