Calendar of Events

May 2-3: Bearden Branch Used Book Sale, 10:00-5:00

https://www.knoxfriends.org/book-sales/

Knoxville’s great outdoors is calling! On May 2 & 3, the Outlandish Adventure Festival will transform Ijams Nature Center into a dynamic playground for thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and families. This free, two-day event celebrates Knoxville’s rocks, trails, rivers, and outdoor spirit with unforgettable activities, entertainment, and community connections. Festival Highlights include:

Extreme Spectacles: Witness high slacklining over the quarry, bike whip-off stunts, rock climbing competition, and kayak flatwater freestyle, SUP sprint races, and fire dancing.
Live Music: Enjoy performances across the property and throughout the day. FERD will headline the event.
Interactive Activities: Try paddleboard yoga, biking, hiking, bird watching, trail running, kayaking, and stroll through vendor tents featuring local makers, outdoor brands and sport groups.
Maker Tents: Discover sustainable & nature-centric artistry by local makers inspired by Knoxville’s outdoor culture.
Outdoor Education: Friday Movie Night kicks off the event at the Ijams Visitors Center and Saturday makes learning fun with the following talks: History or Urban Wilderness, Climbing in East TN and Women in Outdoors.

With Ijams Nature Center as the backdrop, the Outlandish Adventure Festival invites everyone to experience Knoxville’s vibrant outdoor scene. Whether you’re an adventure veteran or new to the outdoors, there’s something for everyone. Event proceeds will support outdoor resources in Knoxville, ensuring the city’s green spaces continue to thrive.
www.outlandishaf.com

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

Historic Downtown Clinton is set to host the 20th Annual Clinch River Spring Antique Festival on May 2-3, 2024, transforming Main, Market, and Cullom Streets into a vibrant showcase of antiques, artistry, and live entertainment.
Admission & Parking: FREE
Rain or Shine!

Friday, May 2 - Get a sneak peek of antique treasures as the festival kicks off with early shopping and vendor displays!

Saturday, May 3 (9 AM - 5 PM) - The festival doubles in size, filling Main Street with:

Antique Dealers from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, and North Carolina
Talented Artisans showcasing handcrafted goods
Delicious Food Trucks with a variety of tasty treats
Live Music & Entertainment throughout the day

Whether you're an antique enthusiast, a lover of handcrafted goods, or just looking for a fun day out, the Clinch River Spring Antique Festival is a must-visit event this spring!

The South Knoxville Branch Library is hosting artwork by Valerie Sigmon during the months of May and June. The show is comprised of colored pencil sketches done at the UT Botanical Garden in Knoxville and the Desert Botanical Garden in Scottsdale, Arizona. The work highlights native spring and summer blooms. Library hours are 10:00 am-8:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10:00 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The library is located at 4500 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, 37920.

What Brought You Here?
Good Golly Tamale, 112 S Central St., is hosting artwork by Valerie Sigmon during the months of May and June. The show is comprised of mixed media biographical works. The Old City restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, 11 am - 8 pm.

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

Knoxville Cheese Week!
There’s something every night of the week from April 28 to May 4th!

One day is not enough Cheese! We're making this a week-long event in 2025! Join us for our fourth year for a bigger and multi-day chees-tastic event. We're excited to welcome back our popular sell-out, the Cheese and Cider pairing and dinner, as well as our Knoxville Cheese Fest (sampling event.)

Also new this year! We are celebrating all things Wisconsin! There are so many amazing cheesemakers from America's Dairyland. There are 100 Wisconsin cheesemakers, making it the Cheese State and collectively they have earned more than 5,500 awards across the globe, recognizing the quality of their cheese!

This week-long event offers opportunities to sample the variety of Wisconsin cheeses and pair them with other foods, ciders, beers, and wines.

Tickets at:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/knoxville-cheese-week-tickets-202130#smtx-click

More information and schedules of events at: https://www.knoxvillecheesefest.com/

By Steven Dietz, Directed by Windie Wilson
Show Dates: April 18th - May 4th, 2025

The disappearance of a young boy casts suspicion on his newly-hired au pair, as well as on the wealthy parents who have hired her. As the parents seek revenge upon one another, the young au pair is hatching a plot of her own. How a Boy Falls is a psychological thriller with a dark comic edge about the way in which past events can be weaponized to shape the present.

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

River & Rail Theatre Company proudly announces its upcoming production of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," a soul-stirring theatrical experience celebrating the life and music of legendary jazz artist Billie Holiday. This remarkable performance will star the acclaimed actress and singer Shinnerrie Jackson in the title role, bringing Holiday’s iconic voice and heartrending story to life on stage.

Performance Dates and Venue: The production will run at River & Rail Theatre Company in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee at the Old City Performing Arts Center (111 State Street), from April 17-May 4 2025, offering audiences an intimate and unforgettable evening of music and drama.

Written by Lanie Robertson, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" takes audiences back to a small Philadelphia nightclub in 1959, where Billie Holiday performed one of her final concerts. Through the hauntingly beautiful melodies of Holiday’s most beloved songs, including "Strange Fruit," "God Bless the Child," and "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," the play weaves a narrative that is both poignant and raw, exploring her struggles, triumphs, and enduring legacy.

Shinnerrie Jackson Shines as Billie Holiday: Shinnerrie Jackson, a celebrated performer known for her captivating stage presence and powerful voice, steps into the role of Billie Holiday with grace and authenticity. Her portrayal promises to capture the essence of Lady Day’s artistry and vulnerability, offering audiences a deeply emotional and immersive experience.

Tickets at https://www.simpletix.com/e/lady-day-at-emersons-bar-and-grille-by-lan-tickets-177072
Information: 865-407-0727, www.riverandrailtheatre.com

BY JONATHAN SAYER, HENRY SHIELDS, AND HENRY LEWIS

Welcome to the opening night of 'The Murder at Haversham Manor', where things go from not very good to an utter disaster. 'The Play That Goes Wrong' is an ill-fated play-within-a-play, set on the opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s newest production. The troupe’s ambitious whodunit has everything you never want in a show: falling props, collapsing scenery, an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything…including their lines. Come see why this show has been called “the funniest play Broadway has ever seen!” (Huffington Post)

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

MAIN GALLERY
A solo show, Injury: Thirteen Studies, featuring recent work by artist Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi (Johannesburg, South Africa)

PROJECT SPACE
From Dark To Blue by Meg White (Milwaukee, WI)

Tri-Star Arts at Candoro Marble Building, 4450 Candora Drive, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Tu-Sa 11-5. Information: https://tristararts.org/visit

UT Big Band Concert
Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

Woodwind Chamber Music Spring Showcase
Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

Chamber Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

String Chamber Ensembles
Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT Bands Concert
Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Memorial Building, Cox Auditorium

UT Opera: Dialogues of Carmelites
Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27
Bijou Theatre

UT Small Jazz Ensembles Concert
Monday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT Appalachian Strings
Friday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.
Laurel Theatre

Rhythm & Blues Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall

UT College of Music: Unless otherwise noted, concerts are FREE and open to the public. In-person events that take place in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall or the James R. Cox Auditorium also have livestream options: https://music.utk.edu/news-events/#calendar. Venues: Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center located at 1741 Volunteer Boulevard; James R. Cox Auditorium and Performance Hall 32, both in the Alumni Memorial Building located at 1408 Middle Drive. Information: 865-974-8935, https://music.utk.edu/events/