Calendar of Events

*All events are free and open to the public!
Details on all of these events at www.tnstatehood.com

Saturday, May 29:
Open houses at Blount Mansion, James White’s Fort, Historic Ramsey House, Mabry-Hazen House, and Marble Springs State Historic Site. Hours vary; check www.hhknoxvile.org for details

Tuesday, June 1:
TN 225th March and Celebration
Blount Mansion (200 W. Hill Ave.), 1:30-3pm (march participants gather at James White’s Fort at 1:00 pm)
Join Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, musicians, historical reenactors, and local students for a march from James White’s Fort (where Knoxville began) to Blount Mansion (where Tennessee was born), followed by a short ceremony, refreshments, and an opportunity to sign your name with a quill pen atop the 1796 Tennessee Statehood Desk in Gov. William Blount’s Office. Blount Mansion will be open free of charge following the ceremony. Event co-sponsored by Blount Mansion, City of Knoxville, and Historic House Museums of Knoxville.

Tennessee Begins
6:00-7:00 p.m., Maple Hall Bowling Alley (414 S. Gay Street), upstairs bar
Presentation by Jack Neely of Knoxville History Project about the events in Knoxville in 1796 which led to the creation of the state of Tennessee in 1796. For more information and to register, visit https://knoxvillehistoryproject.org/events/

Wednesday, June 2:
In Conversation: The Objects that Define Tennessee History at 225 Years
(Virtual Event) June 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m. Central
Blount Mansion is partnering with the Tennessee State Museum for this virtual program, which brings experts from both museums together to highlight priceless objects in both of our collections which relate to William Blount, John Sevier, and the beginning of Tennessee statehood in 1796. The registration link for this virtual program will be available soon.

Thursday, June 3:
Knoxville: The Crossroads of America
Joint Hybrid (in-person & virtual) presentation of Blount and Knoxville History Project at 6pm
Blount Mansion Visitors Center (200 W. Hill Ave., downtown Knoxville, TN)
Dr. Chris Magra, professor of early American history at the University of Tennessee, will explore how conflict and compromise brought different people together and made it possible for Tennessee to become the sixteenth state in the Union in 1796. We will stream the lecture on Zoom with up to 25 participants attending in person at Blount Mansion Visitors Center. In-person attendees must register in advance by email info@blountmansion. Please give us your name and the number of individuals in your party. If you would prefer to attend the event virtually, please visit https://knoxvillehistoryproject.org/events/ to register and receive the Zoom link from Knoxville History Project.

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Open houses with self-guided tours. Free; donations appreciated!

The Tennesseans for Living History will be portraying the way life was in 1796 when Tennessee became the 16th state of the union.

James White's Fort, 205 E. Hill Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: 865-525-6514, www.jameswhitefort.org

May 29th , 2021 3:00pm – 8:00pm

The Canvas Can Do Miracles (CCDM), a 501-C3 Nonprofit organization integrating arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen community by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes. CCDM envisions new possibilities for East Knoxville’s communities - a new future, a new way of overcoming many challenges today. CCDM first in its unique concept with the goal to provide free community-based art education classes held Wednesdays at 5:00pm until 9:00pm. CCDM provides free nutritious meals and additional supportive services; during the Covid-19 Pandemic we are also offering our services to reflect all restrictions mandated.

Canvas Can Do Miracles, 1218 Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-382-3599, Jackie@ccdmiracles.com, http://www.ccdmiracles.com

Blount Mansion will host its annual free Statehood Day Open House on the Saturday before Statehood Day, May 29th, from 10am-3pm. Docents will be positioned throughout our historic property to answer questions during your self-guided tour.

Blount Mansion, 200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-525-2375, www.blountmansion.org

225th Tennessee Statehood Day Celebration
June 1, 2021 marks the 225th anniversary of Tennessee’s admission into the Union as the 16th state! The Historic Homes of Knoxville are partnering to celebrate Statehood Day 225 by hosting a series of events before and after June 1st.

Mabry-Hazen House will offer FREE tours on Saturday, May 29th from 10am-3pm! Costumed docents will be inside the house to share its history and living historians will be on site to show what was it like to be a Civil War soldier. Firing demonstrations will occur at 11:30am and 1:30pm.

Learn about the origins of Knoxville's iconic Market Square, the bitter divisions of the Civil War, the infamous 1882 Gunfight on Gay Street, a mountain city in the New South, the scandalous 1934 breach of promise and seduction trial, and much more about Tennessee history through the rich, colorful lives of the Mabry and Hazen families.

Tickets are not required but donations are always appreciated!

Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915. Information: 865-522-8661 or www.mabryhazen.com

(Ages 18+) Picture this! Join local photographer Clay Thurston for a nature photography workshop next Saturday, May 29, from 8 a.m.-noon. Whether you have a high-end camera or a smart phone, you’ll learn composition and other techniques, go into the field to practice and then evaluate your shots. This class is great for all skill levels! Learn More and Register

https://www.ijams.org/event-details/ijams-field-day-nature-photography-workshop-with-clay-thurston-adult-program

2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920

(Ages 16+; younger ages with parental guidance) Ijams and Safekicker Media Group present MOON SHOT on the Visitor Center lawn next Saturday, May 29! This outdoor variety show features stand-up headliner Big Daddy Cater with local comedians Lena Allison, Quinn Collins and Clinton Ricks. Plus live music from J.Bu$h, house deejay DJ IKO, and local flow artists! Doors open at 5:30. Learn More and Get Tickets

https://www.ijams.org/calendar-of-events

2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920

May 28 thru May 30
Scott Miller

WDVX is keeping the Real Live Music going from wherever you are with WDVX Live From Home and our Spring Series. Each ticket purchased issues an email that gives you the link to the concert.
+ If you have a smart TV where you can open your email, you can bring the concert up this way to your TV.
+ Open the email on a device that can “cast” its signal to your TV for HD viewing.
+ Use an HDMI cord to join your computer to your TV. Enjoy!

