Calendar of Events

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Monroe Life Balloon Festival

  • August 31, 2024 — September 1, 2024

Category: Culinary arts, food, Festivals, special events and Kids, family

Saturday, August 31st through Sunday, September 1st
4:00pm-10:00pm
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 TN-360, Vonore, TN 37885

Tickets: $10.00 admission, kids 4 and under are free, tethered rides are $20.00.

This marks the 11th year of the biggest balloon festival in our region. Organizers say it’s going to be bigger than ever! There will be a Kids’ Zone with inflatables. Each night will end with a balloon glow, as the balloons light up in time to music, creating a beautiful display. Several food trucks will be on hand as well as craft and vendor booths.

Historic Ramsey House: 9th Annual Ancient Sounds Festival

Category: Culinary arts, food, Festivals, special events, Fundraisers, History, heritage, Kids, family and Music

This event is the largest annual fundraiser for Historic Ramsey House and celebrates 300 years of musical tradition! Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your Labor Day weekend.

Day 1: Dinner in the Fork
Friday, August 30th @ 6:00pm
Make plans now for an extraordinary evening of delectable flavors and enchanting melodies at Dinner in the Fork, on August 30th, 2024- the opening event for Ancient Sounds Music Festival on September 1st. Beginning at 6 pm on the beautiful grounds of the Historic Ramsey House, attendees will savor mouth watering creations by Sweet P's BBQ, renowned for their delectable barbecue and flavorful side dishes. Enjoy the food as you take in the two featured artists of the evening: WestWend and Four Leaf Peat!

6:15-7:00pm: Cocktail Hour and Dinner
7:00pm: WestWend
8:00pm: Four Leaf Peat
Tickets: $65 early bird/$70 at the door (+$4.50 in service fees) for General Admission | $60 (+$4.20 in service fees) for Ramsey House Members | $45 children 6-12
Special Table Price- $475 for a table for 8 and special Table Sponsor status for the entire event!

Day 2: Families of the Fork Reunion
Saturday, August 31st @11am
Join your Families of the Fork group for its second reunion on Saturday, August 31st, form 11 to 2 o’clock. The event is free, but food trucks will be on site for purchasing a meal or dessert. A large tent, tables, and chairs will be provided, along with the opportunity to connect with others whose roots lie in the lands of Knox County between the French Broad and Holston Rivers, all the way to the Jefferson and Sevier County lines.

Day 3: Gathering on the Grounds
Sunday, September 1st, 2024 @ 11:30am - 5:00pm
Join us for an unforgettable day of music, food, and community at Gathering on the Grounds! This exciting event features live performances by talented local artists, accompanied by an array of delectable offerings from our lineup of local food trucks and local breweries. The Historic Ramsey House will also be open for tours!
Performances scheduled throughout the day include selections from:

11:30am: Gates Open
12 pm: Wild Blue Yonder
1 pm: Blue Ridge Gathering
2 pm: Glen Ayr
3 pm: Lake Side Gospel
4 pm: New John's Creek Grass

Whether rain or shine, bring a blanket or chair to enjoy this outdoor concert under an expansive tent on the beautiful grounds of the Historic Ramsey House!

Tickets: $25 early bird/$30 at the gate (+$2.10 in service fees) for General Admission | $20 (+$1.80 in service fees) for Ramsey House Members | $20 (+service fees) for students with school ID | Children 12 and under are Free!

Historic Ramsey House, 2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-546-0745, www.ramseyhouse.org

Knoxville Watercolor Society Exhibition

  • August 29, 2024 — October 30, 2024

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

At the Westminster Presbyterian Church in the Schilling Gallery
6500 S. Northshore Dr.
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
Hours: call 865-584-3957
https://www.facebook.com/knoxville.watercolor.society/

Ewing Gallery: Cecelia Condit

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Film and Free event

EWING GALLERY | ART + ARCHITECTURE BUILDING, UT CAMPUS

Since 1981, Cecelia Condit’s videos have created heroines whose lives swing between beauty and the grotesque, innocence and cruelty, youth and fragility. Her work puts a subversive spin on the traditional mythology of women in film and the psychology of sexuality and violence. Exploring the dark side of female subjectivity, her “feminist fairy tales” focus on friendships, age, and the natural world.

The Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture will be exhibiting a rotating selection of Condit’s short films as well as a monumental installation of her latest film, A Parable of Now — a triptych that represents Condit’s reaction to the environmental crisis and our uncertain futures.

