Calendar of Events

Join us for a magical evening of stargazing and fine dining at Ancient Lore Village’s Star-Gazing Dinner on February 24th, 6-8:30PM. Set in a storybook setting, this enchanting event combines the beauty of the cosmos with a cozy, winter-inspired culinary experience.

Begin the night with a complimentary hot toddy to chase away the winter chill.
Enjoy the ambiance of our climate-controlled outdoor dining area, complete with blankets and heaters for a warm and relaxing experience under the stars. Dine under the stars at tables adorned with twinkling lights and candles, creating a magical atmosphere.

Delight in a multi-course meal featuring Bourbon Glazed Meatloaf, Village Salad or Spring Mix Salad, Rustic Mashed Potatoes & Fresh Lemon Broccolini, Turtle Cheesecake with Fresh Cream with wines and craft cocktails available for purchase.

Learn about constellations and the night sky from a local astronomer.
End the evening with hot s’mores by the fire, the perfect winter indulgence.
Take a moment to marvel at the universe and make a wish under the vast, sparkling sky.

Create a night to remember with great food, breathtaking views, and the wonder of the stars. Don’t miss this unique winter experience! Reservations and more information at: https://www.ancientlorevillage.com/events/star-gazing-dinner.

Ancient Lore Village, 7107 Sevierville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information: 865-200-2434, https://ancientlorevillage.com

In celebration of 50 years, honoring 50 individuals who have either left a legacy or are currently living one.
6:30 PM at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street

Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Tu-F 10-2. Information: 865-524-8461, www.beckcenter.net

Visit Farragut, in partnership with Topgolf Knoxville, is bringing an evening of live music to the community with a Songwriters Showcase on Monday, February 24, from 6:00-8:30 PM. The event will take place in the event space at Topgolf Knoxville, 11400 Outlet Drive, and will feature performances by David Haley Lauver, Karen Bowles, and Mitch Townley.

Tickets are free! However, advance registration is encouraged for priority seating. Guests can also register at the door, but seating is limited. A special token of appreciation will be given to a select number of participants, and Kapture Knoxville, a local photo booth company, will be onsite to provide the perfect memento.

All three featured artists are members of the Knoxville Songwriters Association:

David Haley Lauver – A Farragut resident and the education & public relations director of the Knoxville Songwriters Association.

Karen Bowles – A West Knox County resident and board member of the Knoxville Songwriters Association, Karen writes in multiple genres, including gospel, country, blues, bluegrass, and children’s music.

Mitch Townley – An award-winning Knoxville singer/songwriter known for his work in country, Christian country, folk, and inspirational genres. .

This event is part of the Tennessee Department of Tourism’s 2025 Tennessee Songwriters Week, which promotes music venues, supports songwriters, and encourages visitors to experience the rich musical history of Tennessee.

Don’t miss this incredible night of music and storytelling—reserve your spot today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farraguts-songwriters-showcase-tickets

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

Fountain City Art Center is celebrating 20 years of art education. Join us for an exhibit of students' works.

Opening Feb 21, 6:30-8 PM

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartcenter.com

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

Mondays @ 6:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Adv Beg)
Mondays @ 7:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Int-Adv)
Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Jazz Chair Dance (Open Level)
Wednesdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Tap Dance (Beginners)
Thursdays @ 6:30 PM Adult Ballet Barre & Center

Classes held at The Follies Girls Dance & Performing Arts Center, located inside the 1400 Building at 1400 N. 6th Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865.888.0341 or www.thefolliesgirls.org

Ijams welcomes Donna Moore's Night Blooming Cereus showcase to the Hallway Gallery this month.

Moore says her work is often an exploration of reality distorted by time and memory. For this series, she used a flatbed scanner and an enlarger as her camera, and made cyanotypes and lumen prints using the sun and the passage of time to create original prints. Don't miss it!

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

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

BY JEROME LAWRENCE AND ROBERT E. LEE

Feel the heat of the courtroom in the sizzling American classic 'Inherit the Wind', an explosive drama inspired by the most important trial of the 20th Century, the Scopes Monkey Trial, on its 100th anniversary. As a media circus descends on a small Tennessee town, two of the nation’s most powerful lawyers go head-to-head in the ultimate battle of wits, wills, and the political and religious divide that could be ripped directly from today’s headlines. In a fresh production boldly reimagined for today, the fast-paced drama explores religion, intellectual freedom and the relationship between social norms and law.

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

As part of the Clarence Brown Theatre’s production of Inherit the Wind, the Hokes Archives presents the Association for Creative Zoology, a fictive creationist organization from the 1920s. Included are lithographs and taxidermy that present unusual hybrid animals, and a QR code with a short video presentation about Reverend James Randolph Denton, claimed to be the founder of the Association. The display also depicts the Taurus crockettensis, a bull-raccoon that inhabited Tennessee before the Great Global Flood. The project has been presented previously at the Scopes Trial Festival held in Dayton, Tennessee, and at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The exhibit was created by Beauvais Lyons, a Chancellor’s Professor of Art and Divisional Dean for Arts and Humanities in UT’s College of Arts and Sciences known or his works of academic parody.

Event dates: Tue-Fri Feb 11-14, 12-5 PM
Tue-Fri Feb 18-21, 12-5 PM
Tue-Thu Feb 25-27, 12-5 PM

Event Location: Clarence Brown Theatre, lobby, 1714 Andy Holt Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916
Beauvais Lyons: blyons@utk.edu, 865-974-4342 or https://calendar.utk.edu/event/the-association-for-creative-zoology

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present five new exhibitions at the Emporium Center in downtown Knoxville opening on Friday, February 7, from 5:00-9:00 PM. A free gathering with the exhibiting artists will also feature live music by Ella Pinchok and Friends.

Amadeus Concert Ensemble Presents Beethoven and Strauss
Amadeus Concert Ensemble is delighted to mount an exhibition celebrating composers being featured on its upcoming concerts at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
+ “The Lighter Side of Beethoven” on Sunday, February 16 at 4:30 PM
+ “The Golden Age of Strauss” on Sunday, March 9 at 5:30 PM

The exhibition includes photographs, music, programs, and memorabilia from the collection of conductor Brian Salesky about composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss Sr. & Jr., and Oscar Straus.

Free reservations for the Amadeus Concert Ensemble concerts will be available at https://www.shcathedral.org/cathedral-concert-series.

The exhibitions will be on display February 7 – March 1, 2025 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. The Emporium is open to the public Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM; and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Most of the works on exhibition will be for sale and may be purchased by visiting in person or the online shop at https://www.knoxalliance.store. For more information, please see www.knoxalliance.com or call (865) 523-7543.