Calendar of Events

May 17: Children’s Festival of Reading, World’s Fair Park, 10:00-3:00

The Children's Festival of Reading is held on the third Saturday in May to celebrate the end of school and the beginning of summer. The event launches summer programming at the Library and features children's book authors and illustrators, storybook characters, science demonstrations, storytellers, musicians, arts & crafts, a parade of books, and more than 50 community organizations. Last year, more than 11,000 guests attended. In its 19th year, the Festival has become a mainstay event for a generation of families. This year, it is set for May 17 in World's Fair Park with award-winning authors and illustrators including:

Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, Capture the Flag and Over and Under the Snow

Vivian Vende Velde, award winning author of fantasy, science fiction, and spooky tales including Heir Apparent, Never Trust a Dead Man and Cloaked in Red

Kevin Lewis, the mastermind behind Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo and My Truck is Stuck

https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Join us for The Summer Soiree at the KMA—a lively, annual fundraiser celebrating the arts! Dance the night away to the sounds of the Wes Bailey Band while savoring exquisite hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Holly Hambright of Holly’s Eventful Catering. This enchanting summer evening promises to be the most enjoyable way to support the cultural heartbeat of our community. Don’t miss your chance to indulge in a night of fun and philanthropy at the Knoxville Museum of Art!

Presented by Ann & Steve Bailey and hosted by Art House. Questions? Email arthouse@knoxart.org.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org.

Step into a realm of magic and wonder at Waltz of the Faeries, an exquisite masquerade ball where fantasy and elegance intertwine. On May 17, 2025, beneath glowing lanterns and a starlit sky, don your finest fae-inspired attire and waltz through a night of live music, mystical quests, enchanting elixirs, and dazzling masquerade contests. With exclusive VIP perks, a whimsical marketplace, and an evening of spellbinding surprises, this is your chance to embrace the magic.

https://www.ancientlorevillage.com/waltz-of-the-faeries/

Knoxville Chamber Orchestra in performance, May 17, at 7:00 PM.

​Anton Arensky Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32 (violin, cello, piano).
Mozart Piano Trio in E major, K. 542

​Sean Claire, violin
Cherylonda Fitzgerald, cello
Ryan Fogg, piano

Concert at Westminster Presbyterian, 6500 Northshore Drive Knoxville.
Suggested donation $25 at the door / students free.

https://www.knoxvillechambermusicsociety.com/

The Knoxville Museum of Art is proud to announce Electricity for All, a thought-provoking exhibition exploring the complex relationships between technology, information, and power. Framed by the historical context of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—a transformative New Deal program launched in the 1930s to bring electricity to the region —Electricity for All delves into the profound social and cultural shifts that took place across the Tennessee River Valley. While the TVA promised progress and prosperity, it also produced disruption and displacement that continues to linger. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the dualities of technological advancement, and the costs that inhabit our need and desire to progress.

Taking its name from one of TVA’s original promotional slogans, Electricity for All features work by contemporary artists who grapple with the legacy and ramifications of innovation. Some imagine utopian futures powered by technology’s democratizing potential; others sound a cautionary note, revealing the pitfalls of surveillance and decentralized authority. Still others manipulate digital materials and metaphors to explore the poetics of power in an interconnected world.

Artists: Jim Campbell, Petra Cortright, Daniel Canogar, Nathan Hylden, Beryl Korot, Frederick Hammersley, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Amor Muñoz, Iván Navarro, Marilène Oliver, Mimi Ọnụọha, Trevor Paglen, Nam June Paik, Elias Sime, Jered Sprecher & Sam van Strien.

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.

By Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis’, a contemporary "comic-rap-scrap-metal-opera"
Directed by Keturah Stickann and conducted by the exceptional Judith Yan

Stuck Elevator is based on the dramatic true story of an immigrant delivery man trapped in an elevator for 81 hours. Through a blend of music, spoken word, and multimedia, the opera vividly portrays the psychological and emotional toll of confinement, while also touching on themes of immigration, cultural identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. A co-production with Knoxville Opera, this opera promises to deliver a unique and impactful theatrical experience.

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

The Appalachian Equality Chorus (AEC) invites the public to experience its most powerful and heartfelt concert yet: We’re Still Here, a spring concert series taking place in Johnson City on May 10 and Knoxville on May 16 & 17. With over 100 singers performing onstage—the largest in the chorus’s history—this genre-spanning program fuses protest anthems, pop hits, and original choral works into a bold celebration of resilience, identity, and joy.

