The temperatures are dropping, but there are lots of cool activities going on at the Knoxville Zoo.

Celebrate the cooler weather during the Zoo’s Penguin Discount Days. Penguin Discount Days include half-price admission for all zoo guests through Saturday, February 28, 2009. Make sure you visit the zoo during the winter and check out the animals who keep cool.

For more information about the Knoxville Zoo, visit knoxville-zoo.org

The circus is coming to the Knoxville Coliseum from January 22nd – 25th, 2009. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey present BOOM A RING, an action-packed circus spectacular where energy bursts out of the ring, into the audience, and bounces back to electrify the Ringling Bros. performers. Circus-goers will enjoy an up-close and personal experience as they sit feet away from beautiful white tigers, majestic Asian elephants, and thrilling acrobats from around the world. The action in Boom A Ring bounces from one high high-energy act to the next, featuring a daring crossbow demonstration that takes archery to new extremes, a gravity-defying performance on the whirling Wheel of Steel, a high wire extravaganza that tests the limits of human balance and breathtaking aerialists gracefully soaring over the audience’s heads. Boom A Ring is a one-of-a-kind experience that engages all of the senses while providing children of all ages with a day at The Greatest Show On Earth they never imagined possible!

Arrive an hour before show time for the All Access Pre-show – FREE to all ticketholders, and meet Ringling Bros. performers and animals, learn circus skills and enjoy a taste of the circus before the show even starts!

Event Info:
Show Time: Jan 25th 5:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 25th 1:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 24th 7:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 24th 3:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 23rd 7:00 PM
Show Time: Jan 22nd 7:00 PM

Ticket Info:
Ticket prices listed above are the per ticket price at the Knoxville Coliseum Box Office. Tickets may be purchased through the web site or at any of the following outlets: Coliseum Box Office, Charge by Phone – Tickets Unlimited (865) 656-4444 or toll free (877) 995-9961.

Knoxville Zoo is lending a hand to Santa this holiday season!

Santa is busy getting ready for the holidays and has asked the Knoxville Zoo to prepare his reindeer for their annual trip on Christmas Eve.

Stop by Knoxville Zoo between now and January 31 to see some of Santa’s favorite reindeer friends.

For directions, times and more info visit www.knoxville-zoo.org

Now you have no excuse for not taking your family to the Knoxville Museum of Art. From now until the end of 2008 the museum will not charge any admission fees. There are multiple exhibits that can help you bring art to your kids.

Currently there is an exhibit about the quilts of Gee’s Bend. They are beautiful tributes to the women who created these masterpeices with a needle and thread. To learn more about upcoming exhibits you can check out the museum’s website.

Just make sure you take advantage of the no admission fee offer. In a time when most of our budgets are feeling crunched this is a great activity to take part in. Combine it with a trip to the Fort Kid playground across from the museum and your family can make a day of it!

Why not celebrate Earth Day a little early this year with the 2008 Run for Clean Air? On April 12th runners and walkers will gather in Sequoyah Hills to raise awareness for clean air work that is going on in our area.

The fifth annual event begins at 9am and you can register on-site before the race begins. There are all kinds of prizes from Dollywood passes to art by Jim Gray.

Get out and celebrate all that East Tennessee has to offer as we work towards preserving it for future generations. It’s a fun event for your whole family and you will even be able to test drive different models of Hybrid cars from several automakers.

www.runforcleanair.org

As a mother of a two year old and four year old I am in the constant pursuit of family friendly places to dine. Most of the time this exasperated, over-worked momma prefers to eat at home in the privacy of her own kitchen where, when asparasgus is not well-recieved, no other diner is disturbed by large quantities of the vegetable being hurled in their direction. That being said, Knoxville is home to many unique eateries that are the perfect place to share with your family. Read the rest »

What do you get when you combine an outdoor ice-skating rink with a cup of hot chocolate, a dash of holiday music, and a pinch of festivities? The recipe for a perfect date night! Holidays on Ice returns for the second year at Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Beginning November 24 and continuing through January 7, Market Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice-skating rink for children, adults, and groups to enjoy. You can rent skates or bring your own. Get some Christmas shopping done at one of the hip and trendy stores at Market Square. Enjoy dinner at one of the many eateries, ranging from Indian to Italian, and don’t forget to spend some time at the pavilion where you can enjoy the sounds of the season courtesy of the Knoxville Choral Society. Guaranteed to put even the biggest Scrooge in the holiday spirit (not to mention a second date)!