Knoxville — Friday, April 20
The University of Tennessee Baseball team hosts Texas A&M for three home games this weekend. The two face off Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Sunday is Kids’ Day, so children 12 & under receive a free general admission ticket.
Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo is playing at Thompson-Boling Arena this weekend. Tickets for this acrobatic circus experience start at $49, and the cast includes 51 acrobats, musicians and actors. Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m..
The Knoxville Ice Bears will face the Peoria Rivermen in the second round of the playoffs with a home game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
Urinetown, the Musical, is playing at the Clarence Brown Theatre on the campus of University of Tennessee from April 18-May 6. The comedy is about citizens who revolt against a government that’s put a ban on private toilets due to a 20-year drought. For show times and tickets, visit clarencebrowntheatre.com/events/urinetown-the-musical.
Need to unwind from the work week? The "I Love Juice Bar" in Market Square is hosting bi-weekly lunch-hour yoga classes on Fridays starting this week at noon. Individuals are asked to pay what they can.
History comes alive at the Heritage Festival and Civil War Encampment at the Thompson-Brown Log House at 1006 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway in Maryville. The three-day event will feature Civil War re-enactors, pioneer demonstrations and more. The hours of the festival are 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a reenactment at 2 p.m.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville Home Show is this weekend at the Knoxville Convention center Friday through Sunday. The show opens at noon on Friday and features more than 140 exhibitors featuring everything from home security to flooring companies. Tickets range from $6 to $10.
The HONEY convention is happening at Walters State Community college from 8:30 a.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Saturday. The convention, which features 60 classes, workshops and lectures about beekeeping, was started by a group of local beekeepers that saw a need for a local convention to educate the public about bees.
This is the last weekend to see the Dragon Lights Festival at Chilhowee Park. Visitors will be able to marvel at 42 larger than life lantern displays with thousands of lights and nightly performances. Tickets range from $10.50 to $16.50, and parking is free.
Friday is opening night for a new one-person production called “Seargent York: The Play,” at the HUB student center on the campus of West Park Church on Middlebrook Pike. The play depicts the life of Alvin York, the most decorated Army soldier WWI, and admission is free. For more information on showtimes, visit westparkbaptist.org/sergeantyork/.
Flying Anvil Theatre takes a comedic look at love, bad breakups and revenge in “Carrying a Torch,” a cabaret-style musical. The show runs for four weeks with shows each Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online at flyinganviltheatre.com
“Sherlock’s Last Case” opens at Theatre Knoxville Downtown on Friday night at 8 p.m. The play runs through May 6 with performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.
The Museum of Appalachia is welcoming warmer spring weather by trimming the wool from their sheep. The museum is offering three sheep sheering days on April 20 and 21 where guests can enjoy demonstrations of shearing, and weaving, herding and more while listening to Appalachian music.
Enjoy a free night of jazz and swing music at the Bistro at the Bijou’s “Birds of a Feather Swing Together” event on Friday from 9 to 11 p.m. The restaurant is next to the historic Bijou Theatre. Info: 865-544-0537.
The Black Jacket Symphony returns to the Tennessee Theatre to perform Guns N Roses on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $35.
Young women vying for the title of Miss Tennessee United States are in Pigeon Forge this weekend for the state pageant at The Country Tonight Theater. Miss Tennessee United States is an official preliminary pageant to the Miss United States National Pageant, and the contestants are judged on swimsuit, evening gown, a private interview and an on-stage question.
The 9th annual Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival is back April 20-22 at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend to help take you from “sheep to shawl.” Vendors will offer demonstrations in addition to selling supplies, tools and yarn.
Bonkers over Broncos? There are two days left of the Bronco Super Celebration at the Tally Ho Inn in Townsend. Show off your own bronco, or admire the dozens of others parked in the show field. There are several Bronco-themed events throughout the celebration including a drive to Cades Cove and a bonfire.
Local designers will be transforming three of the luxury residences inside The Tennessean hotel this year’s Knoxville Symphony League ShowHouse. People will be able to tour the rooms on Thursdays and Fridays in April from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Sundays between 1 and 5 p.m. Day passes are $20 and season passes are $30. The proceeds benefit the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. The ShowHouse continues now through April 29.
Actors at Pellissippi State Community College are performing “Seagull,” a story about love and art in the Russian countryside for two weekends at the Clayton Performing Arts Center. Performances are April 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22 at 2 p.m.
As part of the Dogwood Arts Festival, you can now experience 12 guided hikes this season through historic parks or through the woods to see beautiful wildfires among the dogwood trees. Guided hikes will go on now through May 26.
The Navitat ziplining park at Ijams Nature Center is lighting up its treetops with twinkling lights for "Navitat at Night." During the spring season, Navitat at Night will be offered every Friday and Saturday night. The event lasts from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and costs $34.95 to $44.95, depending on your age.
The Knoxville Museum of Art’s Alive at Five concert series is going now with live bands performing every Friday evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in World’s Fair Park. For more information about tickets and performers visit http://knoxart.org/events/aliveafter5.html
The East TN Farmers Association Farmers Market at Lakeshore Park is open every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Take your fitness to the sky at Elevation Arts’ first-anniversary party on Friday. The free event includes demo classes, food trucks, and loads of giveaways. The party starts at 6 p.mm. at 10909 Murdock Drive.
