Calendar of Events

FREE Tour Series
Wednesday, June 19, and Saturday, June 22, 2024, times varied.

Join us for special tours to commemorate Juneteenth. Mabry-Hazen House will share stories, objects, and research related to the historic house museum, local enslaved communities, and their stories of emancipation. Visitors will learn about the lives of African-Americans connected to Mabry-Hazen House, their achievements and struggles, and the various ways they gained their freedom. From self-liberation to the 13th Amendment, “...And Then I Became Free: Stories of Emancipation at Mabry-Hazen House” will explore the different methods enslaved people broke down the oppressive institution of American chattel slavery and fought to gain their personal liberty.

On Wednesday, June 19th, the museum will offer special Juneteenth tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.
On Saturday, June 22nd, tours will be offered at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm.

Admission is free, but tours are limited to twenty-four (24) visitors per tour.
Reservations are encouraged and donations are appreciated.
https://www.simpletix.com/e/and-then-i-became-free-stories-of-emancip-tickets-173716

The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators and Valuing the Voice of our Young Adults

4 PM: Unshackled Discussions
A Taste of Soul Food
10 AM - 4 PM Tours, exhibitions and activities

Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Tu-F 10-2. Information: 865-524-8461, www.beckcenter.net

June 19, 2024
Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center, 3300 E. Magnolia Avenue
Time: 10:00 AM

Join us for the vibrant 2024 MLK March/Parade and Juneteenth Celebration, a celebration of freedom and heritage! The event will begin with registration and lineup at Chilhowee Park, offering community members the chance to participate actively in this historic march. Parade Line Up begins at 8:30am, then we will step off at 10:00 am. The festivities will culminate at Dr. Walter Hardy Park, where the Juneteenth Celebration will commence at noon with a range of activities, performances, and educational opportunities. The MLK Parade will begin at Midway (Chilhowee Park) 3300 E. Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville TN 37914. The Midway Chilhowee Park entrance is directly off of North Beaman Street, parallel to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. The parade route will run through MLK Avenue and end at Walter Hardy Park. For further information or questions please be sure to contact us at Parade@MLKKnoxville.com.

The road to Paris runs through Knoxville! Get ready for an unforgettable experience (and one of a kind photo op!) as the Olympic Rings make their way to downtown Knoxville, an iconic stop along their current cross-country road trip! FREE and open to the public, this spectacular 20-foot-long display of the Olympic Rings will be in Market Square on Wednesday, June 19, from 10 AM – 7 PM. The stop in Knoxville will feature an interactive exhibit, offering fans a unique and engaging way to connect with the excitement of the upcoming games. This is your chance to see and touch this enormous symbol of unity and excellence!

Want to further experience the Olympic spirit? The Visit Knoxville team will be on-site to provide information and assist with ticket purchases for the U.S. Olympic Trials – Diving, taking place at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center from June 17 – 23!

https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/rings-on-the-square/27525/

Kid A’ Riffic Fun in the Park is an event for children offering hands on crafts and activities provided by City departments and entities. Kid A’Riffic will be held on Wednesdays in June and July from 10am-1pm at a different park each week. Come enjoy making crafts, playing games and so much more while making fun memories over summer vacation. All activities are free!

June 5 - Baxter Ave Park & Fire Station #3, 204 E. Baxter Ave
June 12 - Chilhowee Park with Touch-A-Truck, 401 Lakeside St
June 26 - Fort Kid, 1049 World's Fair Park Drive
July 10 - Morningside Park, 1600 Dandridge Rd.
July 17 - Fountain City Park, 117 Hotel Rd.
July 24 - West Hills Park, 410 N. Winston Rd
July 31 - World's Fair Park, 910 World's Fair Park Dr.

*No events on June 19 and July 3

https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/city_departments_offices/special_events/kid_a__riffic_fun_in_the_park

Join us this summer for a museum experience that features weekly rotating themes – from “Backyard Exploration” to “Dig It! Dino Week” and more! Muse Pop celebrates the intersectionality of science and play through weekly programming and is included with your general admission ticket!

Backyard Exploration JUNE 3 – JUNE 7
Transportation Station JUNE 10 – June 14
Sky's the Limit JUNE 17 – JUNE 21
Storytime Summer JUNE 24 – JUNE 28
Totally Tech JULY 1 – JULY 5
Dig It! Dino Week JULY 8 – JULY 12

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

Every Wednesday, May 1 – November 20, 10 am – 1 pm
Market Square in downtown Knoxville

Every Saturday, May 4 – November 23, 9 am – 1 pm
Market Square, Union Avenue, and Market Street in downtown Knoxville

The Market Square Farmers’ Market is an open-air farmers’ market managed by Nourish Knoxville. Everything at the Market Square Farmers’ Market is grown, raised, and/or made by our vendors within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville, Tennessee. Products vary by season and include fresh fruits & vegetables, eggs, honey, pasture-raised meats, edible & ornamental plants, cut flowers, bread & baked goods, jams & jellies, coffee, artisan crafts, and more! We offer SNAP & SNAP Doubling services every Wednesday and Saturday, and Nourish Kids – a free kids activity on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

https://www.nourishknoxville.org/market-square-farmers-market/

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/

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