ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Food & Restaurants | Annual Festivals | Movies | History | Trivia
Gaylord Opryland welcomes fall with Goblins & Giggles annual event
Astra Lumina at Anakeesta to open on Nov. 1
2022-23 season of Broadway at the Tennessee could be the most exciting season yet
WWII pilot’s gripping stories illuminate a pivotal piece of aviation history in the 75th anniversary year of the U.S. Air Force
Climb aboard the Summer Movie Express at Regal
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World-renowned Budweiser Clydesdales return for 2022 Smoky Mountain Air Show
KNOXVILLE -- The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area on September 10 and 11, including two at McGhee Tyson Airport in conjunction with the Smoky Mountain Air Show, presented by DENSO. |
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Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival welcomes Grammy award-winning, hit-making artists
GATLINBURG, TN -- Celebrating the sights and sounds of the rich artistry of music, the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival will take place August 18-21, in downtown Gatlinburg. |
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Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee to host 41st quilt show
KNOXVILLE -- More than 200 stunning quilts will be on display Aug. 5-6, 2022, in the Knoxville Expo Center at 5441 Clinton Highway (at Merchant Drive) in Knoxville. The show is hosted by the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee (SMQ).
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Wonders of Wildlife voted “America’s Best Aquarium”
SPRINGFIELD, MO -- For the fourth time since opening in 2017, Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium has been voted “America’s Best Aquarium” through a national public poll conducted by USA TODAY. |
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Knoxville Cycleboats floats fun!
Looking for some unique summer fun? Launched in 2021, Knoxville Cycleboats offers a one-of-a-kind way for groups to explore and enjoy the scenic riverfront of its namesake city during private cruises. |
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Country Music Hall Of Fame® and Museum opens newest exhibition
NASHVILLE -- The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has opened its newest exhibition Chris Stapleton: Since 1978, presented by Ram Trucks. The exhibit chronicles the course of Stapleton’s multi-faceted musical career, from his Kentucky roots and success as a Nashville songwriter to his rise to stardom as one of country music’s most powerful and unique voices. |
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Windy Hill Farm to host summer concert series
Windy Hill Farm and Preserve will host a summer concert series to celebrate the season, present music from regional and nationally recognized artists, and introduce guests to the newly expanded East Tennessee resort. |
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Where’s Waldo? scavenger hunt returns to Downtown Knoxville
Knoxvillians might have wondered, “Where’s Waldo?” over the past couple of summers. For the first time since 2019, the sneaky literary character will be hiding inside downtown merchants in his signature stripes. |
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The General Jackson Showboat debuts brand-new evening cruise show
NASHVILLE -- The General Jackson Showboat, one of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s most popular attractions for the past 37 years, is offering new entertainment for guests. The showboat is debuting a brand-new evening dinner cruise show, Rollin’ on the River. |
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Pinnacle Turkey Creek welcomes Summer Nights
Summer Nights is returning to Pinnacle Turkey Creek! This music event series continues and is located in the Plaza near Talbots and Loft. There will be fun interactive activities for kids including an inflatable slide, giveaways, live music, and so much more! |
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Friends of the Smokies to host first "Plein Air in the Park" event and gala this fall
MARYVILLE, TN, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends of the Smokies, the official nonprofit partner of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is bringing 20 nationally acclaimed artists to the park to paint "en plein air," an outdoor painting practice and style, throughout various park vistas. |
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Lego Convention coming to Knoxville in August
Knoxville is set to have its first LEGO convention in 3 years when the Brickuniverse LEGO Fan Convention arrives at the World's Fair Exhibition Hall in downtown Knoxville for two days: August 13 and 14, 2022. |
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Pivot Point Fine Art Gallery open, expanding collection in historic Emory Place
Pivot Point Fine Art Gallery is open to the public and expanding its collection of work. Located just north of downtown Knoxville at 15 Emory Place, the new retailer’s repertoire includes art by established and emerging talent from around the world. |
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| Reviews |
Best Sellers
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Needtobreathe
By Alan Sculley
Once concerts began to happen again, Seth Bolt and Bear Rinehart, two members of the group Needtobreathe, got to see one of their favorite bands, the Black Crowes, in concert. After 18 months or so of living through the pandemic, the two musicians got to be music fans that night.
