Calendar of Events

The Knoxville Community Band gives musicians of all experience levels the opportunity to perform in various concerts, including an outdoor concert series during the summer, other festivals and city events throughout the year playing an assortment of light classical, festive and marching pieces. The band meets in the band room at Northwest Middle School at 7 p.m. every Tuesday night.

All our concerts are free admission, bring your family and friends!!

July 28th, 2024
3:00 PM

Bearden Middle School, 1000 Francis Rd., Knoxville
https://www.knoxvillecommunityband.com/

BY LESLIE KIMBELL
Directed by Jill Stapleton Bergeron

Polly Porter, famous 1970s gospel singer of the group Polly Porter & the Praise His Name Singers, has gone on up to heaven. Her daughter, Caroline, has come home to Savannah, Georgia, to pack up Miss Polly’s house, but there is just one little problem (or two or three): Miss Polly was an extreme hoarder of epic proportions, Caroline’s useless siblings are totally MIA, and her three best friends from high school, former co-cheerleaders, have all shown up… unannounced! Lizzy now owns the Miss Georgia Belle Pageantry system, Donna Jo is the local community theatre diva, and Becca is having a late-in-life geriatric pregnancy with baby girl number five. The gospel music plays and the margaritas pour as the four ladies laugh, cry, scream and come together to pack up Miss Polly’s house, heal old wounds, and make new plans for their future.

With humor, wit and vulnerability, Packing Up Polly delves into themes of forgiveness, acceptance and the transformative power of letting go… unpacking the layers of our own lives to find healing and redemption.

Performances are Thu-Sat 7:30 PM and Sun 3 PM

Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 800 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information & tickets: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Broadway Center for the Arts Presents The Little Mermaid July 26 - 28, 7:00 PM.

Are you searching for some family fun this summer? Are your kids complaining of boredom? Bring them to see Disney's The Little Mermaid! With an enchanting prince, a beautiful mermaid, and a delightful cast of sea creatures singing and dancing on stage, it’s sure to be a magical experience for everyone.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”

Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

9th Board Game Days! Thursday, July 25, at 5:00 PM through
Sunday, July 28, 8:00 PM.
Board Game Days is a convention for hobby gamers, game designers, playtesters, and so much more.

Awaken Coffee, 125 West Jackson Avenue.

If you are new to this type of event or you're somewhat familiar with conventions of this type, you can expect games, card games, board games, tabletop games, and role-playing games; either hosted by us, other gamers, a publisher perhaps, or some group that just wanted a different atmosphere. There are popular games from classic to modern titles.

One feature we do have is ongoing playtesting of games yet to be published or in the design process by aspiring designers and they want folks like you to come check out what they are working on.

Another familiar feature we have is the game library that many great conventions offer. We try to stock it with fun games and ensure everyone has a chance to play the game they want with assistance in getting started if needed. We also have Games of the Moment which is a scheduled game to ensure everyone gets a chance to play and we have play-to-wins, which are games donated by a sponsor that attendees play, afterwards putting their name down at a chance to win the game by anyone who played a full game (doesn't matter if you won or not in the game).

Finally, We have some different things going on each day. Thursday is our Design and Dine, which is geared for designers and serious gamers to exclusively playtest games and give feedback. Friday is your kick-off day of afternoon-evening gaming. Saturday is our day-long event, early start, and late-night playing. And then Sunday, which ends the event with the last free give-away of goodies from our sponsors.

Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/9th-board-game-days-tickets
www.bgdknox.com

Oak Ridge Playhouse kicks off their 82nd Season with the innovative and sultry Tony Award Winning Musical NINE!

Get ready for a theatrical experience that ignites the senses as NINE bursts onto the stage with all the vivacity of Italy in a whirlwind of passion and drama. Facing his 39th birthday, charismatic film director Guido Contini navigates the women in his life, while confronting the complexities of love, fame, and creativity. Maury Yeston's sensational and dynamic score transports us into a sophisticated world of glitz and glamour where Guido's dreams and reality intertwine, captivating audiences with emotional depth and an infectious energy. PG-13 Audiences

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-4877, https://www.orplayhouse.com/

July 18 - Aug. 11, 2024, details TBA

Join Tennessee Stage Company and Ijams Nature Center for the time-honored tradition of outdoor Shakespeare with Knoxville Shakespeare on the lawn at Ijams.

https://tennesseestage.com/

50–75% OFF Select Fine Furniture, Accessories, Gifts & Art
Come for the Sale, Stay for Coffee, Lobster, Flowers, and Ice Cream (Special Kick-Off Event on Fri. and Sat.)
Sale Starts Friday, July 12 and continues through August 17

July 12 - Friday Fun • 10am–2pm
Travelin‘ Tom‘s Coffee Truck

July 13 - Saturday Celebration • 11am–2pm
Lobster Dogs • Flourish Flower Truck • Happy Dog Creamery

https://www.greenvelope.com/card/qeoMEd4/0

Bennett, 5308 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Hours: M-Sa 10-5:30. Information: 865-584-6791, https://bennetthome.com/

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

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation will present the live musical “Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella: Youth Edition.” The musical is a one-hour adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s timeless tale designed specifically for young performers.