Artist Lecture, Monday, September 30, 5:30pm | McCarty Auditorium, A+A Building
Condit’s lecture is sponsored by the Denbo Center for Humanities & the Arts as part of their 2024-2025 Distinguished Lecture Series.

https://ewing-gallery.utk.edu/cecelia-condit/

Knoxville Museum of Art: Jo Sandman/TRACES

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is thrilled to launch an exciting new schedule of exhibitions, beginning with Jo Sandman/TRACES, opening to the public on August 23, 2024. The public is warmly invited to the opening reception that Friday from 6:00-9:00 pm. A special Members-Only hour will take place from 6:00-7:00 pm, with a talk by Alice Sebrell, curator of TRACES, at 6:15. Attendees can expect to enjoy summer refreshments, a signature cocktail, and a special musical performance by Rubens Ghenov. The event is free and open to the public, with a cash bar.

Jo Sandman is celebrated for her restless curiosity, sparked by her time at Black Mountain College, and expressed through her experimentation with various imagery, materials, and processes. For more than seventy years, she fearlessly explored an interdisciplinary mix of painting, drawing, experimental sculpture, installation, and photography. Close examination of this work reflects Sandman’s desire to try anything in pursuit of her ideas. TRACES, organized by the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, Asheville, NC, offers viewers a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of the artist’s journey over multiple decades.

"We are honored to present Jo Sandman's TRACES at the Knoxville Museum of Art," said KMA Executive Director Steven Matijcio. "Her unique artistic vision and profound impact on the art world make this exhibition a must-see for art enthusiasts and the broader community alike."

For additional information and updates, follow the Knoxville Museum of Art on social media:
Facebook: Knoxville Museum of Art, Instagram: @knoxvillemuseumofart, X: @knoxart

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tu-Sa 10-5, Su 1-5. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org. Admission and parking are free.

TVUUC Gallery: Mary Bow and Curt Imerman

  • August 9, 2024 — October 2, 2024

Category: Exhibitions, visual art and Free event

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Free and open to the public
Reception Friday, August 9, 2024, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Artist talks at 6:30 p.m.
Gallery hours: 9:30 - 4:30 Monday through Thursday, 9:00 – 1:00 Sunday
At Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Gallery, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918

Mary Bow
Images of many different animals, both domesticated and wild, are rendered in thickly applied acrylic paint on textured canvases using a dry brush technique that allows successive layers of color to show through. Bow hopes to provoke empathy for non-human animals as they live, raise their young and experience joy, sorrow and pain. Mary Bow has degrees in Anthropology, Psychology, and Visual Art, as well as higher degrees in Education. She feels that she has a unique perspective on how human relationships with others in the animal kingdom have changed over time. www.marypbow.com

Curt Imerman’s finely detailed drawings of barns are created by using fine-tipped pens as a brush rather than an instrument to draw lines. As the tip of the pen wears away from use, it produces lighter and finer lines, allowing different effects. Imerman says, “Barns are disappearing from our country’s landscape at an ever-increasing rate. Barns are a part of our Americana. This is my way of memorializing and sharing my fascination with old, weathered barns.” Imerman’s attention to detail comes from his career as a mechanical designer for a major U.S. crane manufacturer. While designing cranes, Curt’s drawing talent was called upon to prepare conceptual drawings of various lift crane designs. He is a member of the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville and serves on their Board of Directors.

https://tvuuc.org/

Art Market Gallery: Kathy Holland and Debbie Corley

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Fine Crafts and Free event

First Friday Reception: August 2nd, 5:30 - 9 pm

A native of Virginia, Kathy Holland attended the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCUarts) in Richmond, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and printmaking in 1978. The following summer she studied with master wood-engraver Blair Hughes-Stanton at the Central School of Art and Design in London, England. Ever since graduation from VCUarts, Kathy has worked continually as an artist, exhibiting drawings, etchings, relief prints, and paintings in juried national and international exhibitions and solo shows. In addition to her studio practice, she has worked over the years as a freelance graphic artist, medical illustrator, mura lpainter, portrait artist, art show juror, and drawing instructor. In 1986 she emigrated to Canada, lived in the small rural town of Deep River, Ontario for over11 years, and exhibited her work extensively in solo exhibitions at public galleries throughout Ontario and in juried shows across the US.

