Calendar of Events

Cattywampus is excited to bring our annual people-powered Parade & Block Party to Happy Holler this year in partnership with SOCM and Open Streets Knoxville! On Sunday, May 19th, led by our very own Knox Honkers & Bangers and Drums Up Guns Down, we'll be filling our Knoxville streets with art, dancing, joy, and revelry, and we want you to join us. This year’s theme is “We Dwell Together” and the parade is free and open to all. We invite you to make giant puppets, masks, costumes, or any other handmade & people-powered creations inspired by visions of a Knoxville with affordable, safe, and healthy housing for all and then come together to parade as one.

*Parade Line Up: 2pm at N. Central & Emory Place
*Parade Kick Off: 3pm
*Route: We’ll line up and START at Emory Place, then process up N. Central to Oklahoma Ave, double back and FINISH in the large parking lot at 1000 N. Central near the corner of Baxter Ave.

BLOCK PARTY: Our Parade will conclude at the corner of N. Central & Baxter Ave with a Block Party from 3:30-6pm, featuring local hip-hop, drumming, dance, a giant puppet skit, and more. You don't wanna miss it! Full line-up to be announced soon!!

OPEN STREETS: This year's Parade is part of Open Streets Knoxville, a free event that encourages the use of active transportation (walking, biking, rollerblading, and more), promotes healthy living, and gives participants an opportunity to reimagine our streets as public space! Sections of N. Central St. and Emory Place will be closed to vehicular traffic and filled with art & play activities for all ages, food trucks, and more from 2-6pm.

To register for the parade and find out more info, visit www.cattywampuspuppets.org/parade-street-party

https://www.facebook.com/events/1137674624086986/

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND: ALL THE GOOD TIMES FAREWELL TOUR
Sunday, May 19, 7:30PM at Tennessee Theatre.

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

PATTY GRIFFIN
SUNDAY, MAY 19 | 7:30PM

Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information/tickets: 865-522-0832, https://knoxbijou.org/

Join us for Open Streets Knoxville 2024! On Sunday, May 19th, we will gather in Happy Holler on North Central Street and Emory Place from 2 - 6 pm. We are excited to partner with Cattywampus Puppet Council to bring their annual puppet parade to Open Streets! Find more information about the parade here!

Open Streets Knoxville detours motor vehicles from urban streets to connect community members with local businesses and organizations, creating space for people of all ages and abilities to walk, bike, dance, and much more! Distinct from a street festival, Open Streets Knoxville gives residents an opportunity to explore their neighborhood and access local businesses in a safe, fun, and family-friendly way. Participants can enjoy being physically active and visiting local businesses on foot or by bike. The event encourages the use of active transportation and healthy living, and has a goal of giving residents an opportunity to reimagine our streets as public spaces.

The goal of Open Streets is to have at least one mile of Knoxville streets closed to motorized traffic. Our events bring thousands of people into the street! Bike Walk Knoxville depends heavily on community sponsors and businesses to help defray the substantial costs of Open Streets Knoxville events. https://www.bwknox.org/openstreets

Pavilion Concert: Tennessee Wind Symphony: POPS in the Pavilion! The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 South Northshore Drive, Sunday, May 19, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

The Cathedral Concert Series is proud to present the Tennessee Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. John Culvahouse, performing an outdoor POPS CONCERT in the PAVILION (located behind the Cathedral and School.) Fun for the whole family!

LIVE MUSIC – BRING A CHAIR – PACK A PICNIC – ALL ARE WELCOME!
Admission is free, but reservations are requested at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/concert-in-the-pavilion-tennessee-wind-symphony-tickets.

The eighth annual Tennessee Pirate Fest invites you to go back in time to the Age of Piracy. This outdoor daytime family entertainment-oriented festival will be held the last two weekends in May including Memorial Day at the Tennessee Medieval Faire site in Harriman--just 30 miles west of Turkey Creek.

“Get Yer Pirate On! with famous British privateer, Sir Captain Henry Morgan, in Port Royal, Jamaica, circa 1679. Now as Governor of Jamaica, Captain Morgan is throwing a festival in his honor, and all are invited – especially YOU. Drama awaits as Lord Carbery, of British high society, has come to Port Royal, waving his papers of nobility, demanding HE should be governor not a PIRATE! Will sparks and swords fly? Come and See!” said Barrie Paulson, President/GM.