Your tickets to the show will show up as an email within two hours of the show. Thanks in advance for your support of these artists and WDVX. Tickets on sale: https://wdvx.com/watch/

FRIDAY and SATURDAY AT 5 PM

https://www.angelafloydschools.com/

Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: www.knoxvillecoliseum.com

The Bottom is SO excited to be a part of Michelle Williams' Checking In Book Tour! Michelle will sit down for intimate, candid conversations with some amazing personalities and influencers to discuss various topics and themes from her book. Each night promises to be an experience and begins at 7pm EST, lasting for approximately 60 min. VIP tickets includes signed book and meet and greet.

Special guests include: Chloe Bailey, Taraji B. Henson, LeCrae, Ms. Tina Lawson, LeToya Luckett, Dr. Anita Phillips, Darrel Walls, Tamar Braxton, Chandler Moore, DeVon Franklin and Tabitha Brown

For tickets & more info: https://screenz.live/en/workshop/609ad76f4dd830002526a80e

https://www.thebottomknox.com/

The Tennessee Pirate Fest will be open rain or shine on May 22-23, 29-30-31, from 11am-6pm ET.

The fifth annual Tennessee Pirate Fest invites you to go back in time to the Age of Piracy. This outdoor daytime interactive entertainment-oriented festival will be held the last two weekends in May plus Memorial Day at the Tennessee Medieval Faire site in Harriman--just 30 miles west of Turkey Creek. Patrons will be transported to the pirate haven of Barataria, Louisiana, circa 1814.

Patrons are encouraged to dress in costume and enter the Costume Contest. Learn how to be a pirate in Pirate School. Compete in yard games in Pirate Olympics. Share your talents on stage in the Pirate Recruiting Gong Shows. Have fun with the new Scavenger Hunt. Take pictures with Mermaids and enjoy the Bubble Show. Make noise in the mid-day parade, where the Bucketeers will be featured on Saturdays. Other free activities will include corn hole, volleyball, croquet, the stocks, giant chess, and steel drum. There will also be games to play for a fee, including Sword Master’s Challenge, Skittles, Slay the Dragon, and Storm the Castle. Goats will also be available for petting and feeding.

Rotating on several stages will be numerous professional acts. Music will be brought to you by Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, The CrossJacks, PanEZ Steelband, and Black Mash Hollow. Interactive danger and dance shows will be performed by The Flaming Ginger and the Misfit Gypsies. Children’s puppet shows will feature Punch and Judy , the Dragon Puppet, and the Mermaid Queen. On Saturday May 22, youth classical musicians with Bravura Music Academy will share their talents. Interactive costumed street characters will seek to entertain in Kombat Kroquet, Lafitte’s Follies, Ball’s Best Bits, and Throw Me A Line. If you like slightly spooky things, join Captain Davy Jones and other supernatural characters on the Trail of Doom (PG)--a pirate version of A Christmas Carol. Entertainment schedules will be posted online and will be available at the entrance.

Pirate merchants of Barataria will be selling their custom wares such as costumes, leather pouches, drinking horns, soaps, blacksmith items, and jewelry. A variety of food will be available, including smoked turkey legs, BBQ, Philly steak sandwiches, shaved ice, and ice cream. Beverages will also be available, including water, soda, sweet tea, fresh lemonade, and beer (age 21+ years with valid photo ID). A list of vendors can be found on the festival website.

The festival location is at 550 Fiske Road, Harriman, TN. Free field parking is provided. Entrance ticket prices are $17 for ages 13+, $8 for ages 5 to 12; and free admission for ages 4 and under. Tickets may be purchased on festival days at the ticket house for cash or credit. Ticket prices include sales tax; however, a $1 convenience fee will be added per entrance ticket for credit usage. Festival beverage tickets will also be available in $1 increments, or patrons can use exact change to purchase water ($2), soda ($3), or beer ($5). There will be no ATM onsite, so patrons are encouraged to bring cash for purchases, tips, and convenience.

Safety rules include the following: no pets (service animals only), no loaded firearms or sharp weapons (all stage weapons must be sheathed and zip tied), and no outside food or drinks. There will be no onsite public camping; however, a motel discount is available with free breakfast at the Baymont Inn in Harriman (call 865-882-5340 with promo code LKDE). For more information, please visit www.TNPirateFest.com, “like” and “follow” the Tennessee Pirate Fest on https://www.facebook.com/Tennesseepiratefest, or call 865-376-0319.

A View of the City features more than 20 paintings and works on paper of Knoxville and vicinity by artists from East Tennessee and beyond representing the city and outlying areas during and after the 1940s. This diverse selection offers a complex and compelling portrait of our area over the course of a vital period in its development.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-525-6101, https://knoxart.org/exhibitions/a-view-of-the-city-knoxville/