Calendar of Events

Conceived and written by Alex Drinnen and Dennis E. Perkins, this exciting rendition tells the tale of the great warrior Beowulf who saves the Kingdom of the Danes from not only the greedy ravages of the monster Grendel but also his equally fierce and vengeful mother. After his victories, Beowulf returns to his homeland to become King of his people where he will face monsters of his very own. Staged by KCT Artistic Director, Dennis E. Perkins, the epic scope of this tale about heroics, ethics, and the goodness of Kings will come to life through a visually dramatic presentation in the tradition of Total Theatre.

The play is performed by fourteen talented young actors ages 11 to 16. The show is directed by KCT Artistic Director Dennis E. Perkins and designed by fourteen student designers ages 11 to 16. KCT is East Tennessee’s leading producer of plays for children and families.

The play will be performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7PM, Saturdays at 1pm and Sundays at 3pm.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-208-3677, www.knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com

The main stage season will set sail on October 25 and 27 with Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic gem The Pirates of Penzance at the historic Tennessee Theatre. Under the energetic stage direction of Dean Anthony and the musical mastery of conductor Joseph Mechavich, audiences can expect a swashbuckling ride filled with humor, romance, and lyrical brilliance that the whole family will love.

Knoxville Opera: 865-524-0795, https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/

Fall Heritage Days at the Museum of Appalachia October 24, 25, 31, and November 1,
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Families are invited to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Southern Appalachian traditions & pioneer demonstrations of the fall harvest season.
Dozens of demonstrations and activities for people of all ages!

Tickets at: https://wwwmuseumofappalachiaorg.ticketleap.com/fall-heritage-days-2024/

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

Our most popular event returns! As the evenings grow darker and the first hint of winter hangs in the air, the western world enters the season of the dead. It is a time when ghost stories, dark tales, and mysterious happenings rise up to help us understand death and the unexplained.

Along with the historic house museum and family history, Mabry-Hazen House also preserves this darker history of Americans' experiences with death, burial, and Spiritualism.

For the sixth year, Mabry-Hazen House will exhibit those macabre, yet fascinating cultural moments during their immersive A Victorian Séance Experience.

https://www.mabryhazen.com/season-tickets

Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37915. Information: 865-522-8661, www.mabryhazen.com

BY LILIANA PADILLA
THE LAB THEATRE

College students come together for a DIY self-defense workshop after a sorority sister is assaulted. A sharp, witty, funny, and ferocious play that explores how “not to be a victim,” and how to use your body as a weapon. The classes become a channel for rage, trauma, confusion, anxiety and desire. The play explores the way sexual assault steals your sense of belonging, and how these women might get that back.

Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information/tickets: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com

Join Ijams for the kick-off to Hallo-Week with Ijams After Dark this Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 7:30-9 PM! You'll meet one of Ijams’ nocturnal animal ambassadors before taking a fun-filled, guided night hike on the trails to witness and identify the myriad of moths and other critters attracted to black light stations.

Celebrate the fun of fall at the second annual Hallo-Week at Ijams, a host of festive programs for all ages! Embrace fall with events like pumpkin carving, scary story-telling, a bat program, caving, and more!

Oct. 27 (10 AM) Creative Series: Halloween Dreamcatcher
Make a fun and festive dreamcatcher with The Chicken Librarian.

Oct. 27 (10 AM) Family Pumpkin Carving at Mead's Quarry
Grab your family and friends for an afternoon of pumpkin carving or painting and Halloween-inspired party games at Mead's Quarry.

Oct. 27 (3 PM) Caving Trip
Get ready for an afternoon of underground exploration in Ijams’ cave system.

Oct. 29 (7 PM) Ijams Sunset Series: A Night of Scary Stories with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association
Enjoy an evening of scary, silly, and haunted tales told by members of the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association as part of the Ijams Sunset Series.

Oct. 30 (7 PM) All About Bats
Bat and moths have been intricately linked in our culture, and especially in evolutionary history. Join an Ijams naturalist to learn how to identify various bat species as they fly overhead, and witness the moths and other critters attracted to our blacklight stations.

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

By Bernard Pomerance
Directed by Sarah Campbell

The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man – the victim of rare skin and bone diseases – he becomes the star freak attraction in traveling sideshows. Found abandoned and helpless, he is admitted to London’s prestigious Whitechapel Hospital. Under the care of celebrated young physician Frederick Treves, Merrick is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati, only to be denied his ultimate dream – to become a man like any other.

