East Tennessee Residential Communities : Holrob Communities : Private Communities near Knoxville, Knox County, Blount County, Anderson County, Sevier County

Beating the likes of Lollapalooza, Coachella, and Burning Man, April's Rolling Stone Magazine named Tennessee's Bonnaroo the "ultimate, over-the-top" Best Festival! Bonnaroo is in its seventh year with a full slate of musical, comedic, and other entertainment events to appeal to each of the 80,000+ folks who will attend this year. As a massive caravan in the middle of farm country, they arrive in campers, cars, on bikes, and foot to camp out for this four-day event (there is an RV park for those with campers). Bonnaroo is held each June in Manchester, southwest of Knoxville, on a 700-acre farm, upon which multiple stages are set for "some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and just about any contemporary music you can think of." Promoted by Knoxville based A.C. Entertainment and Superfly Productions, last year's line-up included the Police, Wilco, Widespread Panic, Tool, among many others. The event caught, once again, national attention with write-ups  by the New York Times,  E! Online, Variety, MSNBC, and more. This year's schedule starts with Pearl Jam, Metallica, and Jack Johnson, but the list seems endless - the event organizers have promised over 100 bands!

Besides music, there are several other activities and events, many of which offer air conditioned spaces to hot and sweaty festival-goers. Some of those activities include the cinema, which runs a variety of movies around the clock; the Arcade Discotheque offers Xbox games galore; a new yoga tent will host classes; and the Broo'ers tent offers a wide variety of "hearty bocks, revitalizing pilsners, crisp pale ales, and more, offered up by great microbreweries from around the country."
 

If this sounds like a modern day Woodstock, you're not the first to make the connection. All of the things that happened there are likely to happen in Manchester, despite rather successful attempts to curb the more questionable behaviors. And festival-goers seem to revel in the hippy-esque environment. Although all aren't into the long skirts and flower themes, those who are rather set the tone. If you are thinking of attending, you must also be prepared to suspend access to some of the creature comforts that most of us consider instrumental to a civil society. Soap is scarce, showers aren't for everyone, and it's June - so it's hot. But for those who can make it, there's a marathon of memories to be made at the Best Festival in the country!

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A series of jazz concerts celebrating the life of Samarai Celestial have been planned for April 2008. Check out this calendar of events over the next couple of weeks.

• Tribute to Samarai Celestial, 7 p.m., Sunday, April 13, East Tennessee History Center, free
• Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra, directed by Don Hough, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, East Tennessee History Center, free
• Lionel Loueke, Michele Rosewoman/Ralph Peterson Group, and the University of Tennessee Jazz Faculty, 7 p.m., Friday, April 25, Bijou Theatre, $26.50, available at Tickets Unlimited outlets, 865-656-4444
• Bill Scarlett and the Jazz Giants, 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, East Tennessee History Center, $5
• Warren Wolf Quartet, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 4620 Jazz Club, 4620 Kingston Pike, $10
• Mike Clark Quartet, 9 p.m., Saturday, April 26, 4620 Jazz Club, 4620 Kingston Pike, $10

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Since 1960, Knoxville has hosted the Dogwood Arts Festival each April. Today, people from all over the nation come to celebrate nature and the arts as festivities span seventeen days, over one hundred and fifty activities, and two counties! The city’s fantastic dogwoods remain the central focus with blossoms that can reach nearly four inches in length, rivaling Maryland’s famous dogwoods. While most of Knoxville’s dogwoods are white, our pink dogwoods are especially vibrant; the deep pink, almost red, color is caused by the natural acidity in our soil. Other varieties include a native pale pink dogwood and a “weeping” dogwood, similar to the weeping cherry tree.

While tours have been conducted since the Sequoyah Hills Trail opened 1955, other trails throughout the region have been added over the years; there are nine dogwood trails today spanning seventy miles and two counties. When I was a child, signs indicated the trails’ entrances and large pink or white spots were painted on the roads to lead the way. Today, self-guided motor-tourists follow pink and green lines, taking photographs, pacing themselves, often stopping for closer looks. Guided bus tours are also available and, for walkers, the historic Fourth and Gill Victorian neighborhood tour is a popular activity.