Now that Needtobreathe has returned to touring as well, the memory of that Black Crowes show came right back to Bolt.
Full Column
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Buy the Book
While Justice Sleeps: the number 1 New York Times bestseller: a gripping new thriller that will keep you up all night!
When legendary Washington judge Justice Wynn falls into a coma and puts his law clerk, Avery, in control, Avery’s world is turned upside down. Because Justice Wynn had a secret. One that nobody wants to come out… |
Rosanne Cash, JJ Grey & Mofro, headlining Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2022
Could you have Antiques Roadshow’s next big find?
Southern Skies Music Festival 2022 lineup includes The Dirty Guv'nahs
Knoxville Opera adds new artistic team for 2022-23 season
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Penny 4 Arts Events:
The following guidelines apply to every Penny4Arts event:
• Open to Knox and surrounding County residents (with a few exceptions).
• All children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by a paying adult (age 18 and older) in a ratio not to exceed three children per one adult.
• Proof of Knox and surrounding County residency may be required.
• At least one in a group of up to four students ages 16-18 must purchase a regular adult admission/ticket (if applicable) for the group to be able to participate in Penny4Arts
Blount Mansion: Free Admission & Tours
Tue-Fri 10 AM - 5 PM (last tour at 4 PM); Sat 10 AM - 2 PM (last tour at 1 PM)
200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Come join us at the top of each hour as we take you back into the founding of Knoxville and the state of Tennessee through a tour of the Governor’s house, office, and kitchen as well as the Hopkins Parker Garden. Walk-ins, call ahead, and reservations welcome. Please note, Blount Mansion is open in January & February by appointment only.
Contact: David Hearnes, 865-525-2375, info@blountmansion.org, www.blountmansion.org
East Tennessee Historical Society: Free Museum Admission
Mon-Fri 9 AM - 4 PM; Sat 10 AM - 4 PM; Sun 1-5 PM
601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Free admission to the Museum of East Tennessee History for one parent accompanying a participating child. Enjoy compelling stories, interesting artifacts, and colorful characters in the nationally recognized exhibition Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee, as well as regularly changing exhibits. Explore your own history and heritage in the premiere regional genealogy research library and the Knox County Archives. Browse the Museum Shop for gifts, books, and souvenirs. Please let the front desk associate at the East Tennessee History Center know that you are attending with the Penny4Arts deal to receive free museum admission.
Historic Ramsey House: Historic Home Tours
Wed-Sat 10 AM - 3 PM
2614 Thorn Grove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914
Ramsey House was built in 1797 by Knoxville’s first builder, Thomas Hope, for Francis Alexander Ramsey. The structure is significant for original interior and exterior architectural features and its period decorative art collection. The Ramsey Family was one of the first families to settle the Knoxville area. They played vital roles in developing civic, educational and cultural institutions.
Historic Ramsey House offers free tours to Knox, Jefferson and Sevier County students ages 17 and under with a student ID. All children ages 17 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult (age 18 and older) in a ratio not to exceed three children per one adult. We are open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 AM – 3 PM. Please check the “Events” tab on our website for the most up-to-date information on our House Tour times.
Open to students outside of Knox County? YES – Jefferson and Sevier
Historic Westwood: Free Tours
Tue-Thu 10 AM - 4 PM
3425 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Bring the kids and let one of our wonderful docents tell the story of this special house.
Historic Westwood was built in 1890 as a “wedding promise” by John Edwin Lutz for his wife, Ann Adelia Armstrong Lutz, a prominent local artist and daughter of Robert Armstrong (Bleak House) and granddaughter of Drury Paine Armstrong (Crescent Bend). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visitors enjoy free tours by trained volunteer docents and can experience grand Gilded Age architecture, a large collection of original art by Adelia Lutz, and beautiful gardens.
James White’s Fort: Tour the Fort
Mon-Fri 10 AM - 3 PM
205 East Hill Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915
Visit James White’s Fort to experience what life was like in East Tennessee more than 200 years ago! James White’s Fort is the home of James White who settled in Knoxville with a 1,000-acre land grant from the state of North Carolina. Includes White’s first home, furnished with original tools and artifacts from the period. Penny Performance students may enjoy a self-guided tour of the Fort for free with paid Adult admission. No groups.
Knoxville Museum of Art: Tours
Tue-Sat 10 AM - 5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM
1050 World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN 37916
To schedule a tour please call the museum Monday through Friday at least three weeks in advance. Admission is FREE; one adult chaperone is required for every 15 students. The maximum number for each tour is 60, and larger groups will require two tour times. Last tour at 3:30 PM.
View the ongoing exhibitions: Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee; Currents: Recent Art from East Tennessee and Beyond, Cycle of Life glass and steel installation, Thorne Miniature Rooms, and Facets of Modern and Contemporary Glass. Additional exhibitions include: Whistler & Company: The Etching Revival (Aug 23 – Nov 10), East TN Regional Student Art Exhibition (Nov 29 – Jan 12), Beauford Delaney and James Baldwin: Through the Unusual Door (Feb 7 – May 10), and Landfall Press 50th Anniversary Show (Jun 7 – Aug 2).
Advance reservations required? YES
Contact: DeLena Feliciano, 865-525-6101 ext. 227, dfeliciano@knoxart.org, www.knoxart.org
Mabry-Hazen House and Bethel Civil War Cemetery: Free Tours
Mon-Fri 11 AM - 5 PM; Sat 10 AM - 3 PM
Free tours are given of the Mabry-Hazen House (1711 Dandridge Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915) and Bethel Civil War Cemetery (1917 Bethel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915).
These tours give an in-depth perspective into the lives of the families who occupied these homes and also detail the importance of these historical sites. Tours typically start at the top of each hour and are available Monday-Friday 11 AM – 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 3 PM, or by appointment.
Advance reservations required? Large groups only.
Open by appointment only in January & February. Contact: 865-522-8661, director@mabryhazen.com, www.mabryhazen.com
Marble Springs State Historic Site: Free Children’s Tours
Wednesdays, 2-4 PM (CLOSED January & February weekdays except by appointment)
1220 W. Governor John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920
Marble Springs State Historic site is happy to offer free tours to children ages 5 to 18 from Knox, Blount, and Sevier Counties. Children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult. One paying adult is required for every three children. Visitors should register for their tour at the site cottage. Advance reservations are required for groups with more than six children.
Marble Springs State Historic Site is the last home and farm of John Sevier, Tennessee’ s first governor, who was elected in 1796. Sevier served six terms as Tennessee governor in Knoxville, the state’s first capital city. He also acted as the first and only governor of the short-lived state of Franklin. Sevier was a congressman from the Eastern District for four terms, a high-ranking officer in the North Carolina militia, and a hero at the 1780 battle of Kings Mountain against the British. Farmer, trader, land speculator, soldier, politician, husband, and father of 18 children, John Sevier embodied the pioneer spirit of the day. When he passed away in 1815, the approximate 350-acre Marble Springs had been the home he shared with second wife Catherine Sherrill, or “Bonny Kate”, and his youngest children for more than 15 years. Named for its picturesque and soothing springs and the Tennessee “pink marble” quarried nearby, the site features a period tavern, kitchen, cabin, loom house, and spring house that help interpret Tennessee’s late 18th and early 19th century history
Open to students outside of Knox County? YES – including Blount and Sevier
Advance reservations required? Only for groups of more than six children and in January-February
Contact: 865-573-5508, info@marblesprings.net, www.marblesprings.net
WDVX: Blue Plate Special
Mon-Sat at 12 PM
WDVX inside the Knoxville Visitor Center, 301 Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
The WDVX Blue Plate Special is a free live music performance every Monday through Thursday and Saturday at noon at the WDVX studio inside the Knoxville Visitor Center (exceptions: Thanksgiving & Christmas). On Fridays, The Blue Plate Special becomes the Big Plate, taking place at Barley’s on Jackson Ave in the Old City. WDVX is a community radio station that plays a variety of music so you never know what you’ll hear or see at the Blue Plate Special. It could be Classical or Country, Blues or Bluegrass, Jazz or Old Time or something completely surprising. No need for reservations unless you have a big group, in which case, please contact the Knoxville Visitor Center at visitorcenter@knoxville.org. You can also tour the station by contacting 865-544-1029 or info@wdvx.com.
Advance reservations required? For large groups or studio tour.
Contact: Anne Williams, 865-544-1029, awilliams@wdvx.com, www.wdvx.com
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