FRIDAY MAY 18
It's National Bike to Work Day, and local bike commuters are invited to participate in the event by stopping at Market Square on their way to work. Free coffee and biscuits will be available to participants between 7:30 and 8:30 am. Mayor Rogero will present the Best Dressed Commuter awards at 8 am, demonstrating that spandex is not a requirement for bicycling. Visit www.knoxtrans.org for more information.
Time Sawyer will perform at noon on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. Head on down to the Knoxville Visitor Center for the free broadcast.
Sevierville's eighth annual Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass will kick off at 5 pm. This family-friendly event will once again bring barbeque cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville to compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion in the Bush's Best TN State Championship Cook Off. Rounding out the event is toe-tapping bluegrass music, incredible arts and crafts, kids' games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville's favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton. Visit www.bloominbbq.com for more information.
The Knoxville Museum of Art welcomes Milele Roots to the stage for their "Alive After Five" series. General admission tickets are $9 to see this six-member band that plays reggae, ska, roots, and some meringue and calypso rhythms. "Alive After Five" begins at 6 pm.
Ijams Nature Center invites you to their family program, "Nightlife Symphony". Spring brings a chorus of nocturnal crooners like frogs, birds, and insects, so check out who is out making beautiful music as they explore the park after dark! Free to members, $5 for non-members. To register, call (865) 577-4717, ext. 110.
Side Splitters Comedy Club welcomes Matt Davis to the stage. Tickets to check out his set are just $12 at the door. His first performance is scheduled for 7:45.
The Tennessee Theatre hosts Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Ravel Piano Concerto in G. Tickets range from $22 to $84, and can be purchased at www.knoxvillesymphony.com. Show time is set for 8 pm.
The Square Room in Market Square presents The Black Cadillacs CD Release Show. Tickets to the show are $15 and can be purchased at www.thesquareroom.com. The Floorwalkers will open the show at 9 pm.
Hudson K with The Stereofidelics and Plainclothes Tracy, will perform at the Preservation Pub at 10 pm. There will be a $5 cover for this night of great music.
SATURDAY MAY 19
Troutfest is a Fly Fishing Exposition and Fundraiser held in Townsend. Proceeds from this event are donated to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department, Friends of the Smokies Fisheries Scholarship Fund or other youth educational conservation projects. This year the event will be one of the largest venues for fly anglers in the Southeast United States. Some of the best fly tyers from our area will be demonstrating throughout the two day event. As many as 8 tyers will perform at one time all weekend. It's free and the tyers are specialized in many different types of fly tying such as trout, bass, panfish and saltwater. Things should get going at 9 am. Visit www.troutfest.org for more information.
The Smoky Mountain Highland Games return to the campus of Maryville College at 9 am when gates open for the games, pipe and drum competitions and sales by vendors. The opening ceremonies begin at noon with massed bands. From traditional caber tossing, to piping and dancing competitions to traditional Scottish foods, the Games served up something for everyone - regardless of age. Adult tickets are $18, but there are combination ticket packages available at www.smokymountaingames.org, as well as a full list of events and band schedules.
The Market Square Farmers' Market opens at 9 am. Grab some cash and bring some friends down to support your local farmers and artisans.
The International Biscuit Festival invades downtown Knoxville at 9 am. The Biscuit Bazaar Vendor Area runs from 9 am to 5 pm on Clinch Avenue. Biscuit Boulevard Tasting Area runs from 9 am to 3 pm on Market Street. At high noon, the Biscuit Bake Off will start under The Biscuit Big Top Tent. And at 3 pm, the Miss and Mr. Biscuit Pageant will take place under the Krutch Park Tent.
Sevierville's eighth annual Bloomin' Barbeque & Bluegrass starts early. Watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Then stay for the announcement of winners at 4 pm. During the competition the teams will cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, 5 pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams will receive recognition in Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket as well as specialty categories like "Anything Bush Beans", "Anything Wampler's Farm Sausage", Sauce and Dessert. For an event schedule and more, visit www.bloominbbq.com.
The Athens Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the fifth annual National MooFest from 10 am to 6 pm, on the square in downtown Athens. There will plenty of great music and fun for all ages with special children's activities going on all day. They'll also have some great food and of course, delicious Mayfield ice cream. Dove and Grammy Award Winner Steven Curtis Chapman will be live in concert at 6:30. For tickets, call the chamber at (423) 745-0334 or order online www.athenschamber.org. Concert tickets will get you free admission into MooFest.
A wide variety of singing and dancing entertainment has been scheduled for the 18th annual Iris Festival Saturday and Sunday, in downtown historic Greeneville. The event will take place Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.
Knox County Public Library's eighth annual Children's Festival of Reading will take place from 10 am to 3 pm, at World's Fair Park on the Festival Lawn and Amphitheater in downtown Knoxville. Admission is free, and free parking is available in most of the surrounding lots. Guests include: Alyssa Capucilli, Jennifer and Matthew Holm, Gail Carson Levine, Dan Yaccarino, David Ezra Stein, Dianne de Las Casas and many more.
These Undowners with Side Saddle with Shane Tutmarc will perform on the Saturday edition of the WDVX Blue Plate Special. The free broadcast begins at noon, in the Knoxville Visitor Center.
Wee fairies need a place to rest their weary wings and store their magical pixie dust! This weekend there will be Fairy House and Gnome Home competition at Ijams Nature Center. This second annual event will be held in Jo's Grove Nature Play Area. Ten dollars covers the construction fee for each building site. Building begins at 1 pm with judging to follow at 3 pm. Children of all ages will be mesmerized by these homes build just for fairies and gnomes.
The Bijou Theatre welcomes the Neon Trees to the US Cellular Stage. Tickets are $16.50 in advance, or $18.50 on the day of the show. Special guests Twin Atlantic and The Active Set, will open the show at 8 pm.
Mustang Sally with special guest CenTriC will perform at The Shed at Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson. Mustang Sally has performed alongside high profile names such as Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, and Blake Shelton. Tickets are $20 to the 8 pm show.
Mac Comer and the Coo Cool Kidders headline a night of music at the Preservation Pub. These Undowners will open the show at 10 pm.
SUNDAY MAY 20
Rich, Scott, Dave and Smitty, of the Emmy-winning Disney Channel TV series "Imagination Movers", will be bringing their high-octane rock concert to the Tennessee Theatre. Tickets to the 2 pm and 5 pm show, range from $19 to $39. Visit www.tennesseetheatre.com for more information.