Calendar of Events

Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 3:00 PM. Pre-concert talk begins at 2:30 PM.
First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge
1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN

The Chamber Music Series ends with “fireworks” in a concert by the Ariel String Quartet. Founded 25 years ago when they were teenagers in Israel, the Ariel Quartet is now the faculty quartet-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. The quartet — violinist Alexandra Kazovsky, cellist Amit Even-Tov, violinist Gershon Gerchikov, and violist Jan Grüning — is the recipient of numerous prestigious and international awards including the Cleveland Quartet Award and Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Their “American Dream” program has a theatrical feel with a purposefully unannounced concert half “serving as a musical metaphor for the way we aspire to see others and want to be seen ourselves: free of expectations, unprejudiced, and with a truly open mind and heart.”
https://orcma.org/ariel-string-quartet

For more information, please call 865-483-5569 or visit https://orcma.org

Babe wants to fit in on the farm but also wants to achieve a better destiny for himself. Babe and the other piglets of the litter have been separated from their parents. Babe is sent to Farmer Hogget’s property, where the farm is abuzz with activity. There are sheep, roosters, dogs, turkeys, cats, and other animals around, and all of them seem to have a job, or “purpose” as Babe puts it. Except Babe. Farmer Hogget’s wife, however, has a purpose in mind for Babe: Christmas dinner!

With the help of a motherly sheep-dog named Fly, Babe may just achieve the goal of finding a new purpose. As the Grand Champion Sheep Dog Trials grow nearer, Babe dreams of being something no animal has ever been: a Sheep-Pig. Babe’s hard work and spirit of cooperation have touched readers’ hearts around the world, having been translated into over fifteen languages and adapted into an Oscar-winning film.

Performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM.

KCT is East Tennessee’s leading producer of plays for children and families.
Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

The WordPlayers and Pellissippi State Theatre Dept. will present Shakespeare’s KING LEAR on April 5, 6, 12, 13 at 7:30 PM and April 7 and 14 at 2:30 PM. The play, considered by many to be Shakespeare’s masterpiece, will be presented on the main campus of Pellissippi State Community College in the Clayton Performing Arts Center (CPAC), 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville. Tickets range from $15 to $25 and reserved seats are available at wordplayers.org/buy-tickets/ . Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information, please call The WordPlayers at 865.539.2490 or visit wordplayers.org.

Widely regarded as Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy and one of the masterpieces in the English language, KING LEAR explores domestic, political, and spiritual themes which transcend time and culture. The story of dysfunctional families dealing with aging parents and toxic sibling rivalry is as old as the Bible and as contemporary as some of our own stories. Political turmoil caused by poor leadership and callous ambition spans much of human history and holds its own in current events. To what extent supernatural powers shape the human condition is an ever-present question. What does it take for us to finally see and acknowledge truth? Which way does madness lie? Which way redemption? There are lessons to be learned. May they not come too late.

The approximate length of the show is 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermission, and is suitable for ages 13 and up.

The WordPlayers, 865-539-2490, www.wordplayers.org
Facebook: The WordPlayers, Twitter: @wordplayers, Instagram: wordplayers

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

TennGreen Land Conservancy's fourth annual Hike-a-Thon is taking place during the entire month of April 2024.

The month-long fundraising and adventure competition supports the protection of Tennessee's lands and waters and encourages people of all ages and abilities to get outside for the chance to win awesome prizes. While this event benefits Tennessee nature, participants can adventure and compete from anywhere in the world.

Compete by hiking, paddling, trail running, climbing, mountain biking, or photography with a team or by yourself!

Proceeds from the Hike-a-Thon benefit TennGreen Land Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit and the oldest accredited statewide land conservancy in Tennessee.

Registration is free and opens on March 1 at hikeathon.com.
Questions? Email hikeathon@tenngreen.org

Since 1955, Dogwood Arts has hosted Knoxville’s favorite springtime celebration. What started as a neighborhood beautification project, has blossomed into a year-round celebration of our region’s art, culture, and natural beauty. With the month of April quickly approaching, Dogwood Arts is gearing up to do it all again with events and programs for the entire community to enjoy.

Knoxville’s historic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. The Dogwood Trails, Open Gardens, and Camera Sites are open April 1-30th and visitors are invited to drive, walk, or bike the Trails as they take in the natural scenic beauty of East Tennessee in the springtime. Open Gardens and Camera Sites are open 10AM-6PM daily.

