Knoxville hosts spring events with St. Patrick's Day, marathons, Big Ears and Bassmaster
Time to branch out this spring!
March will commence the spring season, bringing several events to Knoxville.
These happenings will appeal to anyone looking to get out and enjoy the Knoxville community.
Take a look at what's kicking off this spring season in Knoxville.
"The Sculpture of William Edmondson: Tombstones, Garden Ornaments and Stonework,": March-May 13
This exhibit features yard art and sculptures created by notable American folk artist William Edmondson (1974-1951). Edmondson was known for his whimsical birdbaths, sculptures of everyday people, and grave markers he carved for African American families. The showcase involves twelve of his sculptures, photographs by noted photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe, and ephemera, the exhibition draws upon new scholarship to contextualize Edmondson’s sculpture. The exhibit is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 13 at the Frank H. McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture. For more information on the exhibit, visit calendar.utk.edu.
Easter Bunny returns to West Town Mall March 10-April 8
The Bunny is back! West Town Mall will host Bunny visits for families as part of the Bunny Photo Experience March 10-April 8.
The Bunny Photo Experience will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Reservations are encouraged at can be made at whereisbunny.com.
Dollywood opens: March 11
Dollywood will begin its 38th season March 11 with some love.
The Pigeon Forge theme park's 'I Will Always Love You Celebration' celebration will kick off the season and commemorate the art of songwriting with the 50th year anniversary of one of Dolly's biggest hits.
The event will recognize a number of up-and-coming singers/songwriters that will perform shows throughout the park. Special park décor and limited-time merchandise will also be showcased to celebrate the anniversary. Dollywood also has rides, restaurants, museums and children's activities for guests.
Dollywood admission includes daily ticket and season pass options. For a full list, visit dollywood.com.
Knoxville Home and Garden Show: March 11-12
Planning any house or outdoor projects this year? The Knoxville's Home and Garden Spring Show will take place over two days and is free to the public. The show will have booths with home improvement ideas, products and services along with seminars and door prizes.
The event will go from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 11 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12 at the Knoxville Expo Center.
KSO’s 'The Music of Whitney Houston': March 11
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will salute to American icon, Whitney Houston through their Thermal Label Warehouse/Shaw Family Pops Series. Vocalist Amanda Cole takes center stage for an evening of Whitney’s greatest hits including “I Will Always Love You,” “Saving All My Love,” “The Greatest Love of All,” and “How Will I Know?”
The concert will be held at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. March 11. For more information about the performance and to purchase tickets, visit knoxvillesymphony.com.
St. Patrick's Day events: March 17
Along with spring, March also brings St. Patrick's Day, and Knoxville will have plenty of ways to celebrate when it arrives.
The holiday lands March 17, but the party will last throughout the weekend.
Barley's St. Patrick's Day 5K and 10K, will take place ahead of the St. Patrick's Day holiday at 2 p.m. March 12. The admission price includes a T-shirt, pizza and two beers from Barley's. To register, visit runsignup.com. Proceeds will benefit Emily's Power For A Cure, which raises money and awareness for neuroblastoma research.
St. Patrick's Day Old City Pub Crawl, will begin 5 p.m-2 a.m March 17. By purchasing a $20 wristband, you will have access to 14 locations around the Old City. Wristbands will be available at the doors of all participating venues the night of the event. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Historic Old City Association. The participating locations include Barley's, Hanna's, Boyd's Jig & Reel, Merchants of Beer, Fin-Two, Old City Sports Bar, Postmodern Spirits, Monkey's Bar, Pour Taproom, Pretentious Beer Co., Southbound, Urban Bar, Wagon Wheel and Brother Wolf.
St. Hat Tricks Knoxville Ice Bears Game, celebrates the festivities of St. Patrick's Day with the Knoxville Ice Bears with a Friday night home game against Roanoke Rail Guard Dawgs at 7:35 p.m. March 17. Visit the pregame beer garden in the pavilion and enjoy other St. Patrick's Day activities. Get tickets at ticketmaster.com.
Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Crawl, will start up Friday evening and include food and drink specials at several downtown locations. Check-in goes from 4-7 p.m. at Skybox Sports Bar and Grill, and the event will close with an after party from 10 p.m.-midnight at Scruffy City Hall, according to the event's website. Participating bars include Mirage Knoxville, Bernadette's Crystal Gardens, Preservation Pub, Scruffy City Hall, Skybox Sports Bar and Grill, The Lost Tavern and Tommy Trent's. Tickets cost $20, and you can get them at crawlwith.us/knoxville.
