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10 About Town: Oct. 10 - 13, 2019

The Knoxville Ice Bears' season-opener, LitUp Festival, BOO! At the Zoo and more

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019

Actors at the Clarence Brown Theatre are performing ‘People Where They Are’ Oct. 2 through Oct. 20. The play, which is inspired by true events, dramatizes the famous Highlander Center's expansion into the Civil Rights movement.

The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair is in town through Oct. 27. The Gatlinburg Convention Center will be full of vendors sharing their talents every day.

BOO! At the Zoo is back for the month of October. Kids are invited to trick-or-treat in their Halloween costumes as they make their way through the zoo. Tickets are $10 per person. Children under four are free. BOO! At the Zoo happens every weekend through October 27.

Navitat Treetop Adventures is celebrating first responders this week with 50% off admission. The discount is limited to one adventure per responder and ends Oct. 12.

The WorldPlayers present ‘Over the River and Through the Woods.’ The play runs Oct. 10 through 25 at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. Tickets are $15.

Friday, Oct. 11, 2019

Hockey season is here! The Knoxville Ice Bears host their first home game of the season on Friday against the Huntsville Havoc. Tickets start at $9. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at the civic coliseum.

Test your survival skills in a three-day wilderness challenge. Contestants are only allowed to bring 10 items from an approved list, and tents are not allowed. Participants will be judged on their survival skills and their ability to build a shelter at McMillan Farms in Mosheim, Tenn. Registration costs $50.

The 19th annual Clinch River Fall Antique Festival is Friday and Saturday in Historic Downtown Clinton. The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday with live music, food and shopping.

Watch Disney’s ‘The Haunted Mansion’ in A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on Friday night. The free movie night is designed to provide a drug-free, tobacco-free and alcohol-free event for local teens.

The Be a Friend Festival is Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ashley Nicole Dream Playground in North Knoxville. The free event includes inflatables, crafts, music, free lunch and more.

The Pawsitively Spooky 5K is Friday night in Victor Ashe Park. This creepy, crawly race is a great way to ring in the Halloween season while supporting man’s best friend. Adult registration is $30. The race begins at 6 p.m.and benefits Arc Knox County.

The All Hallow’s Eve special is pulling into the station this month. Climb aboard the Three River’s Rambler for a two-hour trip out to the Forks of the River while listening to a Halloween-themed story. The train runs on weekends in October.

The best Pokemon competitors in the region will be in Knoxville this weekend for the Pokemon Regional Championships. The competition takes place at the Knoxville Convention Center. Entries start at $20.

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Step back in time with your best dancing shoes. Manhattan Project National Historic Park is reliving the Jackson Square Tennis Court Dances with a free event featuring swing dancing, food trucks, and a 1940s costume contest. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Oak Ridge Tennis Courts.

Bring your blanket and lawn chair to Market Square on Friday night for a free showing of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2.’ The movie is part of Knox County Public Library’s free Movies on Market Square series.

Every Friday and Saturday evening in October, costumed storytellers, cloggers and musical ensembles will perform along the Gatlinburg Parkway. It’s free to watch the performances.

Vintage Market Days presents ‘A Day at the Ranch.’ The vintage sale is going on Friday through Sunday at Chilhowee Park. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

The Appalachian Arts Craft Center hosts its annual Fall Porch Sale. It runs through Oct. 18.

Fall Heritage Fridays return to the Museum of Appalachia throughout the month of October. Students and families get to enjoy hands-on educational experiences while learning about Appalachian history and culture. This week’s activities include sorghum making, canning, gardening and more. Fall Heritage days cost $30 per family and last from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Pop Series is paying tribute to Neil Diamond in a concert called Super Diamond. Tickets start at $21. The concert is on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre.

Kick-off your weekend with the Taste of the Smokies Cook-off at Smokies Stadium in Kodak. The competition raises money for Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

The eight annual Pansy Project kicks off on Friday at 4 p.m. at Stanley’s Greenhouse. The goal of the project is to decorate Knoxville in purple and orange pansies as a symbol of those affected by Alzheimer’s. Stanley’s will donate a portion of proceeds from pansies sold during the kick-off.

Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019

Little Ponderosa Zoo is hosting a Fall Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be pony rides, inflatables, face painting and more.

Ijams Nature Center hosts its weekly Creature Feature on Saturday at 10 a.m. It’s always a surprise to see what animal ambassador shows up.

Gazingstock is a two-day Americana Christian and Gospel Music Festival at Benchmark Church in Oliver Springs. In addition to music, there will be craft, food, novelty vendors and more. Admission is free and the fun begins on Saturday at 8 a.m.

Learn about the migration of Monarch Butterflies at Seven Islands State Birding Park. Guests will help park personnel find and tag as many monarchs as they can so that scientists can study their migration patterns. The event begins at 1 p.m. at the Bluebird Barn. Pre-registration is required.

Ijams Nature Center is unveiling its new natural fitness area on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Primal Playground is aimed at every exercise level, and designers say it’s one-of-a-kind.

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Arrrrrrrr you ready for Pirate Fest? The swashbuckling festival returns to Harriman Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 19-20. Enter the costume contest, show off your sword fighting talents and walk the plank. Tickets range from $8 to $16.

Muse Knoxville is hosting a STEAM Carnival at its West Town Mall location on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Learn about the beginnings of Ijams Nature Center during a historical lecture on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Southland Books & Cafe in Maryville. Paul James of the Knoxville History Project will take a look at the Ijams family and their accomplishments. The program is free and a book signing will follow.

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019

Knox County Public Library’s new LitUp Festival is Sunday in Market Square. The free literary event was organized by teens for teens. There’s an escape room, science fair, book signings, and more from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Race through the winding trails of I.C. King Park on Sunday. The I.C. King of Trails Race is seven to eight miles long and costs $15. The run begins at 9 a.m.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. in World’s Fair Park. The walk begins at 2 p.m. but check-in starts at noon.

Help clean up Fort Dickerson Park in South Knoxville on Sunday. Volunteers are needed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Q, Crafts & Brew is Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. in Farragut.  Tickets ranging from $15 to $25  include tokens for BBQ, non-alcoholic beverages. 

The Knoxville Museum of Art is hosting its Second Sunday Art Activity from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free and kids will get to take home a hand-made craft.

Scruffy City VeganFest is Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knoxville Expo Center. Guests can taste plant-based food samples, enjoy live entertainment, and try their luck at several giveaways. Tickets start at $10.

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