Visitors can find Trailhead addresses, trail maps, and a list of Open Gardens, Camera Sites, and Walking Trails online at https://www.dogwoodarts.com/trailsandgardens. Printed Trail Guides are available at Visit Knoxville, all ORNL Federal Credit Union Branches, and the Dogwood Arts office [123 W. Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902]. Info: 865-637-4561

Back to back family movies on the jumbotron beginning at 6pm, inflatable games for the kids in the grove pit, and a relaxing night out for the entire family every Tuesday from 6-9 PM.

We have games and toys for the kids to play with and climb all night while parents can come relax and enjoy free entertainment for the family! Movies range from some classics like "Honey, I shrunk the Kids" and "Aladdin" to recent hits like "Encanto" and "Inside Out."

https://www.facebook.com/events/3650230248630107/3650230288630103/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5RC7OstvVk/

745 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN
(865) 210-8862
yeehawbrewing.com/knoxville

They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler is the first retrospective exhibition of Carl and Pearl Butler, the iconic country music duo whose timeless lyrics and harmonious melodies left an indelible mark on country music. With a career spanning over four decades, Carl and Pearl Butler became celebrated figures in the world of country music. “Carl made scores of major-label records during the 1950s,” says Bradley E. Reeves, the exhibition’s guest curator and author of the new book Honky Tonkitis: On the Road with Carl Butler and Pearl. “These are some of the best bluegrass, gospel, and hard country records ever made, although none could be called a massive hit.” That honor would come in 1962, when Carl and Pearl recorded “Don’t Let Me Cross Over.” The song remains among the fastest ever to ascend to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Singles. Carl and Pearl’s unique “Knoxville sound,” along with heartfelt lyrics, earned them a dedicated fan base who supported them at performances across the United States and Canada through the 1970s. The exhibition offers visitors a rare glimpse into the lives of these music legends.

Key highlights of the exhibition include:
1. Rare Family Archives: Museum guests will have the opportunity to view the Allen “Junior” Butler Family Collection, which has been made publicly available for the first time and includes never-before-seen photographs, home movies, original instruments, and stage costumes that belonged to Carl and Pearl Butler. “I’m grateful to Allen Butler and his family for opening their home and archives to share with us,” says Reeves.
2. Musical Journey: Explore the duo's musical journey through a feature film, which transports visitors through various periods of their career and traces their unfiltered, raw singing style, one that derived from and advanced the “Knoxville sound.”
3. Behind-the-Scenes: Gain insight into the lives of Carl and Pearl Butler through never-before-seen family photographs and recently uncovered anecdotes from the family and fellow musicians, including Dolly Parton who viewed the Butlers as her “second parents.” “Despite their successes,” says Adam Alfrey, Assistant Director for Historical Services at Knox County Public Library, “Carl and Pearl faced personal and professional struggles, which are intimately documented through the family’s photographs.”
4. Interpretive Experience: Engage with the exhibition to understand how both Knoxville and Nashville played a role in the development of country music. Also, learn how chart-topping artists can quickly become all but forgotten, even in their hometown. “The Butlers somehow fell through the cracks,” reflects Reeves. “It’s my hope that this book and exhibition will contribute to a reappreciation of their great body of work.”
They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler promises to be a heartfelt educational experience for country music enthusiasts and fans of all ages. It serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Carl and Pearl Butler on the world of music.

At 5:00 pm, Friday, October 6, 2023, there will be an opening reception for They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler. The event will include a meet and greet with Carl and Pearl Butler’s family, a book signing by guest curator Bradley E. Reeves, and an exhibition of Appalachian musical pioneer paintings by artist Amy Campbell. At 7:00 pm, there will be a “Tribute to Carl and Pearl,” opened by a performance of the Paul Brewster and Friends Band, comprised of 14-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis and Grand Ole Opry performers Daniel Grindstaff, Kent Blanton, Stephen Burwell, and John Meador. A screening of 8mm home movies shot by the Butlers (watch for an appearance by 10-year-old Dolly Parton), as well as some of the Butlers’ rarest television appearances, will conclude the evening.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: M-F 9-4, Sa 10-4, Su 1-5. Information: 865-215-8824, www.eastTNhistory.org/lights-camera