South Knoxville
Vestival returns this year on its traditional Mother’s Day-weekend Saturday, and organizers are hoping for pre-pandemic-size crowds. The Candoro Marble property is the location for all kinds of fun – music, food, dancing, kids’ activities, craft vendors, giant puppets from the Cattywampus Puppet Council and performers from Dragonfly Aerial Arts. The festival runs 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested for admission.
Also in Vestal, the usual First Saturday Makers Market will be held at the Sustainable Future Center, 201 Ogle Ave. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so you can visit before Vestival opens.
Meanwhile, Tea & Treasures, 4101 W. Martin Mill Pike, will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Featured artist Marlene Burnett will be on hand at 11 Saturday to show her necklaces and suncatchers.
Tonight, you can unwind before rushing home to watch the election results by going to Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave. The Knoxville Youth Jazz Orchestra will perform 6-8 p.m., and the event is free! Swing into a great mood while listening to some of Knoxville’s best young musicians. On Sunday, Ijams is hosting the Knoxville Opera’s “Viva la Mamma!, a Musical Tribute to Mothers.” Soprano Jacqueline Brecheen and tenor Tim Pope will be featured. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs or sit on the grass. Tickets are $8 adults, $5 students.
Downtown
River & Rail Theatre Company (111 State St.) is back in action with a production of Lynn Nottage’s “Sweat,” winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for drama, through Sunday, May 8. And tonight, you can experience a popup preview of the play followed by music bingo at Knox Brew Hub, 421 Union Ave. The popup is 5:30-7 p.m., and the bingo starts at 7.
Union Ave Books is holding an author event tonight to celebrate Ashlee Latimer and her book “Francis Discovers Possible,” a journey of self-acceptance. Knoxville resident Latimer is a writer, director and producer. The free program is at 6 p.m. today.
The Suffrage Coalition is holding a 102-year celebration of Women’s Suffrage by staging a reenactment of a suffrage parade. The parade will step off at 4 p.m. Saturday on Willow Avenue in the Old City, then head to Gay Street, turning right at Clinch Avenue and proceeding to Market Square. There will be a program starting 15 minutes after the parade ends. If you want to blend in with the parade participants in solidarity, wear vintage or white clothes.
If you’re looking for a good time before the weekend, Concerts on the Square Jazz Tuesday returns tonight. The city of Knoxville offers these free concerts weekly through Sept. 27. The Sam Adams Quartet performs tonight. Next Tuesday will bring Eric Reed.
East Knoxville
The Burlington Branch Library’s monthly Game Night is this Thursday, May 5, and in honor of Cinco de Mayo, the featured game will be Taco vs. Burrito. Register online or call 865-525-5431 by 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Game Night is for children, youth and adults, and a variety of board games, card games, PS4 and Wii games will be available. The library is at 4614 Asheville Highway.
Betsy Pickle is a freelance writer and editor who covers South, East and Downtown Knoxville as well as green things.