Calendar of Events

Create some memories on our authentic paddlewheeler - the Star of Knoxville. We offer a variety of lunch and dinner cruises along with sightseeing-only tickets.

This authentic paddlewheeler is United States Coast Guard approved for 235 passengers. The main deck seats 144 passengers and is fully enclosed, air conditioned, and heated for year round comfort. The vessel is equipped with two (2) bars, a dance floor, band stage, and is exquisitely decorated for the most elegant dinner and entertainment available. From black tie events like weddings and receptions to a casual event like a football charter the atmosphere is right for any occasion.

https://tnriverboat.com/

Ijams Nature Center will host in-person and virtual open houses for families interested in learning more about the full-time Ijams Nature Preschool and the new part-time Ijams Nature Play Club.

In-person open houses are Saturday, Feb. 27, and Saturday March 6, from 2-5 p.m. at the Ijams Miller Education Building, 2915 Island Home Ave. In-person events will follow COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure everyone stays safe. Virtual open houses are Thursday, Feb. 25, and Thursday, March 11, from 6-7 p.m.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 9. The Ijams Nature Preschool meets Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and focuses on child-led, age-appropriate, experiential learning. Children ages 3-5 spend more than 50% of their time outdoors.

The new Ijams Nature Play Club follows the same model for ages 3-5, but is 100% outdoors. Classes meet Monday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Both programs blend traditional education standards with the opportunity to learn about and explore the natural world. Children spend the majority of their time outdoors, where they learn through play, discovery and inquiry. Activities focus on sensory experiences with live animals, natural objects, artifacts and art materials. The programs encourage curiosity, cognitive growth and motor skills through unstructured, child-led outdoor adventures. Children build problem-solving, math and engineering skills through hands-on experiences, and cultivate social skills through group play and opportunities for cooperative learning.

For more information about the Ijams Nature Preschool and Ijams Nature Play Club, visit www.ijams.org/nature-preschool or www.ijams.org/nature-play-club. Additional questions may be directed to Administrator Leslee Moore at 865-679-5491 or email preschool@ijams.org.

Ijams also is offering eight consecutive weeks of Nature Preschool Day Camp starting June 7. Camps run from 9 a.m. to noon and feature a new theme each week. To register for Nature Preschool Day Camp, visit www.ijams.org/preschool-summer-camp.

The Art Guild of Tellico Village is proud to present its Midwinter Art Exhibit. This spectacular collection of beautifully rendered artwork was all created by our members.

Thirty four artists and 97 works of art are represented in our Midwinter Exhibit.

You can see the virtual exhibit here: https://www.tellicoartguild.com/midwinter-exhibit/

Hello Neighbor! Is there anyone who isn’t looking forward to things returning to “normal” when this pandemic is finally over? The effects on our jobs, social life, and neighborhood activities have been devastating, so we are all seeking ways to remain productive, stay safe, and have some fun. With that in mind, Community Television of Knoxville (CTV) is boldly moving forward with our 2021 Neighborhood Treasure Hunt & Online Auction, an almost effortless "COVID-safe" event that will allow you to:

1. Help improve your neighborhood.
2. Help promote community television.
3. Find some incredible bargains.
4. And, have loads of fun!

Our inventory at www.ctvknox.org/hunt is constantly being updated as neighbors and local businesses are currently donating new and gently used treasures through March 26th. Online bidding will begin on April 2nd and continue through April 23rd. Don’t be a spectator. Find out how EASY it is to raise money to fund important projects in your neighborhood.

======================================
Treasure Hunt Zoom Session #1 (both meetings cover the same material, you only need to attend one)
Time: Wed, Feb 24, 2021 @ 6 pm
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://zoom.us/j/95456262354?pwd=ZC9qdHRCN3NtaGZiSWExOWt1SklvZz09
======================================
Treasure Hunt Zoom Session #2
Time: Thu, Feb 25, 2021 @ 6 pm
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://zoom.us/j/95792755719?pwd=NXBHd0w1TS9TNUhVSHVwMFA3SlY1Zz09
======================================

Mardi Gras is all about music, parades, picnics, floats, and excitement. It’s one big holiday! You too can support your Knoxville Symphony by bidding on and buying items through our Silent and Specialty auctions. The Silent auction will go live on Monday, February 22, and the Specialty auction will begin at approximately 7:45 pm on Feb. 27.

Get started with HandBid now to receive notifications when the bidding opens.
https://knoxvillesymphony.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/HandBid-How-To.pdf

The Silent Auction will close Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 9:30 pm. By bidding you expressly authorize the Knoxville Symphony League (KSL) to use the credit card registered to your account to fulfill any payment owed. Invoices will be emailed to successful bidders after payment is processed.

All auction items are pick-up only. You may pick up auction items starting Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 12 pm-4 pm at the KSO office located at 100 S. Gay Street Suite 302. Masks are required for entering the building. Additional pick-up hours are Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm. If you do not pick up items before March 24th you will be deemed to have donated the items to the KSL and KSL will be able to resell the item at its discretion.

https://events.handbid.com/auctions/the-symphony-mardi-gras

If you have any questions please contact Amber Mullins at amullins@knoxvillesymphony.com, or at (865) 521-2319. www.knoxvillesymphony.com

The WordPlayers offers a show for Black History Month. The Ends We Seek - a one act play with music by Ethan Norman - is a work of historical fiction, which moves between actual events in the 19th and 20th centuries. The play vividly and powerfully illustrates how major historical events — Lincoln’s election and Emancipation Proclamation, as well as the movement for civil rights inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — impacted the lives of ordinary individuals and families. A mother and a son, in two different centuries, play out the average person’s struggle with life in a dysfunctional society rife with racism. Scenes of daily life play out against a backdrop of history and lead us through moments where national, social, and political turmoil have lasting and powerful effects on ordinary families. With sharp dialogue, inspired by true stories, and with captivating musical interludes, The Ends We Seek personalizes and humanizes the experience of ordinary people swept up in the events of history.

Schedule of Free, Public Performances
• Saturday, Feb. 20 – Oak Valley Baptist, 194 Hampton Rd, Oak Ridge – 4:00 PM
• Sunday, Feb. 21 – Fifth Avenue Baptist, 2500 E 5th Ave, Knoxville – 4:00 PM
• Wednesday, Feb. 24 – Walters State – Greeneville – 9:40 AM & Sevierville – 4:00 PM
• Thursday, Feb. 25 – Walters State – Morristown – 9:40 AM & Tazewell – 2:00 PM
• Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021 – One Life Church, 2900 Knoxville Center Dr., Knoxville – 4:00 PM

http://wordplayers.org/current-season/touring-shows/black-history-month-touring-show/
The WordPlayers, 865-539-2490
Facebook: The WordPlayers
Twitter: @wordplayers
Instagram: wordplayers

The play will be performed Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM. https://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/tc-events/the-neverending-story/

Bastian, a lonely boy, stumbles into a curious bookshop where he discovers a curious book—THE NEVERENDING STORY. Bastian hides in the attic of his school and begins to read, and a huge adventure surges into life. Fantastica, a land of stories, is being destroyed by the Nothing. The Childlike Empress has chosen Atreyu, a young hunter, to be the Hero of the Great Quest. Atreyu, an orphan, is an unlikely choice, but he accepts and, with his horse and companion, Artax, rides to face the menace.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED INSIDE OUR THEATRE

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

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts invites you to experience the 20th Sevier County Biennial Juried Exhibition. This exhibition is a juried, mixed media art exhibition presented by Arrowmont to recognize and foster the skills and talents of artists and makers who call the region of Sevier County home.

Features 76 original works created by 51 Sevier County, Tennessee artists. This is the first show open to visitors since the onset of the pandemic. You may schedule your gallery appointment on Arrowmont’s website at https://www.arrowmont.org/visit/events/20th-sevier-county-biennial-juried-exhibition/ or contact Gallery Manager Kelsey Dillow at 865-436-5860, kdillow@arrowmont.org.

Mary Welch Thompson, award-winning basket weaver, juried the 20th Sevier County Biennial. She said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for all of us. Viewing this art let me forget for a short time. I had fun; it has been a learning experience and a challenge to select the Best of Show and the Awards of Merit pieces. The vibrant colors and imagination really stood out, paying tribute to the beauty of our natural surroundings, our mountain home.”

The Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show which will return as an entirely virtual event in 2021. The event is completely free to attend and will be accessible online February 12th through March 14th on our brand new website, https://www.dogwoodarts.com/.

For over forty years, the Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show has showcased the latest trends in home improvement, landscape design, decor, and more. The 2021 event will be no exception and will offer attendees the opportunity to engage with quality vendors without fear of safety and health concerns.

Attendees can attend Virtual Expert Sessions via Zoom, browse a comprehensive Exhibitor Directory, and save hundreds on their next home projects by taking advantage of our exclusive Show Specials––all from the comfort of home.

Dogwood Arts, 123 W. Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

The Sacred, the Secular, and the Space In Between: African-American Vernacular Art from the Collection of Michael D. Hill

This exhibit showcases the work of self-taught African American artists who examine the intersections of spirituality and material culture. Guided by a compulsion, in some cases even what might be seen as a divine calling, to create, they produced paintings, sculpture, and utilitarian objects that are startlingly powerful in both their aesthetic forms and the life force they channel. Among the artists featured in this exhibit are Mose Tolliver, David Butler, Lonnie Holley, and Mary T. Smith. Their work may also be found in such prominent collections as the High Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Guided gallery tours by Michael D. Hill will be held throughout the month. For more information, please contact Bryan Wilkerson at 865-354-3000 x4788 or by email at wilkersonbs@roanestate.edu.

O'Brien Art Gallery at Roane State Community College, OBrien Building room 276 Patton Lane Harriman, TN 37748
http://academics.roanestate.edu/art/gallery/

This year's theme is "On the Bright Side". Open to women artists of any medium!

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

The online-only retrospective exhibition titled “STAYING CONNECTED: The Valentines of Jim Balderes, Jr.” will be available for viewing from Saturday February 6 through Sunday February 28, 2021 at the Greeneville Arts Council website greenevilleartscouncil.org under the Mason House Gallery Online: Current Exhibit section.

Balderes has been sharing valentines of his own creation with friends and family for nearly forty years. The first was produced in a darkroom during his senior year at Cornell University where he earned a BS degree in Design and Environmental Analysis. Since then he’s seen Valentine’s Day as a regular opportunity to reach out at a time of year when family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and former colleagues could all use a bit of “handmade” warmth and whimsy.

During a two-decade career in corporate interior design and project management in New York City, both his mailing list and the variety of media for the yearly missive grew – thanks, in part, to a few classes at the School of Visual Arts and the significant transformation in digital media during those years. The various media for his valentines have included drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and digital art. Some of the greeting cards (primarily postcards) involved the use of custom-made tools and materials such as rubber stamps, die-cuts, candies and even scratch-and-sniff stickers.

Coincidentally, this year’s mailing is Balderes’ fourteenth since moving to East Tennessee. It becomes more important to him each year to send a tangible, physical greeting card when social media and email messages seem to be a step too removed. “Not only am I proudly supporting the ever-important U.S. Postal Service, but people would have a really hard time sticking a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter post to the refrigerator,” says Balderes. Balderes with the valentines he sent in 2007, his first after moving to Greene County. “And especially now, as we continue to contend with a worldwide pandemic, ‘Staying Connected’ safely is paramount. It is with that sentiment in mind, and as an expression of unceasing appreciation for all of our healthcare workers, that I made this year’s valentine.”

For information on Greeneville Arts Council exhibits, please contact Til Green, director of exhibitions, at 423-329-5366 or tilgreen724@yahoo.com.