OK, kids, you’re going to have to come up with something super-awesome for Mother’s Day on Sunday because this weekend, Saturday is when everything’s happening.
For starters, there’s the oldest-established permanent (but not floating, unless rain douses the premises) festival in South Knox, Vestival. Hosted by the Candoro Arts & Heritage Center on the grounds of Candoro Marble (at the corner of Maryville Pike and Candora Avenue), Vestival is a sweet, homey gathering of artists, musicians, hippies and families set in the historic neighborhood of Vestal.
Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Vestival offers three stages with an eclectic mix of artists. Many of the area’s best and brightest will play music on the main stage, with Mic Harrison & the High Score capping the day at 4 p.m. Other highlights of the main and Carriage House stages include the Lonetones, Quartjar, Knox County Jug Stompers and Shayla McDaniel.
Dragonfly Circus & Aerial Arts will perform at 12:15 and 3:15 p.m. on the grassy stage – they’re always a favorite with both kids and adults. The complete lineup is here.
Vestival also features a wealth of food vendors, craft vendors and other merchants along with activities for kids. A suggested donation of $5 per person is encouraged for entry.
Puppets love to party (just like Mom)
A bedazzled eye for the parade (Cattywampus Puppet Council Facebook photo)
Meanwhile, in East Knoxville, the third annual Appalachian Puppet Pageant starts at noon from Dr. Walter Hardy Park. You like giant puppets? You will love this event.
Hosted by arts nonprofit Cattywampus Puppet Council and partners St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Our Community Organization, Good Guy Collective, Carpetbag Theatre and African American Appalachian Arts, the parade will feature community members who have made puppets, masks, costumes, flags and other art inspired by the theme “I See You.”
The parade will conclude with a block party 1-4 p.m. at Paul Hogue Park, where there will be live hip-hop and dance performances and art and play activities for all ages.
The parade and party are free and open to the public, especially moms.
Saturday is the new Friday
First Friday has gotten so packed that A1LabArts, 23 Emory Place, has decided to create Second Saturday to showcase its new exhibitions. So you can take Mom to view “Hairball,” A1’s member exhibition, from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 11, and impress her with your cultural worldview.
Artists with works in the show are Jennifer Corum, Booder Barnes, Sara Blair McNally, Skyler Childress, Anna Lawrence, Sarah Brobst, Bob Thompson, Diana Noe, Wendy Noe, Elizabeth Porter, Joe Strong, Veronica Ludlow, Melanie Kidder, Sandy Lee, Jessica Gregory, Mary Nietling, Donna Headrick Moore, John David Allen, Mignon Naegeli, Aase Vaslow, Neranza Noel Blount, John Fairstein, Shelly Mangold and Athanasios Bayiates.
More info about this exhibition and other events here.
Forget Mars: Moms need guitars!
Epiphone guitars designed by students
If you need more than coffee to get your eyes open, check out the 2019 Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition at Awaken Coffee, 125 W. Jackson Ave.
Dogwood Arts partnered with the Songbirds Foundation in Chattanooga to give 20 high school and middle school students the chance to design guitars provided by Epiphone. Displayed in Chattanooga in April, they will be at Awaken Coffee through May 19.
Does Mom need a guitar? The student-designed guitars are being auctioned online to benefit Dogwood Arts and the Songbirds Foundation’s youth art programs. To view the guitars and place a bid, click here.