Debbie Corley of DC Pottery creates pieces that are mostly wheel thrown, but she constructs some hand-built pieces as well, focusing on functional ware that is intended to be used and enjoyed in daily life. Inspired by the dynamics of the outside world, the changing seasons, and the organic patterns and textures found in nature, her work includes surface designs are created by employing carving techniques to expose the clay material underneath underglazes, hand painting to emphasize and highlight to create contrast and interest, and layering of patterned transfers, textures, and decals.

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

New Harvest Farmers Market

  • April 25, 2024 — September 26, 2024

Category: Culinary arts, food, Festivals, special events, Free event, Health, wellness, Kids, family, Meetup and Science, nature

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/

Circle Modern Dance: Classes

Category: Classes, workshops and Dance, movement

CLASS SCHEDULE 2024
January 14 - May 19 - Spring Semester classes
July 14 - Aug 18 - Summer Session classes
September 8 - November 24 - Fall Semester classes

OPEN LEVEL BALLET, Sundays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
This ballet class is open to students of all levels of experience and ability. This class will be a comfortable pace for students with some experience in any form of dance. Warm-up exercises will prepare the class for a focus on center work like petit allegro, adagio, turns, and leaps.

OPEN-LEVEL MODERN, Sundays, 2:30 – 4:00 PM EST
This class is open to anyone interested in building their creative and technical capacity as a dancer. No previous experience in dance is required. Class will include a warm-up, modern dance technique exercises, across-the-floor movement, and a short combination.

OPEN-LEVEL IMPROVISATION, Sundays, 12:00-1:00 PM EST
Improvisation is the spontaneous creation of movement. When you hear a song you like and begin to move to it, you are improvising. This class is open to students of all levels. Improv class helps dancers explore their own personal movement vocabulary and learn to relate with other dancers in the form of free or structured improvisation exercises. This class will also teach important choreographic concepts such as dynamics, use of space, sampling, flocking, and more! Some light contact may be involved depending on vaccination status and student comfort.

Classes are held at the Tennessee Conservatory of Fine Arts, 2906 Tazewell Pike, #A, Knoxville, TN 37918.
https://www.circlemoderndance.com/

McClung Museum: Coming into View: Oil Paintings from the Permanent Collection

Category: Exhibitions, visual art, Free event and History, heritage

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is excited to announce the special exhibition, Coming into View: Oil Paintings from the Permanent Collection. The exhibition will feature several artworks never before displayed to the public alongside pieces that have been the focus of recent research.

Aligned with the museum’s newly implemented strategic plan, this exhibition underscores the significance of the museum’s ongoing collaboration with students, the university, and external partners. Coming into View explores three key themes—student research, collaboration, and coursework—providing an insider’s perspective on the research efforts conducted behind the scenes on the museum’s permanent collection.

Featuring both beloved “fan favorites” and previously unseen works, the exhibition spotlights paintings central to coursework, internships, and student research projects at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Beyond a mere display of art, Coming into View demonstrates the integral role of students, faculty, and the campus community in deepening the museum’s understanding of its collections.

The exhibition also provides a peek behind the metaphorical museum curtain into the importance of conservation of the museum’s permanent collection. Learn more about the exhibition and stay up to date with exhibition-related programming by visiting https://tiny.utk.edu/ComingIntoView.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-974-2144. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday 12–4 p.m. https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu

Knoxville Walking Tours

  • January 1, 2024 — December 31, 2024

Category: Festivals, special events and History, heritage

Storyteller Laura Still helps you live the stories of pioneers, soldiers, outlaws, and even fictional characters who walked these streets before you.

Knoxville has a rich history full of colorful characters and famous, and infamous, figures whose lives have been the inspiration for books, movies, and works of art. Take a stroll through history in beautiful downtown Knoxville while listening to true tales of the heroes, heels, and hardened criminals that are part of the hidden lore of this unique East Tennessee town.

A portion of the proceeds for downtown tours go to help fund the work of the non-profit Knoxville History Project. Many stories are based on the books and stories of award-winning journalist and writer Jack Neely. Knoxville Walking Tours opens a window to Knoxville’s varied past and leads you on a journey through both hard times and high times of a city growing through over two centuries of history.

Tours include:
• Knoxville: The Early Years
• Misbehaving Women
• Civil War
• Gunslingers
• Musical History
• Literary Heritage
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours
• Knoxville Botanical Garden
• Old Gray Cemetery
• Side Street Shadows Ghost Tours

Tour on Your Schedule! Rather than posting a calendar, we’re letting you pick the tour and time — subject to availability. Call (865)309-4522 or visit http://knoxvillewalkingtours.com/