In a faraway kingdom, there lives a kind and beautiful girl named Cinderella. She is forced to work as a servant for her wicked stepmother and jealous stepsisters. Despite her hardships, Cinderella remains hopeful and kind-hearted. One magical night her fairy godmother transforms her into a dazzling princess and she attends the royal ball, capturing the heart of the charming Prince. Dive into this enchanting tale of magic, courage, and the power of dreams! The play is performed by seventeen talented young actors from ages 10 to 16.

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

This farmers market is open every Sunday through the end of July from 11am to 3pm at the Pinnacle Farmers Market, 11251 Parkside Drive. Enjoy a delightful selection of fresh produce from four vegetable stands, tasty treats from several bakeries, unique crafts, and food trucks. You might want to try the best chicken salad around (according to one of our readers!). Don't forget to grab a refreshing drink from the coffee and lemonade trucks. It's a perfect Sunday outing to support local vendors and enjoy the community atmosphere!

https://pinnacleatturkeycreek.com/events/

This amazing collection spans a lifetime, from his childhood drawings to his work as a muralist for the Tennessee Valley Authority. One of those large murals, over 40’ long, will be brought to the Art Center by TVA from Chattanooga for the show. His work ranges from delicate portraiture to vibrant abstraction, the latter of which he often used to depict downtown Knoxville. ORAC is honored to host this must-see show!

Opening is July 6, 1-4, with a gallery talk at 2:30.

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tu-F 9-5, Sa-M 1-4. Information: 865-482-1441, www.oakridgeartcenter.org

First Friday Reception: July 5th, 5:30 - 9 pm

Brenda Mills is a water-media painter and pastel artist with a BFA from the University of Tennessee. She has also studied under various other well known artists. Mills is a signature member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, a member of the Knoxville Watercolor Society, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in New York, NY, the Southeast Pastel Society, the Art Market Gallery, Oak Ridge Art Center, and Art Group 21 in Knoxville. She has been juried into and won awards in many national and regional exhibitions. Although Brenda has lived in Tennessee her entire life and its beauty has influenced her art, she has also spent a lot of time in, on, and around the ocean and that has sparked ideas for much of her artwork. “I enjoy working on a series of paintings of images that have had a memorable impact on my life and I hope that people can imagine their own story in my work. I particularly love painting our ocean friends and believe very strongly in protecting our oceans.”

Johnny Glass began his glass career in Los Angeles, CA, where he was first introduced to glass at Santa Monica College. In 2008 he formed Glass by Glass LLC, and began traveling the west coast art show markets. In 2012, Johnny decided to expand his market and finish his BFA and returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he grew up. He then opened Glass by Glass’s east coast mobile hotshop. Johnny received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Majoring in Glass from Tennessee Technological University's Appalachian Center for Crafts in 2016, Graduating Cum Laude with his body of work “Self in Reflection”. Glass by Glass studios is a bi-coastal glassblowing Mobile Hotshop Extravaganza. Glass by Glass has made it their mission to bring a new awareness and interest back to the art of glass. Johnny has designed and constructed all his own studio equipment to be completely mobile. In addition to being a producer of fine handcrafted glass works of art that can be found at 20 plus museums and galleries around the nation. He is currently works in his home studio in Rockford TN, and will be giving live glassblowing demos for the entire month of October at the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, in Gatlinburg TN.

Art Market Gallery, 422 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-6, Su 1-6. Information: 865-525-5265, www.artmarketgallery.net, www.Facebook.com/ArtMarketGallery

Friday, July 5, from 6-8 Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for the painting group 3 Dames which includes Marcia Shelly, Cheryl Massey, and Linda Blair.

“Art comes from the best part of ourselves and is among the best common denominators we have of one another. Sharing it is a true joy and privilege.”

Please join us for some amazing art, light refreshments, and of course great coffee!

Awaken Coffee, 125 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902. Open daily. Information: 865-951-0427, www.instagram.com/awaken_coffee or www.facebook.com/awakencoffeeoldcity/