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
Knoxville Children’s Theatre, in partnership with the Clayton Foundation will present a live production of “The
Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe.”
August 7 –23, Thursdays and Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM and 5 PM, and Sundays at 3 PM.
Knoxville Children’s Theatre,747 Worlds Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902
KCT will provide Penny4Arts tickets to any performance except opening and closing shows. Please input the
code penny4lion when you purchase your adult tickets and add one child ticket. Please put in the comments
section of the order how many (up to 3) child tickets you need.
This stage version of C.S. Lewis’ beloved story recreates the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his
struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who wander through an old wardrobe into
the unforgettable land of Narnia. The play is filled with action, including chases, duels, and daring escapes, as
the White Witch fights to maintain her hold on Narnia and prevent the return of Aslan. The world of Narnia is
populated by a rich array of characters, including Mr. Tumnus, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Father Christmas, and a
host of magical creatures. At its heart, the story explores courage, sacrifice, and the triumph of good over evil.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: 100
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: when show is sold out or the day before the show.
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES, please call our box office at (865)208-3677 ext. 1
Contact e-mail: info@knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
Website link for more information: knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
Knoxville Children’s Theatre presents Charlotte’s Web
Thursday and Friday performances in September
747 Worlds Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902
KCT will provide Penny4Arts tickets to performances on Thursday and Friday performances. Please input the code charlottespenny when you purchase your adult tickets and add one child ticket. Please put in the comments section of the order how many (up to 3) child tickets you need.
Charlotte’s Web is one of the top 100 best-selling books of all time and the best-selling children’s paperback book ever published. The New York Times called it “just about perfect, and just about magical in the way it is done.” Tony Award-winning playwright Joseph Robinette’s touching and faithful adaptation brings E. B. White’s beloved story to life on the KCT stage.
In rural Maine, Wilbur, a young orphan pig, is loved by his owner, Fern Arable. But when Wilbur grows too large to remain at home, he is sent to the Zuckerman farm, where his future seems certain. There he befriends Charlotte, a wise and compassionate spider who lives in a corner of the barn. Determined to save Wilbur from slaughter, Charlotte spins a series of miraculous messages that transform the little pig into a local celebrity.
Filled with humor, warmth, and unforgettable characters, Charlotte’s Web is a timeless story about friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: 50
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: The day prior to the show
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES
Contact e-mail: info@knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
Website link for more information: knoxvillechildrenstheatre.com
The Tennessee Valley Fair Penny4Arts Day
Tuesday, Sept. 15 – 5:00-10:00pm
Chilhowee Park – 3301 E. Magnolia Ave, 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 tnvalleyfair.org.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Knox County students kindergarten-12th grade may obtain a voucher (PDF) for free admission by downloading on the Penny4Arts website. Gates and rides open at 5:00pm. No entry after 10:00pm. Students may be required to show proof of Knox County residence.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: N/A
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: 10:00pm
Open to students outside of Knox County: NO
Advanced reservations required: NO
PDF Voucher for Free Admission
For more information, please contact: fair@tnvalleyfair.org
Website link for more information: tnvalleyfair.org
Bijou Theatre presents The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare
Sunday, September 20, 2026 (Doors 2pm Show at 2:30pm)
The Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37902
We begin with Aesop’s classic fable of The Tortoise and the Hare but continue the story which finds them 10 years down the road, now with children of their own and exploring modern day distractions. Smart phones and video games create a new landscape of lost connections to life experiences. The Next Gen features Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare in a whole new kind of race: where their adventures lead them into unexpected territory. Old Man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare must come together despite their differences to find and save their children. What hurdles will they have to overcome to make it to the finish line?
With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling and the creative use of music from classical to pop, this production brings this tale into a new brilliant light.
Presented by Lightwire Theatre, as seen on America’s Got Talent.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: 24
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: At 2:30pm on show day unless sold out
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES
For more information, please contact: To purchase tickets, please call our box office at 865-684-1200 ext 2 or visit in person at 224 Clinch Avenue.
