Calendar of Events

Get your tickets for Old North Knoxville’s Victorian Holiday Home Tour!

One of Knoxville’s favorite traditions is the Victorian Holiday Home Tour, now in its 34th year! Kick off the season with family and friends by enjoying vintage architecture, glowing holiday decor, and a welcoming neighborhood.

Candlelight Tour: Saturday, December 7, 4–9 p.m.
Afternoon Tour: Sunday, December 8, 1–5 p.m.

Discounted advance tickets are available now for $15 (children 12 and under are FREE). Even though tickets specify a Saturday or Sunday tour date, you're welcome to come at whichever date and time works best for your schedule!

https://www.victorianholidayhometour.com/

In 2000, director Sandy Wells and a small group of singers came together to begin the amazing Christmas tradition of a Messiah sing-along. From its humble beginning, this tiny group grew into the interfaith, all-volunteer Tri-County Orchestra and Chorus.

Please join us for this year’s 24th annual concert and sing-along during either of our two performances:

- Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 pm, Cokesbury United Methodist Church (South Campus), 9908 Kingston Pike, Knoxville

- Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 pm, First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN

Admission is free (donations accepted).

First Friday Reception: December 6th, 5:30 - 9 pm
December Featured Artists

Claire Bodnaruk, Glass
A Native Tennessean, Claire Bodnaruk has lived in Australia, Florida, Minnesota and Chicago, before returning to her home state of Tennessee in 2019. Following a career in advertising, film & video production, she explored different creative outlets while raising her two daughters. Claire has been working in glass for over 20 years. Her journey in glass began with becoming proficient in metal fabrication, incorporating colorful glass into unique jewelry. During travels to London, France and Italy, she was inspired by the beautiful Venetian and stained glass art that led to exploring glass on a larger scale. Learning from recognized glass artists across the United States in glass blowing to glass fusing, Claire’s current focus is in kiln formed glass, the manipulation of shaping glass in a kiln with heat and gravity. The process to produce one piece may involve several firings with many hours in the cycle, multiple techniques and manipulations, and cold working for a quality finish. Her work is both functional and nonfunctional glass art.

Allen Monsarrat, Painting
Allen’s art education began with three years training in architecture, but finished with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in pottery at the Memphis College of Art. His first art career was as a studio potter in Friendsville, Tn for 25 years. That was followed by careers in decorative wall finishes, faux painting, cabinetry finishing and the occasional mural project. It was studying “trompe l’oiel” (fool the eye) imagery with French master craftsman Michel Nadai that nurtured his interest in creating representational art. “Creating a painting is always an exciting journey. I am never certain whether a painting will be as successful as I have envisioned it in my mind. I am more than a decade into developing my representational painting skills. I have honed my methodology into a procedure of how I develop a painting by breaking it into manageable steps. First choosing a subject with personal meaning based on my travels or a subject close to home here in East Tennessee. But the image must be a strong composition and contain a range of tonal values from darks to lights. This is worked out by doing an under painting by using only one color to establish a range of values. At this point I can concentrate on colors and brush application. Brush application refers to how apparent or not are the actual brush strokes. Slowly edging away from my original tendency toward photorealism, some of my new work has a more painterly feel to it. Yet, like a photograph, it retains a great deal of detail.
I have always been a student of art. The continuing passion I have for art is that I will never stop learning.”

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, December 6 from 6-8 Awaken Coffee will host an opening reception for Hannah Doss and Laura Woodson.

Hannah’s latest body of work reflects a renewed journey of learning and discovery, inspired by a fascination with resin techniques she encountered in a recent class. Hannah’s art predominantly explores wildlife, nature, and portraiture, inviting viewers to pause and savor the intricate beauty of life's small details.

In Laura’s recent work she has navigated her bold use of color with fine line drawings. She uses coffee filters as the foundation of her work and experiments with how color is affected by water. This process creates a watercolor effect that never creates the same pattern twice. Once she has created her vivid backgrounds, she creates fine line drawings of flowers to re-envision the nature we see in real life. She works to evoke joy in each new piece she produces.

Please join us for some amazing art 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/

RED Gallery is proud to announce the opening of if only in my dreams … by Melissa N. Everett

A collection of quilts, sculptural pieces, soft mixed with rigid, color used to nurture and encourage you to "be a wildflower”.

"As a mother, I wish I could provide solace and refuge for you all. Instead, we must connect to our inner children and play in our communities. Let’s escape to our dreams—find comfort in our imaginations. As a female artist, woman, and caregiver in a society that undervalues my contributions, this is my expression of hope. These artworks are pieces of pretend worlds I create to escape, to connect to my younger self. When the roles of domesticity seem to dominate my daily life, I visit these worlds to remind myself of all my layers.”