Knoxville St. Patrick's Day Parade, kicks off at 7 p.m. March 17. The parade will be held within the streets of downtown Knoxville, with grand marshal and comedian, Leanne Morgan leading the way. For more information and parade route map, visit knoxstpatricksparade.com.
Old Sevier St. Patrick's Day Crawl, is March 18, all day starting at 11 a.m. There will be drink specials, prize packages, and special events. The participating locations include Printshop Beer Co., Trailhead Beer Market, Landing House, Alliance Brewing Company, Simpl, South Coast Pizza, SouthSide Garage, Hi-Wire Brewing and Red Bud Kitchen. Street parking available around Sevier Avenue and overflow parking located underneath James White Parkway.
Knox Shamrock Fest, will be held 1-5 p.m. March 19 at the World's Fair Park Performance Lawn. This family friendly St. Patrick's Day Festival will feature live Irish music, inflatables, face painting, balloon twisting, Irish cultural events and Irish treats.
KSO’s 'Appalachian Journeys': March 23-24
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will perform sounds from spring in the Appalachian mountains through their Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series. For the first half of this program, the KSO will feature Aaron Copland’s timeless Suite from Appalachian Spring. The performance will also showcase the Tennessee premiere of the Suite from Cold Mountain by Pulitzer and Grammy award-winning composer (and East Tennessee native) Jennifer Higdon. The concert finale will feature Jean Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony, complete with its “Swan Theme.” Post-concert Q&A with Maestro Demirjian will take place after the performance.
The concert will be held at the Tennessee Theatre at 7:30 p.m. March 23 and March 24. For more information about the performance and to purchase tickets, visit knoxvillesymphony.com.
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Bassmaster Classic: March 24-26
The championship bass tournament Bassmaster Classic will be March 24-26 in downtown Knoxville, on the University of Tennessee Campus and Tennessee River. The Bassmaster Classic has 55 of the world’s best bass anglers competing for the title of Bassmaster Classic Champion. The Classic is a catch-and-release event, with bass being returned to the fishery under the supervision of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
There will be a Visit Knoxville Kickoff Party resented by TNT Fireworks at 5-8 p.m. March 23 at the Knoxville Convention Center Outdoor Plaza Terrace. This will be a free, family-friendly event and open to the public.
On March 24-26, daily takeoffs will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Volunteer Landing in downtown Knoxville. Weigh-ins will take place at 3:30 p.m. each day in the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus. The fan-favorite Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will be held March 24-26, in the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.
All activities and venues are free and open to the public. For more information, visit visitknoxville.com/bassmaster or bassmaster.com.
Big Ears Festival: March 30-April 2
Knoxville's Big Ears Festival is bringing a variety of musical performances, art and film to downtown March 30-April 2.
The festival will take place at several downtown locations and features a lineup with David Byrne, Los Lobos, Andrew Bird, Son Lux, Bela Fleck and others.
Big Ears general admission weekend passes start at $350, and daily tickets are also available. They range from $115 to $150, according to the event's website. You can purchase them in advance at bigearsfestival.org.
Appalachian Ballet’s 'Peter Pan': April 1-2
The Maryville-based Appalachian Ballet Company dances the fairy tale of “Peter Pan” at 7 p.m. April 2 and 8 p.m. April 2 at the Clayton Center for the Arts.
Tickets for the ballet performance are $40 for adults, $20 for children at appalachianballet.com or the Clayton Center, 865-981-8590. The center is on the Maryville College campus.
Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon: April 2
The annual Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon will take place through downtown Knoxville, UT's campus and beyond. The race features a number of distances, including a marathon, half-marathon, two- and four-person relays, a 5K and the Covenant Health Kids Run.
The kids run and 5K will kick off the event on April 1, with the kids run at 5:30 p.m. and the 5K at 7 p.m. The marathon, relays and half-marathon will start at 7:30 a.m. April 2. All races will begin at Clinch Avenue Bridge and finish in World’s Fair Park, according to the event's website. You can sign up for the race or get info on how you can spectate at knoxvillemarathon.com.
If you would like to see your March spring event featured on this list, email Hayley.Choy@KnoxNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville things to do in spring: Big Ears, Bassmaster, Dollywood