Website link for more information: https://knoxbijou.org/bijou-events/the-adventures-of-tortoise-and-hare/
Bijou Theatre presents The Snowy Day and Other Stories
Sunday, October 18, 2026 Doors 2pm Show Time 2:30pm
The Bijou Theatre, 803 S Gay Street Knoxville, TN 37902
The Snowy Day celebrates the magic and boundless possibilities of the first snowfall! Follow Peter and his friends as they romp and play, starting snow ball fights and making snow angels in this imaginative musical play about the childhood joys and challenges of growing up. Using innovative shadow puppetry, Keats’ treasured characters come to life in this humorous and fun adaptation of Whistle for Willie, Goggles!, A Letter to Amy, and The Snowy Day.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: 24
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: 2:30pm on Show Day or until Sold Out
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES
For more information, please contact: To purchase tickets, please call our box office at 865-684-1200 ext 2 or visit in person at 224 Clinch Avenue.
Website link for more information: https://knoxbijou.org/bijou-events/the-snowy-day-and-other-stories/
The Knoxville Opera presents Die Fledermaus
October 23 at 7:30 PM & October 25 at 2:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre (604 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902)
Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus revels in the elegance and excess of a single night gone slightly off course. Through an elaborate game of disguise, friends, spouses, and rivals cross paths at a glittering masquerade ball where champagne flows freely and no one is who they claim to be. Beneath the comedy, Strauss keeps a sharp eye on social pretense and the thin line between mischief and consequence, all set to some of the most irresistible waltzes ever written.
Performing October 23 and 25, this production captures the spirit of escape and reinvention at the heart of Strauss’s beloved comedy. Identities blur and champagne carries everyone a little further than they intended. Knoxville Opera invites you to settle in and enjoy the ride – an evening where appearances shift, alliances change, and the consequences don’t arrive until morning.
Sung in English with projected English Translations.
Please call the Knoxville Opera box office at 865-524-0795 to reserve Penny4Arts tickets.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: N/A
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: October 23, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES
Contact e-mail: Marie Butler at 865-524-0795 or boxoffice@knoxvilleopera.org
Website link for more information: https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/die-fledermaus
The Knoxville Opera presents Madame Butterfly
January 29 at 7:30 PM & January 31 at 2:30 PM
Tennessee Theatre (604 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902)
Puccini’s Madame Butterfly offers one of opera’s most intimate and devastating portraits. In Nagasaki, a young geisha marries an American naval officer, placing her faith in a future that proves heartbreakingly uncertain. As the years pass, Butterfly holds fast to what she believes is true, even as the world around her shifts. Puccini’s score captures every shade of that journey, from quiet anticipation to overwhelming loss, with remarkable clarity and restraint.
Performing January 29 and 31, this production focuses on sharing Butterfly’s story with directness and honesty. Knoxville Opera invites you to witness a work of profound emotional depth and a tale shaped by memory, endurance, and the lasting imprint of love.
Sung in Italian with projected English Translations.
Parental warning: This production contains mature themes and staged violence.
Please call the Knoxville Opera box office at 865-524-0795 to reserve Penny4Arts tickets.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: N/A
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: January 29, 2027 at 3 p.m.
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: YES
Contact e-mail: Marie Butler at 865-524-0795 or boxoffice@knoxvilleopera.org
Website link for more information: https://www.knoxvilleopera.org/die-fledermaus
Primary Players Children’s Theatre Group presents Shrek Jr.
Saturday, February 6 (performances at 2:00PM and 7PM) & Sunday, February 7 (performance at 2:00PM)
Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College, 502 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville, TN 37804
Primary players Children’s theatre group will be performing Shrek Jr with availability for Penny4theArts on Saturday and Sunday February 6-7, 2027. People wishing to purchase tickets must come in person the MC box office and identify they are purchasing for the Penny4theArts show of their choosing.
Number of seats reserved for Penny4Arts: Unlimited
We stop giving out seats/admissions for Penny4Arts at: N/A
Open to students outside of Knox County: YES
Advanced reservations required: NO
For more information, please contact: Lauren Fugate, lauren@primaryplayers.org
Website link for more information: https://primaryplayers.org/
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.
Are you interested in participating in the Penny4Arts Program?
Please fill out the form below with your event information to be included!