Calendar of Events

The Museum of Appalachia will welcome the warmth and renewal of spring by trimming the winter’s heavy growth of wool from their flock of sheep. Visitors are invited to join the museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, in celebration of this beloved pioneer tradition on April 26, May 3, and May 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Sheep Shearing Days will include demonstrations of shearing, herding, carding, spinning, and weaving the fleece into woven goods, plus many real-life examples of some of the many finished products derived from the freshly shorn wool. Family-friendly activities will also include live Appalachian music and historic demonstrations of quilting, soap making, rug hooking, pottery, beekeeping, blacksmithing, and much more.

Admission includes a tour of the Museum, which contains some three-dozen historic log structures, exhibit halls filled with thousands of Appalachian artifacts, working gardens, and farm animals.

Tickets are available for purchase at museumofappalachia.org. Admission rates for this event are $10 for both adults and children. The event is free for Museum members.

Tickets at https://wwwmuseumofappalachiaorg.ticketleap.com/sheep-shearing-days-2024/

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy, Clinton, TN 37716. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

APRIL 26-28, 2024 | WORLD'S FAIR PARK

Established in 1961, the Dogwood Arts Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville! The festival is held on the beautifully redesigned Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park and features over 100 fine art vendors, live music, entertainment, children's activities, food & beverage vendors, and more.

Friday & Saturday: 10AM - 7PM
Sunday: 10AM - 5PM

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

13th ANNUAL CIRCUS EXTRAVAGANZA: THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS BEAR will be held the last ​weekend of April 2024:
​Friday, April 26 - 7:30PM
Saturday, April 27 - shows at 2:00PM & 7:30PM
Sunday, April 28 - 2:00PM

Come one, come all to Dragonfly Aerial's 13th Annual Circus Extravaganza! Walk through the doors of the big top into "The Case of the Curious Bear," where amazing acrobats, daring aerialists, wacky clowns, and a host of zoo inhabitants draw you into their world of magic, mystique, and mayhem! Join us for performances on silks, chains, stilts, lyra, trapeze, aerial pole, original poetry by Knoxville's poet laureate Black Atticus, and more. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for monkeys, tigers, and even bears*! Rediscover childlike joy and wonder as you get whisked away into the amazing world of our Curious Bear!
*no live animals in the show

Our annual Circus Extravaganza funds our scholarship program for kids. We're always grateful for donations from those wanting to give more than the price of a ticket to help sponsor a child, or from those who can't make the show but want a way to give. Circus Extravaganza benefits #CircusForEveryBody: programs that share the circus with ​under-served + special-needs people

Tickets: https://www.dragonflyaerialartsstudio.com/circus-extravaganza.html

Fri-Sat 7 PM, Sun 3 PM

Hardin Valley Academy Theater, 11345 Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932
865-690-9690 or https://www.knoxschools.org/hardinvalley

Info: john.sides@knoxschools.org
Tickets: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/81667

The Knox Co. Parks & Recreation Dept. is hosting the 2nd annual "Camporee on the Hill." The weekend-long immersive camping experience April 26-28 at Melton Hill Park (3230 Williams Bend Road) will feature interactive nature programming for both kids and adults, a sunset movie and local band campfire jam session, water sport rentals, and an information command center that details potential plans for Melton Hill Park. The event is free and open to the public, but camping sites are limited and pre-registration for a tent or group camping site is required. Register at this link and hold your spot! https://knoxcountyparks.activityreg.com/clientpage_t2.wcs

Phone: (865) 215-6600
parks@knoxcounty.org
www.knoxcounty.org/parks

Join us the 4th Friday of every month from 5-7PM when Muse Knoxville at Chilhowee Park offers the public a FREE evening of play at our museum. These nights are all about community, so be sure to invite your family and friends!

IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR FREE FAMILY NIGHT ENJOYABLE, PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING:
Stay in close proximity to your children at all times.
Muse Knoxville has a set number of guests that can be allowed into the museum at any one time.
Please be respectful of museum exhibits, staff, and guests.
Shoes are required at all times.
Muse Knoxville reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone that poses a threat to the well-being of museum guests or property.

The Muse Knoxville, 516 N. Beaman Street, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-594-1494, www.themuseknoxville.org

Get ready for an exciting kickoff to the 2024 season of the New Harvest Farmers Market! Join us on Thursday, April 25th, from 3-6 PM at New Harvest Park for a fantastic event packed with fun activities and fresh, local goods! Here's what's in store for you:
FARMERS MARKET: Explore a diverse array of local produce, baked goods, meat, eggs, crafts, and more at our vibrant market stalls!
NOURISH MOVES: Lace up your sneakers and join us for the launch of the 2024 season of Nourish Moves! Learn more about how you can turn your steps into Produce Bucks by visiting nourishknoxville.org/nourish-moves/
SNAP & SNAP DOUBLING: shoppers with SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) are able to swipe their EBT cards at the info booth for tokens to spend on groceries at the market! Plus Nourish Knoxville will be doubling those dollars, up to $20/day, in Double Up Food Bucks tokens to spend on fresh fruits & vegetables! Learn more about this program at nourishknoxville.org/programs/snap/

Thursdays from 3 pm – 6 pm
New Harvest Park, 4775 New Harvest Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918

https://www.nourishknoxville.org/new-harvest/

4/19 • Forest Bathing Workshop
4/19 • Pickin' on Nature: 18strings and Blue Ridge Gathering
4/20 • Early Morning Birding: Spring Migration
4/20 • Spring Fungi ID: Beginners Workshop
4/20 • H.A.L.T Dog Adoption Event at Ijams
4/21 • ETNBA Monthly Bluegrass Jam
4/21 • Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Event and Fundraiser
4/22 • Nature Nerd Hike
4/24 • Becoming a Community Scientist
4/25 • Nature Nerd Trivia
4/26 • Big Night Hike- Bioblitz Edition

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

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