Calendar of Events

Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

Marble City Opera brings a concert of operatic favorites to Oak Ridge on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be held at the Historic Grove Theater, 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. The Grove celebrated its 80th birthday in 2024. The performers are soprano Kathryn Frady, tenor Cody Boling, soprano Jamey Owen, baritone Daniel Spiotta, and pianist Brandon Coffer.

Eligible for Penny4Arts tickets (up to three 3 youth may attend per paying adult)

Marble City Opera: 865-226-9756, www.marblecityopera.com

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 23! Charles Darwin is turning 216! Join museum educators and UT scientists at the McClung's annual celebration of Darwin Day, 12:00 - 4:00 PM. Visitors are welcome to engage in family-friendly activity stations exploring themes of deep time, evolution, and adaptation. It will be a party. Come ready to take pictures with a giant Darwin puppet!

Guests may also bring their personal rock collections to be identified by experts.

The event if free but participants must register in advance at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/darwin-day-2025-celebration-at-the-mcclung-tickets
Parking information is also on this link.

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Tu-Sa 9-5, Sun 12-4. Information: 865-974-2144, https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/

An Afternoon of Storytelling with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association!
At Royal Oaks Golf Course & Event Center (4415 Legends Way, Maryville)

Join on February 23rd at 3pm for the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association FREE Concert. You will enjoy a captivating evening filled with tales that will entertain, inspire, and transport you to another world! Featuring talented storytellers Brenda Southerland, Susan Fulbright, Jennifer Alldredge, and Roland Mote, this event promises laughter, nostalgia, and unforgettable stories. Whether you’re a longtime storytelling fan or just looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon, this event is for everyone! Bring a friend, grab a seat, and let the magic of storytelling unfold. Don’t miss out on great stories and great company!

https://www.facebook.com/events/598416143001551

At SouthSide Garage (located at 1014 Sevier Avenue). Your favorite local vendors will be on-site from 1 to 5PM with carefully-curated and handmade items ranging from art, jewelry, and baked goods to clothing, plants, health & wellness products, and more!

Before or after shopping, be sure to check out the brunch menu from Dia De Foods as well as the coffee options from Mia Piccola Coffee
What else you should know:
• SouthSide Garage will have a HOT CHOCOLATE BAR, along with a variety of other NA and alcoholic drinks to choose from
• DJ Captain Ed will be spinning groovy tunes on vinyl
• Sage Sauna will have an on-site QR code for you to book a wood-fired sauna experience just down the road
• SlowKno Running Club will be hosting a fun run

Mark your calendars and be sure to come check out this can’t miss event in Old Sevier! https://www.facebook.com/events/9703634859649050/

2/22 • Ijams Junior Naturalist
2/22 • Reading the Landscape: Geology
2/22 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/23 • Take Action! Annual Ijams Seed and Plant Swap
2/28 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/28 • Family Owl Prowl
3/1 • Ijams Native Landscape Certification - Level 1 Workshop

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

Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation, will present a live production of Mean Girls Jr. The musical will be performed from February 21 – March 9, with showtimes on Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM and 6 PM.
https://knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com/tc-events/mean-girls-jr/

Cady Heron grew up in Africa, but suburban Illinois is a whole new jungle. To take down queen bee Regina George, she goes undercover with The Plastics. As her real and fake selves blur, Cady must find her way back to her true friends—and herself. Adapted from Tina Fey’s 2004 blockbuster film and the Broadway smash hit, Mean Girls Jr. is sure to be SO fetch!

The production features 22 talented young actors, ages 11 to 16. The show is directed by guest director Madison M. Mansouri and designed by 15 student designers, ages 10 to 16.

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

2/15 • Paint with a Turkey Vulture and American Kestrel
2/16 • Reset, Renew, Rejuvenate: Yoga Workshop and Sauna Session
2/21 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/22 • Ijams Junior Naturalist
2/22 • Reading the Landscape: Geology
2/22 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program
2/23 • Take Action! Annual Ijams Seed and Plant Swap
2/28 • Woodcock Walk - Guided Birding Program

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

States of Becoming examines the dynamic forces of relocation, resettling, and assimilation that shape the artistic practices of a group of contemporary African diaspora artists in the United States. The exhibition is inspired by curator Fitsum Shebeshe’s 2016 move from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Baltimore, and subsequent firsthand experience with cultural assimilation. States of Becoming is a traveling exhibition curated by Fitsum Shebeshe and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York.

States of Becoming Opening Reception
Friday, January 31, 2025, 6:00-9:00 pm
Members Only Hour, 6:00-7:00 pm
Gallery Talk with Curator Fitsum Shebeshe, 6:15 pm
Reception Opens to Non-Members, 7:00 pm
Musical Performance by Artist Miatta Kawinzi, 8:00 pm
Food by Tarik’s North African + Cash Bar + Specialty Beverage
https://knoxart.org/event/states-of-becoming-opening-reception/

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.

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announces a new exhibition, “Homelands: Connecting to Mounds Through Native Art,” opening to the public on January 25, 2025. The project sets a new standard for collaborative exhibition practices at the McClung and represents the museum's most significant renovation in more than 20 years.

"‘Homelands’ is a defining moment for the McClung Museum. It’s the largest project we’ve undertaken in over two decades, but its impact goes far beyond its scale,” said Claudio Gómez, Jefferson Chapman Executive Director of the museum. “This exhibition has challenged us to rethink how we collaborate, bringing in new perspectives and allowing us to honor Native voices in ways that are both respectful and forward-thinking.”

“Homelands” showcases contemporary art by 17 Native artists to emphasize the enduring ties between Native Nations and Knox County. As a result of the exhibition, the museum has acquired 22 new works for its permanent collection.

https://news.utk.edu/2025/01/07/mcclung-museum-to-open-exhibition-centering-native-voices-and-contemporary-art/

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture, 1327 Circle Park Dr on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Hours: Tu-Sa 9-5, Sun 12-4. Information: 865-974-2144, https://mcclungmuseum.utk.edu/