Penny4Arts
Penny4Arts gives every child in Knox and surrounding counties an opportunity to attend arts and culture events/activities at the maximum cost of ONE PENNY (or FREE) when accompanied by a paying adult. See below for more details, or call us at 865-523-7543 for help. New events are added throughout the year, so please check back!
Many thanks to the employees of Messer Construction for their support of this program!
Click here to view year-round events
East Tennessee Historical Society: History Hootenanny
East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
The East Tennessee Historical Society announces the 3rd annual History Hootenanny, a celebration of East Tennessee History. History Hootenanny showcases the best of the East Tennessee History Center and partners at this open house. This year’s theme is “Music in East Tennessee” as we celebrate the closing of, “They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler.” Guests can enjoy live music, music-themed children’s activities, a used local history book sale, Knoxville walking tours, shuttles to the Historic House Museums of Knoxville, and more! History Hootenanny is a free, public history event organized in partnership by the East Tennessee Historical Society and Knox County Public Library.
Advanced reservations required: NO
Contact: 865-215-8824, eths@easttnhistory.org
https://www.easttnhistory.org/event/history-hootenanny-2/
Tennessee Valley Fair: Penny4Arts Admission Day
Chilhowee Park and Exposition Center, 3301 E. Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914
The Tennessee Valley Fair is one of the state’s largest multi-day events attracting thousands of people each year. Known for its innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, exciting rides and a variety of unique fun foods, the Tennessee Valley Fair offers tremendous family entertainment for guests of all ages. For more information, please visit www.tnvalleyfair.org. On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Knox County students kindergarten-12th grade may enjoy free admission by presenting this voucher (download the PDF). Gates open at 10:00am and rides open at 5:00pm. No entry after 10:00pm. Students may be required to show proof of Knox County residence. Not valid any other day or with any other offers.
Open to students outside of Knox County: NO
Advanced reservations required: NO, but voucher must be presented at the gate
For more information, please contact: fair@tnvalleyfair.org or (865)215-1471
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven & Gershwin
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Sep 19-20, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Natasha Paremski, piano GABRIELA ORTIZ: Kauyumari
GEORGE GERSHWIN: Concerto in F
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Fourth
Chamber Classics Series
Sun Sep 29, 2:30 PM
Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Emi Kagawa, piano
DOSIA MCKAY: The Lure of the Flowering Fern – KSO Commission and World Premiere WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 17
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the Friday before Chamber performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Oct 17-18, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Paul Huang, violin SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: Ballade for Orchestra
JOHANNES BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: The Firebird
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Nov 14-15, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; William Shaub, violin JOHN WILLIAMS: “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter
CLAUDE DEBUSSY: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
IGOR STRAVINSKY: Violin Concerto in D
LERA AUERBACH: Icarus
IGOR STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Mahler’s Fifth
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Jan 16-17, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (arr STOKOWSKI): Toccata and Fugue in D minor
GUSTAV MAHLER: Symphony No. 5
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Mozart & More
Chamber Classics Series
Sun Jan 26, 2:30 PM
Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Edward Pulgar, violin/conductor
JOSEF WERNER: Elegie
KEN BENSHOOF: Cello Quartet
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (arr. ROMM): Little Fugue in G Major VICTOR EWALD: Brass Quintet No. 1
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the Friday before Chamber performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Feb 20-21, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Laura Beth Wells, narrator; Tori Franklin, vocalist; Appalachian Ballet Company; Women of the Webb School & Pellissippi State Community College choirs
RUTH CRAWFORD-SEEGER: Rissolty, Rossolty
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA: Cantus arcticus: Concerto for Birds & Orchestra
BEDRICH SMETANA: “The Moldau” from My Fatherland FELIX MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Mediterranean Masters
Chamber Classics Series
Sun Mar 2, 2:30 PM
Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Noam Aviel, conductor; Cindy Emory, harp
GIOACHINO ROSSINI: La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder)
JOAQUIN RODRIGO: Concierto serenata
EDUARD TOLDRA: Vistes al mar (Sea Views)
OTTORINO RESPIGHI: Gli ucceli (The Birds)
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the Friday before Chamber performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Scheherazade
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Mar 20-21, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Conner Gray Covington, conductor; Janice Carissa, piano
ANNA CLYNE: This Midnight Hour
ROBERT SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A minor
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Chamber Classics Series
Sun Apr 6, 2:30 PM
Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Sean Claire, violin; Zofia Glashauser, violin; I-Pei Lin, violin; Kyle Venlet, violin
STACY GARROP: Spectacle of Light
CLARICE ASSAD: Suite for Lower Strings
MOLLY HERRON: Spin, Span, Spun ANTONIO VIVALDI: Four Seasons
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the Friday before Chamber performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: Carmina Burana
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri Apr 24-25, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Ashley Fabian, soprano; Andrew Skoog, tenor; Alex Desocio, baritone; Knoxville Choral Society; Knoxville Symphony Youth Choir
CARLOS SIMON: Fate Now Conquers
SAMEUL BARBER: Symphony No. 1 in One Movement CARL ORFF: Carmina Burana
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra: New World Symphonies
MoxCar Marketing + Communications Masterworks Series
Thu-Fri May 15-16, 7:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Aram Demirjian, conductor; Indigenous Vibes, drums
FLORENCE PRICE: Colonial Dance
DERRICK SKYE: New African Drum Concerto – KSO commission & world premiere
ANTONIN DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)
Advance reservations required? YES – we stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at 5 PM the day of the show for Masterworks performances.
Contact: KSO Box Office, 865-291-3310, boxoffice@knoxvillesymphony.com
https://knoxvillesymphony.com
The following guidelines apply to every Penny4Arts event:
+ Open to Knox and surrounding County residents (with a few exceptions);
+ All children ages 5-15 must be accompanied by a paying adult (age 18 and older) in a ratio not to exceed three children per one adult.
+ Proof of Knox and surrounding County residency may be required;
+ At least one in a group of up to four students ages 16-18 must purchase a regular adult admission/ticket (if applicable) for the group to be able to participate in Penny4Arts.