Rotating on several stages will be professional touring and local talent. New this year will be comedy duo, The Washer Well Wenches; Disney Cruise headliner, Magic of E.C. Hannah; interactive circus trick artist, Tony the Tosser; and award-winning author, Robert Jacob (May 18-19). Back by popular demand will be slapstick Punch and Judy puppet shows by Professor Brent DeWitt, Middle Eastern dance by Tanasi Fusion (May 18-19), and comedy improv by Einstein Simplified (May 25-26-27). Pirate and Celtic acoustic music will be brought to you by The CrossJacks, Kris Colt the Black Rose, Bravura Music Academy (May 18-19), and Timothy Russell (May 25-26-27). The interactive costumed street character ensemble—the Royal Players--will seek to entertain in Kombat Kroquet (sword-fighting), Tales of Port Royal (show premise), Royal Follies (talent show), and Throw Me A Line (comedy improv). For those who like slightly spooky entertainment, Captain Davy Jones and Calypso will guide those willing on the Trail of Doom (G-PG light). The tour is a pirate version of A Christmas Carol, based on Captain Morgan’s heroic adventures.

Patrons are encouraged to dress in pirate costume and enter the Costume Contest to win a prize. All can learn to be a pirate in Pirate School or join a pirate crew by performing a talent on stage in the Gong Show. Other free games and activities will include Pirate Olympics, the mid-day parade, folk dancing, speed courting, corn hole, giant chess, and steel drum. There will also be pay-to-play activities, including axe-throwing, goat cuddles, and taking photos with a Captain Redbeard and his pyRAT. More information about the entertainment can be found at https://tmfaire.com/pirate-fest-entertainment/ and is subject to change as needed. Schedules will be available online and at the entrance.

The merchants of Port Royal will be selling their custom wares such as period costumes, leather goods, chainmaille, drinking horns, bath and body items, gaming accessories, wooden wares, face-painting, and unique jewelry. A variety of food will be available, including Turkey legs, BBQ, loaded baked potatoes, grilled wraps and salads, sandwiches, shaved ice, snacks, and desserts. Beverages will also be available, including water, soda, sweet tea, fresh lemonade, and beer.

The Tennessee Pirate Fest will be open rain or shine on May 18-19, 25-26-27, 2024 from 11am-6pm ET. The festival is located at 550 Fiske Road, Harriman, TN. Free parking is provided in rough-cut fields, and handicap parking is available. Entrance tickets can be purchased online now at https://darkhorsellc.ticketspice.com/tennessee-pirate-fest-2024 Tickets will also be available for purchase on festival days at the ticket house for cash or credit. Entrance ticket prices include all taxes and fees and are $20 for ages 13+, $10 for ages 5 to 12; and admission is free for ages 4 and under. Festival beverage tickets (in $1 increments) are available online, will be available at the gate, or patrons can use exact change. There will be no ATM onsite, so patrons are encouraged to bring cash for purchases, tips, and convenience.

5/17 • Evening Paddle
5/18 • Forest Bathing Workshop
5/19 • Cheese Making Workshop
5/19 • Cyanotype Book Making Workshop with The Big Camera
5/19 • The Big Camera: Cyanotype Bookmark Pop-Up Workshop
5/19 • Self Care Sunday Yoga
5/19 • Monthly Bluegrass Jam with ETNBA

And more!

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

Oak Ridge Playhouse closes out its eighty-first season of shows in technicolor with an exciting revamp of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved masterpiece, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

From dreams to destiny, this is the extraordinary story of Joseph. Witness his meteoric rise from favored son to betrayed brother, from prisoner to right-hand man. Blessed with prophetic dreams and one very colorful garment, experience Joseph’s dazzling journey like you’ve never seen before.

With funky choreography, mesmerizing disco sounds, and hypnotic tales told through nightclub glitterati, this new spin celebrates the 1970’s in all its groovy glory. The infectious melodies of iconic hits like ‘Any Dream Will Do’, ‘Close Every Door’, and ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ thump into the late-night hours.

JOSEPH… has seen several different Broadway & West End revivals, national tours, even a film, but in this version by visionary director Reggie Law, the story peaks in the late seventies at the height of Studio 54. Bringing a new twist to a classic tale, this is a theatrical experience that invites audiences to let loose, have fun, and dance the night away.

Leading the live orchestra is musical director Braxton Chase Kiser. Purchase online at www.orplayhouse.com, or by calling the Box Office at (865) 482-4877, Tuesday – Friday, noon – 5:00 p.m.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, https://www.orplayhouse.com/

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