Concert Dates:
Friday, May 10 at 7:30 PM – St. John’s Episcopal Church, Johnson City, TN
Friday, May 16 at 7:30 PM & Saturday, May 17 at 3:00 PM – Clayton Center for the Arts at Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, TN

“We’re Still Here” is more than just a concert title—it’s a declaration. At a time when efforts to silence LGBTQ+ voices persist across the country, the Appalachian Equality Chorus offers a vibrant, unapologetic response through music. With selections by artists like Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, P!nk, Joni Mitchell, Chappell Roan, and the Wailin’ Jennys, the concert explores the enduring legacy of protest music and the communal power of lifting our voices together.

Audience members can expect familiar favorites like Born This Way, Big Yellow Taxi, You Don’t Own Me, If I Had a Hammer, What About Us, One Voice, and We Shall Be Free, along with newer hits like Hot to Go! and Pink Pony Club—all reimagined in choral arrangements that stir the soul.

Doors open 45 minutes before showtime. Pre- and post-concert events with the Chorus will be announced on social media.
Learn more or get tickets: www.appequalitychorus.org
Follow AEC on social: @AppEqualityChorus

5/9 • A Wildflower Affair
5/16 • Evening Paddle
5/16 • Nature Nerd Hike
5/17 • Spring Fungi ID: Beginner Workshop
5/17 • Ijams Field Day: Botany for Beginners
5/17 • Evening Paddle
5/18 • ETNBA Monthly Jam

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

Observations and Imaginings - Watercolors and Drawings by Susan B Miller and Michael Pardee
The Schilling Gallery, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6500 South Northshore Drive
865-584-3957 or www.wpcknox.org

The Market Square Farmers Market is an open-air, producer-only farmers market managed by Nourish Knoxville and held every Wednesday and Saturday, May through mid-November in the heart of downtown Knoxville. Everything at the Market Square Farmers Market is grown, raised, and/or made by our vendors within a 150-mile radius of Knoxville, TN. Products vary by season and include fresh fruits & vegetables, eggs, honey, pasture-raised meats, edible & ornamental plants, cut flowers, bread & baked goods, jams & jellies, coffee, artisan crafts, and more! We offer SNAP & SNAP Doubling services each market day, Nourish Moves – a free walking incentive program – every Wednesday, and Nourish Kids – a free kids activity – on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

Every Wednesday, May 7 – November 19, 2025, 10 AM – 1 PM
Every Saturday, May 3 – November 22, 2025, 9 AM – 1 PM
*** NO MARKET on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

https://www.nourishknoxville.org/market-square-farmers-market

First Friday Reception: May 2nd, 5:30 - 9 pm
May Featured Artist

Kimberly Collins, Photography
Kimberly is a storyteller. Whether she’s weaving a tale of fiction or exploring the world through the camera lens, story is the ultimate goal. Kimberly’s photography covers many areas across the country, but her favorite subjects make their home in Appalachia
—wild horses in West Virginia, a stream in the Great Smoky Mountains, an ancient magnolia tree, or the delicate blooms on a dogwood. She hopes to share the magic and wonder of Appalachia through her photography. Kimberly is board member of the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville, Tennessee (2025). Kimberly is also a published author and her latest historical fiction series, Mingo Chronicles (Blood Creek and The Massacre), depicts the coal mine wars in West Virginia. Set in the early 1900s, this pivotal labor struggle includes one of the largest armed insurrections in the history of the United States. Kimberly is a writer, a photographer, a dreamer—creating worlds with the magic of words and images.

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

Join us for The REQUIEM Project, an ongoing COVID memorial by Bay Area artist Tina Rath, opening on First Friday, May 2nd, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the Arrowmont Gallery, with Rath present.

This installation represents the staggering global loss of the COVID-19 pandemic, with each of the more than 7 million lives lost symbolized by an individual golden circle. REQUIEM seeks to make this unimaginable number tangible. Every drawing includes handwritten names, honoring individuals and acknowledging their unique lives. Though the pandemic years may feel distant, the collective grief and trauma remain with us. The REQUIEM Project invites us to engage in a quiet, meditative process of healing through art. Throughout the exhibition, including opening night, visitors are invited to take part in “Compassion Drawing” sessions. Using gold watercolor, one can contribute their own circles to the project. Each circle—like a fingerprint—is distinct, reflecting personal touch. Multiple people work on the 50 x 72″ drawings, creating a rich tapestry of varied circles expressing the collective nature of The REQUIEM Project. Whether or not you personally lost someone to COVID-19, “Compassion Drawing” sessions are open to everyone, no art experience is needed. Children age 10+ are also welcome, and all materials with simple instructions will be provided. You may also write the name of a loved one who died from COVID-19 on a circle. Their name will be added to a growing global database of those lost, compiled by the artist.

If you’re unable to attend in person but would still like to honor someone, you can email their name(s) to tina@tinarath.com. Tina will personally include them in the artwork and send you an image and the drawing number they appear on.

For more information on this exhibition and others, please visit our site at https://arrowmont.org/galleries/
110 S Gay St. Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 | (865) 436-7511