The show will open on First Friday, December 6, 5 - 9pm and will run through the month of December.
RED Gallery, 131 W Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
robin@robineaster.com
IG: @redgallery.knox

Performed Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM and 6 PM.

In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids: probably the most inventively awful kids in history! You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdman’s collide with the Christmas story head on!

The play is performed by twenty-four talented young actors ages 8 to 16. The cast includes KCT veterans Vivienne Bullard as Imogene Herdman, Mason Cox as Leroy Herdman, Julian Daniel as Ollie Herdman, Desmond Gondo as Claude Herdman and Harper Monday as Gladys Herdman. Mother and Father will be played by Leeland Robbins and Quinton Stiffler respectively, while Luna Chavez will be playing Beth Bradley and Owen Bellamy will be playing Charlie Bradley. Joining them will be Connor Watters as Elmer and Rev. Hopkins, Lydia Komeshak as Mrs. Armstrong, and Chloe Beeler as Mrs. McCarthy. Also featured are KCT veterans Camila Herrera, Hogan Honeycutt, Saha Lau, Caroline Simmons, Sophia Stiffler, and Auden Tatler. Making their KCT debuts in this production are Luke Bounds, Laila Brown, Amelia Carroll, Lola Longmire, Julia Luehrs, and Camden Powell.

The show is directed by guest director Ashlee Latimer and designed by eleven student designers 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

Bring the family and join us for an underground Christmas wonderland at Historic Cherokee Caverns! Enjoy themed scenes, photo ops, thousands of twinkling lights, festive music and lots of family fun along the stalagmites and stalactites! Get your photo with Santa or The Mean One! Shop the vendor booths for locally made gift items and sweet treats! Enjoy a craft for the kids or a kiddie ride! Grab dinner at The Grotto or enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by the campfire! Shop the vendor booths for locally made gifts and yummy treats. The cave path is stroller and wheelchair friendly, and the cave is a comfortable 58 degrees year-round.

Hours of operation:
Friday, December 6th - 5pm-8pm
Saturday, December 7th - 3pm-8pm
Sunday, December 8th - 3pm-8pm

Friday, December 13th – 5pm-8pm
Saturday, December 14th – 3pm-8pm
Sunday, December 15th – 3pm-8pm

Friday, December 20th – 5pm-8pm
Saturday, December 21st – 3pm-8pm
Sunday, December 22nd– 3pm-8pm

Admission is $15 per person for ages 4 & up. Children 3 & under are admitted free. Photos with Santa or The Mean One are sold separately. Purchase tickets in advance online or at the ticket booth. Cash and credit cards accepted. Parking is free. Historic Cherokee Caverns is located at 8524 Oak Ridge Highway in the Karns community.
https://www.historiccherokeecaverns.com/

Featuring the annual Holiday Bazaar with locally made and imported artisan crafts, accessories, holiday cards, ornaments, alebrijes, tamales, and more. We will also feature our Annual Members Show which showcases artwork by local artists!

HoLa Hora Latina, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 112, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-335-3358, www.holahoralatina.org

It’s a Wonderful Life is based on the story, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern and is adapted by Joe Landry. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. One Christmas Eve, George Bailey is so discouraged, he wonders if the world would be better off without him.

River & Rail Theatre, 111 State Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-407-0727, www.riverandrailtheatre.com

An uplifting comeback story like no other, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation will send you soaring to the rafters.
One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows were seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.
Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.

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

Winter Warmer is presented by the Knoxville Modern Quilt Guild. Twelve members of the guild used a curated color palette and modern esthetic to create works based on their own vision, the only limitations being fabrics and size. The resulting pieces reflect many aspects of modern quilting: use of negative space, minimalism, improvisational piecing, asymmetry, bold use of color. Many modern quilters also learn from, experiment with, and utilize traditional patterns and techniques, while applying a modern twist.

The Knoxville Modern Quilt Guild is for residents in and around Knoxville who have an interest in modern design and quilting. We hope to provide members with a community where modern quilters can meet, share ideas and create in an environment that encourages creativity and acceptance. Our guild is a member of The Modern Quilt Guild.
https://www.themodernquiltguild.com/

At Printshop Beer, 1532 Island Home Ave.

12/1 • 11th Annual Ijams Holiday Marketplace
12/8 • Creative Series: Holiday Card Crafting with The Big Camera
12/8 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga
12/14 • Beyond the Blueprint - Exploring Neutral Tones with Van Dyke Brown Photography
12/14 • Ijams Junior Naturalist
12/14 • Pickin' on Christmas with Evie and the Elves
12/14 • Geminid Meteor Shower - Guided Night Program
12/15 • Sound Bath Meditation
12/15 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga
12/15 • Bluegrass Jam with ETNBA
12/15 • Geminid Meteor Shower - Guided Night Program
12/22 • Self-Care Sunday Yoga

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