Saturday, April 21
Fans will get their first look at the new Vols, under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt, on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the spring orange and white game. Gates open at Neyland Stadium at 12:30 p.m.
The Tennessee Smokies baseball team hosts Jacksonville for five home games in a row starting Saturday at 5:30 p.m. For a complete list of games and tickets visit, milb.com/schedule/
See the sidewalks throughout Market Square and Krutch Park come alive as they become the canvas for local artists during Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. New this year, jugglers, stilt walkers, marching bands, and other performers will be performing along Gay Street and Old City from 1 to 5 p.m.
Bring your family to check out vintage motorcycles on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in honor of an 84-year-old Navy Veteran battling cancer. “Conard Shultz Day” will be at Biker Rags on Kingston Pike.
The University of Tennessee College of law students and faculty members are offering free legal assistance at the First Baptist Church of Madisonville on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information visit: law.utk.edu.
The North Hills Garden Club is hosting its yearly plant sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Hills Park on Kennington Road. The event will take place rain or shine.
Pick out everything you need for quilting and knitting at the TN Fiber Yard Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Lenoir City at the Highland Park Ruritan. Admission is free, and the sale benefits Project Linus of East TN, a nonprofit that provides handmade quilts and blankets to sick children.
Party for the planet at Zoo Knoxville on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local and regional environmentalists will be showing ways to save the planet and its wildlife. It’s included with a general admission ticket.
Learn how to draw branches and leaves in Saturday’s session of “Art & Wine” at the University of Tennessee Gardens at 2 p.m. The session is $45 for nonmembers.
Meet the power rangers, Macsen Lintz from the Walking Dead, Akeem, and many more at Marble City Comicon on Saturday and Sunday at the Knoxville Expo Center. Kids 10 and under get in for free and visit http://www.marblecitycomicon.com/about.html for adult admission information and a list of guests.
The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s 51st Annual Spring Plant Sale is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UT Arboretum in Oak Ridge.
Breakthrough Run for Autism 5K kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the Regal Cinemas in Turkey Creek. Any individual with a disability may register as a Breakthrough Buddy. The 5K features chip timing on a certified course.
Come watch 2,000 athletes compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta at Melton Lake Drive in Oak Ridge on Saturday and Sunday. The competition begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and goes until Sunday at 5 p.m.
The East TN Farmers Association Farmers Market at Jackson Square in Oak Ridge is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Enjoy your favorite field day events on Saturday at the “Fun-tastic Field Day” event at Brickey McCloud Elementary School. This inclusive event for kids with and without disabilities is free and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Knoxville Track Club’s 2018 Youth series continues on Saturday with a run at Parkside Greenway in Farragut starting at 10:30 a.m. Each race in the series is $10 if you are not buying the series as a bundle.
Observe the stars above during a night of public stargazing on Saturday at the Tamke-Allan Observatory in Harriman, TN. Gates open at 7 p.m. The observatory hosts stargazing nights every first and third Saturday of the month.
Race your mountain bike through Panther Creek Park on Saturday at 8 a.m. for the Wildcat Mountain Bike Race. You can choose between a 4-hour and 8-hour course.
Big money is for grabs at the White Pine Marine trail tournament at Douglas Lake on Saturday. Competitors will launch at the Dandridge public boat dock at 6 a.m., and weigh-in their catches by 3:30 p.m. For more information and entry fees, visit whitepinemarine.com/tournament-trail.
Comcast Cares Day plans to bring more than 150 volunteers together to beautify Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will perform landscaping and maintenance of the school’s flower beds, install bird feeders and paint the bathrooms. To sign up, visit comcastinthecommunity.com.
Sunday, April 22
Ijams is hosting its Mayapple Marketplace on Sunday. That'll take place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Ijams Nature Center. Gardening tools, native plants and many other things will be available for purchase from local vendors.
Discover new bike routes through scenic neighborhoods and greenways along the dogwood trail with a guided family-friendly bike ride on Sunday. Meet at Dreambikes, 309 N. Central Street, in North Knoxville at 3 p.m., and you’ll ride roughly eight miles through historic North Knoxville neighborhoods. There’s a guided bike & bloom ride scheduled for Sunday, May 6. That one starts at Suttree Landing Park in South Knoxville and winds along the river and Ijams Nature Center.
Recycle your glass at Bearden Beer Market on Sunday and get a free beer for their “Get of your Glass this Earth Day” recycling event. Bearden Beer Market will also be donating $1 from each pint purchase to Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
Bearden Beer Market is also accepting gently-used children’s bikes on Sunday through April 29 to donate to deserving kids in need. Donate a bike and get a draft beer for a penny.
Comedian Nick Swardson is performing at the Tennessee Theatre as part of his “too many smells” tour on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50.
Peapod’s Paw Ride raises money for autistic children in need of service dogs. Registration for this motorcycle ride is Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davison. The ride costs $15, and proceeds support Autism Service Dogs. The event was originally supposed to take place last weekend but was rescheduled due to rain.