Calendar of Events

Shop the Old City Market! On West Jackson Avenue. The Old City Market transforms the historic Old City into a curated, outdoor market showcasing artists, crafters, and creative makers.

First Friday Markets: Apr 4 · May 2 · Aug 1 · Sep 5 · Oct 3 · Nov 7 · Dec 5, 5PM to 9PM

Sunday Markets: Apr 13 · May 18 · Rhinestone Fest June 7 · June 15 · July 20 · Aug 17 · Sep 21 · Oct 19 · Nov 16 · Small Business Saturday Nov 29, 11AM to 4PM

https://oldcityknoxville.org/market/

Jubilee Community Arts at the Laurel Theater (865) 522-5851
1538 Laurel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916
Contact: concerts@jubileearts.org

Jubilee Community Arts presents University of Tennessee Appalachian Strings at the Laurel Theater on Friday, May 2 at 8 pm. Established in 2022 by UT College of Music Lecturer Sean McCollough, this UT student Appalachian ensemble now has enough members to form five bands, four focused on bluegrass and one on old time. This event is free!

Friday, May 2, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Local artist Tianna Bush will be delighting the Birdhouse with her charcoal drawings on May’s First Friday! Tianna graduated from Austin East High School in May 2024. Her artwork captures beauty in people and nature.

The Birdhouse Neighborhood Center, 800 N 4th Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: https://www.fourthandgill.org/birdhouse-neighborhood-center

Visit Knoxville announces today free local Sunsphere days. These will coincide with First Fridays from May through October 2025 (the same month pattern as when the 1982 World’s Fair was held) with the exception of July 4th due to the Independence Day holiday. The free local days in 2025 are as follows:

• May 2
• June 6
• August 1
• September 5
• October 3

Those with a physical copy of their Knox County Driver’s License will be allowed a complimentary visit to the 4th Floor Observation Deck. The 4th Floor Observation Deck allows a maximum of 40 people every 30 minutes; space is limited and admission is first come, first serve. The Welcome Center and Observation Deck will also be open later until 6PM (regularly 5PM) for an additional hour of enjoyment.

The Sunsphere, built for the 1982 World’s Fair, offers a unique experience. Its 4th Floor Observation Deck provides a stunning 360-degree view of downtown Knoxville, the Great Smoky Mountains, World’s Fair Park, the Tennessee River, and the University of Tennessee Campus. Visitors can also explore a timeline, gallery, memorabilia, a newly painted mural, and technology related to the World’s Fair.

“We are excited to offer these free local Sunsphere days,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Knoxville’s iconic structure with our community.”

Additionally, in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week which will take place May 4–10, 2025, admission to the Sunsphere will be discounted for all visitors via the code NTTW25. The code will be active beginning May 4. Prices will be as follows: Adult tickets will be $5 (regularly $10), Children (12 and under) tickets will be free (regularly $5). Tickets can be purchased online at https://shop.visitknoxville.com/discount/NTTW25?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fsunsphere-tickets. Please use the code NTTW25 at checkout or purchase discounted rate tickets in person at the Sunsphere Welcome Center.

For more information, go to visitknoxville.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

First Friday May 2nd
6-9pm
Opening Reception "Seeds" a solo exhibition by Andrew Godwin
PLUS
Open Artist Studios
A tree-lover's fundraiser to save an oak tree in the Community Printshop
https://relayridge.org/event/first-friday-andrew-godwin/

Relay Ridge, 4124 McKinley St, Knoxville. https://relayridge.org/ and https://www.instagram.com/relay_ridge/

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.

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/

Featuring paintings, mixed media and collage work.

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

The Smithsonian’s National Collection of Fishes X-rays represent more than 70 percent of the world’s fish specimens and is the largest and most diverse collection of its kind in the world. Although the X-rays featured in the national collection were made for research purposes, the strikingly elegant images demonstrate the natural union of science and art and are a visual retelling of the evolution of fish. X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out, an exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), showcases these dramatic prints exposing the inner workings of the fish.

The exhibition features 32 black-and-white digital prints of different species of fish. Arranged in evolutionary sequence, these X-rays give a tour through the long stream of fish evolution. The X-rays have allowed Smithsonian and other scientists to study the skeleton of a fish without altering the specimen, making it easier for scientists to build a comprehensive picture of fish diversity.

The exhibition also includes specimens from the collections of the McClung Museum, the Etnier Ichthyological Collection, and the Vertebrate Osteology Collection to highlight research happening with fish specimens at the University of Tennessee.

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/

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/