Guest artists Laura Morton and David Ward practice for their roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier in the Appalachian Ballet’s upcoming ballet “The Nutcracker.” Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
Dancing mice, poignant plays, holiday music, festive decorations and an Elf named Buddy. The December holiday season in Knoxville is upon us. So in the spirit of the holiday tune "The Twelve Days of Christmas," here are a dozen holiday events to help celebrate the season.
The Appalachian Ballet 'The Nutcracker'
The Maryville-based Appalachian Ballet presents its 46th annual performance of the holiday ballet "The Nutcracker" accompanied by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Shows are in Knoxville and Maryville for the first two weekends in December. The ballet performs 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium, 500 Howard Baker Jr. Ave., in Knoxville. The ballet performs again 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 3 p.m Dec. 9 at the Clayton Center for the Arts, 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway on the Maryville College campus in Maryville.
Adult tickets are $25, $35 or $40 in advance, or $30, $40 or $45 at the door. Tickets for students or senior citizens are $5 less. Ticket are at appalachianballet.com, knoxvillecoliseum.com or claytonartscenter.com.
'A Christmas Carol'
Watch as University of Tennessee professor and Head of Acting Jed Diamond applies makeup for his character Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in the Clarence Brown Theatre at University of Tennessee Thursday, Nov. 7, 2017.
The University of Tennessee's Clarence Brown Theatre presents its 11th consecutive production of the beloved story "A Christmas Carol" through Dec. 17. Jed Diamond returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' story. For show times and ticket availability, see clarencebrowntheatre.com. Adult tickets range from $26 for Wednesday or Thursday shows, to $32 for Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Children ages 5-12 get in for $10 with tickets bought by calling or going to the CBT box office, 865-974-5161. There are ticket discounts for senior citizens, UT faculty, staff and students and members of the military.
Historic Holiday Tours
East Tennessee historic sites hosts holiday tours on December's first two weekends.
The Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton, hosts Candlelight Christmas Tours 5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1-2. The event includes music, a live nativity, holiday crafts and a tour of decorated buildings. Visitors should bring flashlights. Cost at the door is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 5 to 17, free for children younger than 5.
Blount Mansion's Merry and Bright Christmas Open House is 5-8 p.m Dec. 1. The free event includes candlelight tours of the 18th-century holiday-decorated home at 200 W. Hill Ave.
Civil War Confederate re-enactors give tours at Bleak House, also called Confederate Memorial Hall, at 3148 Kingston Pike. Tours are noon-6 p.m. Dec. 2, 1-5 p.m Dec. 3. Cost is $10 for adults, $8 senior citizens, $6 children over age 8.
Marble Springs State Historic Site, 1220 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway, hosts its Christmas Candlelight Tours 4-8 p.m. Dec. 9; historic buildings are decorated with greenery and lanterns. A $3 donation is suggested.
Tours of the holiday-decorated Mabry-Hazen House, 1711 Dandridge Ave., are 5-8 p.m Dec. 9, 2-5 p.m Dec. 10. The event is free for house members and children under age 13. A $5 donation for adults is requested.
The 1797 Ramsey House, 2614 Thorngrove Pike, gives its free annual candlelight tour 6-8 p.m Dec. 10. Donations are accepted.
'The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph's Baby'
Knoxville's River & Rail Theatre Company returns to the holiday stage with its folk musical-comedy "The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby." Shows are 7:30 p.m Dec. 7-8, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20-21, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 24. Shows are at The Green Room at the Jackson Avenue Terminal, 211 Jackson Ave. Tickets are $25 general admission, $18 students, $40 for VIP reserved seats. The theater company recommends the play for ages 7 and older and rates it "PG" because it includes two to three mildly "adult" words. Tickets at riverandrailtheatre.com.
Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert
The Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus Concert "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay St. General admission tickets are $21.50 for adults, $20.50 for senior citizens or students at knoxbijou.com.
'It's A Wonderful Life'
Frank Capra's telling of one man's steady influence in his world is told in the black-and-white Jimmy Stewart film "It's A Wonderful Life." The 1946 film is shown free at the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St., 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 10. General admission seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited. Doors open an hour before each show. The film's presented free by the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union.
'The Nativity Pageant of Knoxville'
The biblical story of the birth of Jesus is told each year at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in The Nativity Pageant of Knoxville. The free, one-hour pantomime drama with a cast of 100, a choir and live animals is presented 3 p.m. Dec. 9-10, 7 p.m. Dec. 11. Each performance starts in darkness, so people are encouraged to arrive early.
'A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas'
The WordPlayers presents the family-friendly "A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas" Dec. 15-17. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2:30 p.m Dec. 17 at the Clayton Performing Arts Center, Pellissippi State Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for ages 13-17, $8 for ages 12 and younger. Tickets are at wordplayers.org, the Pellissippi box office, 865-539-7529, or at the door. The one-hour play is recommended for ages 8 and older.
Clayton Holiday Concert
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's 31st annual Clayton Holiday Concert is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. The concert includes holiday standards like the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. There's also a focus on the holiday movie music from "Miracle on 34th Street" to "Home Alone" and "The Polar Express." Tickets range from $16 to $47 for adults, $8.50 to $24 for students at knoxvillesymphony.com.
'Primitive Light, Modern Dance'
Circle Modern Dance's 26th annual "Modern Dance Primitive Light" performances are 8 p.m. Dec. 14, and 7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 15-16 at the Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Ave. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 for students or senior citizens. There's a $5 discount on advance tickets for the 9 p.m. Dec. 15 show at circlemoderndance.com. Bring a pillow to sit on; seating's limited.
Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
The touring Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" returns to the Tennessee Theatre for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 shows. Tickets range from $31 to $178 at nutcracker.com or tennesseetheatre.com
'Elf the Broadway Musical'
Most people think of Will Ferrell when they think of "Elf." No Ferrell, but "Elf the Broadway Musical" is based on the 2003 film. The touring show performs 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 30, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St. Tickets range from $44 to $84 at tennesseetheatre.com.