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

Juror Anna Fariello selected the artworks for this exhibition, and we are excited to share these 71 remarkable craft artworks, ranging from traditional forms to cutting-edge conceptual pieces, representing artists from Memphis to Johnson City.

An artist reception will be held on Friday, December 13th, where member artists, art collectors & craft enthusiasts from across the state are invited to celebrate the exemplary craft created by 63 Tennessee artists.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Information: 865-436-5860, https://www.arrowmont.org

With the arrival of fall, Muse Knoxville is excited to welcome families to a season of fun and learning with a lineup of engaging, fall-inspired programs and events throughout October. From hands-on activities to educational experiences, there’s something for every child to enjoy this season at Muse.

A PEEK AT WHAT’S IN STORE:
• FALLing for STEAM inspired weekly programming takeover - Oct. 8-20

• Murder Mystery at Muse - Oct.18 | 7pm - 10pm | 21+
Solve clues, enjoy delicious appetizers, and sip cocktails as you uncover the culprit in this thrilling 21+ event. A night of suspense, science, and intrigue awaits!

• Family Science Fair - Oct. 26 | 9:30am - 11:30am
We invite families to work together to design a science project and create those aha! moments.

• Sensory Trick or Treat Night - Oct. 31 |5pm-7pm
In partnership with the Autism Society of East Tennessee and Artisan Street Market, we aim to provide a FREE, safe, inclusive, and sensory-friendly Halloween celebration for families.

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

Get ready for a ghastly good time at Zoo Knoxville's "Boo at the Zoo," kicking off on October 10th! This spooktacular event is perfect for families, filled with tricks, treats, and spooky sweets that everyone can enjoy. With themed nights like Princesses, Heroes, and more, there’s something for every little monster and grown-up ghost. Dance the night away at the monster mash dance party and hop on thrilling rides to keep the excitement going!

Feast on frightfully delicious seasonal treats scattered throughout the zoo. From chilling cocktails and refreshing potions to ghoulishly delightful desserts, there’s a tasty treat to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Whether you’re in the mood for classic Halloween snacks or something with a twist, you’re sure to find your fill!

Mark your calendar with these dates:
October 10-13 from 5:30-8:00 PM
October 17-20 from 5:30-8:00 PM
October 24-27 from 5:30-8:00 PM

Don’t miss out—tickets are limited, so get yours soon! This event promises a frightfully fun experience for all ages. Tickets at: https://store.zooknoxville.org/webstore/shop/viewItems

Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914. Information: 865-637-5331, www.zooknoxville.org

Art Exhibit at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
Free and open to the public
When: Reception Friday, October 11, 2024, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Artist talks at 6:30 p.m.

Gallery hours:
9:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Thursday
9:00am – 1:00pm Sunday
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Gallery
2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918

The Three Dames
In the spirit of camaraderie and creativity, Linda Blair, Marcia Shelly and Cheryl Massey come together to exhibit their work. Blair said, “We each lean toward water media, which naturally allows our work to be a cohesive display.” They have exhibited throughout East Tennessee in venues including the Emporium, Plateau Art Gallery (Crossville), Tomato Head restaurants, Awaken Coffee, and Good Samaritan of Crossville.


Greg Howser
Greg Howser is attracted to the exquisiteness of creatures. His work serves as surrogates created from experiences growing up as a Southerner. He creates Märchen narratives about people, places and legends based on local, regional and personal lore. The subjects are anthropomorphic animals or the human form layered with symbolically rich objects commonly found in fairytales. Howser teaches at East Tennessee State University and Northeast State Community College. He is a board member of the Art Depot of Abingdon, Virginia and has exhibited throughout the United States. He has worked in private collections as well as public, international collections.

An exhibition celebrating Southern Appalachian artists and authors. Opening reception will take place on First Friday Oct 4th, 6-9pm.

The First Friday event will also host 8 open artist studios, poetry readings by Chelsie Nunn and Jazmin Witherspoon, and live printing with Relay Ridge merch. The exhibition will be up October 4th - November 8th, 2024, on view during public events or by appointment.

Relay Ridge, 4124 McKinley St, Knoxville. https://relayridge.org/ and https://www.instagram.com/relay_ridge/