Also part of the celebration is a three-day festival held on Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Over one hundred arts, crafts, and food vendors crowd into the newly renovated, historic space to sample East Tennessee’s cuisine, culture, and creations. Shoppers will find everything from homemade soaps to hand-blown glass, and artisan jewelry to rare books. Many of Knoxville’s restaurants and caterers participate; one can find edibles ranging from funnel cakes and famous local bar-b-que to gourmet coconut shrimp and crispy spanikopita. Adding to the festivities, musical events are scheduled each year featuring a variety of musical styles from classical to country.

Last year, the festival introduced Art in Public Spaces, a sponsored display that continued throughout the month of July. Located in Krutch Park, adjacent to Market Square, the exhibit featured the large-scale work of twelve artists. Other artwork was available for viewing at more than fifteen galleries throughout Knoxville’s downtown area. Gallery Walk, was a one-night event in which artists were available and visitors were encouraged to mingle and browse.

There’s so much more! A parade, a jazz concert, children’s activities, and literary events hosted by the Knox County Public Library – there really is something for everyone. In the tradition of the South, the Dogwood Arts Festival brings people together with food and fun, music, nature, and friendship.

Check out the 2008 Dogwood Arts calendar here.

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Since 1985, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has hosted the Fantasy of Trees at the Knoxville Convention Center, the proceeds from which benefit the Children’s Hospital. Each year’s festival brings a different theme around which decorations and tree designs are fashioned. This year’s theme, “Holiday Cheer Down South,” will feature the “many traditions found throughout the Southern States…. from a traditional country Christmas and Big Orange “Vol-iday”…. To merry magnolias and mountains….jingle bells and jazz, and big city shopping sparkle.” The 2007 Fantasy of Trees runs from November 21 through November 25.

The Fantasy of Trees kicks off with the Gala Preview Party, this year on November 20. This “black tie optional” party is filled with live music and dancing, open gift shops, strolls through the trees, and fantastic food. Following the Gala Preview Party are five days in which visitors can wander through the forest of over 300 decorated and lit Christmas trees, decorated room scenes, fireplace mantels, and Adopt-A-Trees - trees designed and decorated by local children’s groups, such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and church youth groups - which are available for purchase. Visitors can also purchase tickets for the chance to win the Target Raffle Tree, a beautiful seven-foot fully decorated tree, visit gift shops, and participate in many family-friendly activities.

Everyone loves the Gingerbread Village featuring gingerbread houses that are “constructed and decorated by area bakers, chefs, and school children.” The Babes in Toyland Parade is also a favorite. This indoor Christmas parade includes a marching band, costumed characters, and, of course, Santa! And the Nightly Christmas Tree Lighting brings back a Knoxville holiday tradition of the 1960s: The lighting of the tree at the old Miller’s Department Store on Henley Street was once a favorite holiday event. As a nod to this tradition, local celebrities and a patient of the Children’s Hospital participate in the lighting of a 9-foot Christmas tree each evening.

The kids love the many activities scheduled just for them: a 30-horse carousel offers free rides; Frosty’s playground offers a variety of free activities for preschool children; and for $2 children can make a sign for their tree or door at Heart Signs or decorate Christmas items at Kiddie Kraft Bags. Little girls can have a Princess Manicure for $2 and conversations with Frosty and Santa are always free. This year, families can work together to create a special holiday keepsake at the Holiday Traditions Workshop, a new activity to the Fantasy of Trees. Also new is the Giving Tree, where visitors can make $5, $10, or $25 cash donations to help purchase gifts for the Children’s Hospital’s patients.

Over the years, the Fantasy of Trees has become a very special holiday event for many East Tennessee families. As all proceeds go to benefit our most fragile, the children seeking care at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, the Fantasy of Trees is a worthwhile addition to any family holiday tradition. Tickets to the November 21-25 event are $10 daily for adults, $5 for children ages 4-12. Children under age 4 are admitted free.

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