A shoutout to Jack and Beverly Kramer who have put a conservation easement on their 121-acre farm in Jefferson County. The farm includes the Isaac McBee house, built in 1850. The Foothills Land Conservancy, led by executive director Bill Clabough, and FLC biologist Shelby Lyn Sanders aided the Kramers in establishing the permanent protection for their land.
Congratulations to the Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club. It is 50 years old this month.
And volunteer if you can to help in the Christmas Bird Count.
Let’s look at December’s outdoors calendar:
Ongoing
Holidays on Ice – until Jan 2: Market Square. Info: Visit Knoxville at 865-523-7263. Enjoy skating under the stars and twinkling lights while listening to music every night on Market Square. Admission price includes entry fee, skate rental and unlimited time on ice. Details and tickets online.
Light the Park – until Jan 2: 5:30 to 10 p.m., Founders Park at Campbell Station. Free. Info: Town of Farragut at 865-218-3378. Details online.
Holiday Festival of Lights – Dec 1-31: 6-9 p.m., The Cove at Concord Park. Free. Info: Knox County Parks & Rec at 865-215-6600. Stroll through the illuminating Christmas displays along the mile park loop. Park staff will be offering train rides on Monday evenings. Lights will only be accessible via train ride on Mondays. Details online.
Saturday, December 10
Tour de Lights: 5:30 p.m., Suttree Landing Park. Free. Info: Bike Walk Knoxville. Fun, family friendly holiday bike ride. Show your holiday spirit by decorating yourself and your bike. Details online.
Hike with a Ranger: 1 p.m., Cedar Hill Park, Oak Ridge. Free. Info: Manhattan Project National Historical Park at 865-576-6767. On the 2.5-mile hike along the Cedar Hill Greenway, rangers will discuss the early school system of Oak Ridge, early shopping centers and housing in the Clinton Engineer Works (pre-Oak Ridge).
Sunday, December 11
AMBC Holiday Soiree: 6-9 p.m., Suttree’s High Gravity Tavern. Info: Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. Join us for good fun, pop-a-shot, skee ball, pinball, last-minute AMBC merchandise shopping and pints with friends.
Friday, December 16
Owl Prowl: 5:30 p.m., Ijams Nature Center. Cost $15. Info: Ijams Nature Center at 865-577-4717. Participants will learn about unique owl adaptations that help them rule the night. We’ll go out in search of barred, screech and great horned owls, all while practicing their calls and putting our own senses to the ultimate nocturnal test. Register online.
Downtown Fun Run: 6:30 p.m., Pour Taproom. Free. Info: 865 Running. Join us every Friday for a 3-mile social run through downtown, World’s Fair Park and the river walk. Afterwards drinks with 10% off. All levels.
Saturday, December 17
12ks of Christmas and Reindeer Relay: 8 a.m., Domino’s Pizza. Info: Personal Best Racing at 865-567-0358. Run the streets of Old North Knox for 12ks of a good time. Register online.
Rock’in Santa Half Marathon: 9 a.m., Victor Ashe Park. Info: Sunshine Ambassadors at 865-621-8273. Benefits the Sunshine Ambassadors, enriching the lives of people with disabilities through dance. Christmas Rock-n-Roll music will abound along the routes. Register online.
Visit us online at OutdoorKnoxville.com Add your event to our calendar: Submit an Event at https://outdoorknoxville.com/events-calendar/submit-an-event/
Carol Evans is executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation.