• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Memory Magic scrapbook event in Oak Ridge in September

Posted at 3:57 am August 24, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

A previous Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring the 12th Annual Memory Magic scrapbook event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Friday, September 22, and Saturday, September 23.

The event will include vendors and a large crop area, but there is limited seating, a press release said. Online registration is under way and will continue through Wednesday, September 20. Walk-in registration is also available during business hours at the Civic Center front desk.

The crop area will open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each day. Participants will receive a crop space, an event tote, light snacks during the evening hours, and tickets for prize drawings, the press release said. The cost to crop is $30 for one day or $50 for both days. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Memory Magic Scrapbook event, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department

Girls Inc. art on display at Library in August

Posted at 1:32 am August 7, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The art exhibit at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of August is a collection of drawings and paintings by young artists from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

This organization first began in 1976 as a girls-only sports program, but quickly grew into an after school, summer camp, and sports program for girls between five and 18 years old. Girls Inc. serves more than 850 girls per year, a press release said.

Girls in the program are encouraged to be strong, smart, and bold, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Education, Entertainment, Front Page News Tagged With: art exhibit, City of Oak Ridge, Girls Inc., Oak Ridge Public Library

Secret City Festival includes free concerts, art show, other activities this weekend

Posted at 12:49 pm June 9, 2017
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A.K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

 

The Secret City Festival features free concerts and other activities at Alvin K. Bissell Park this weekend. Organizers have posted an entertainment schedule for both days, which is printed below.

Organizers said parking is available at the west end of the park (enter via Badger Road), Oak Ridge High School, First Methodist Church, and various paid lots around town. Accessible parking is available at the Oak Ridge Public Library.

The TN Creates Juried Art Show begins at 10 a.m. daily in the Shep Lauter Room at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and all other festival activities begin at 2 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday, organizers said. Admission is free.

There are free water stations throughout the park and water and other drinks are available for purchase via vendors, organizers said. There are food vendors at the festival, and “we have plenty of cold beer and moonshine cocktails ready to go,” organizers said.

Other activities include a petting zoo, wildlife encounter, Home Depot area, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Traveling Science Fair, according to an event map, which is included below.

Here’s the entertainment schedule for Friday and Saturday: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Community, Entertainment, Movies, Music, Nonprofits, Slider Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Celebrate Oak Ridge, Dr. Dog, entertainment schedule, free concert, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Traveling Science Fair, Secret City Festival, The Black Lillies, TN Creates Juried Art Show

Reminder: Secret City Festival under way this week

Posted at 11:49 am June 3, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Pictured above are World War II re-enactor Ben Arnold, right, a board member of the Celebrate Oak Ridge task force, and Judi Gray. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Pictured above are World War II re-enactor Ben Arnold, right, a board member of the Celebrate Oak Ridge task force, and Judi Gray, who helped announce the musical entertainment scheduled for Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:15 a.m. June 5.

A reminder: The new weeklong Secret City Festival is under way, and it started Friday, June 2. The festival is free, and it includes two weekends and two weekdays. Most of the events are at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The first weekend (June 2-4) celebrated Oak Ridge and World War II history. A free family movie will be shown on Tuesday, June 6, and the arts will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 7. Music and art are the focus of the second weekend, June 9-10.

The festival has been organized by Celebrate Oak Ridge. A schedule of events is below, and a schedule for this weekend is also included.

Saturday, June 3, was a big day, organizers said. There were World War II re-enactments at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., speakers throughout the day, the Freedom Belles, USO show, and more at Bissell Park. Historic exhibitions continued at Midtown Community Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Community, Entertainment, Music, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Alvin K. Bissell Park, Ben Arnold, CAF Redtails, Cattywampus Puppet Council, Celebrate Oak Ridge, Celebrate Our Heroes, Celebrate the Arts, Dave Eggar, Dr. Dog, Electric Darling, Freedom Belles, Hudson K, Interfaith Celebration of Music & Dance, J-25 Jazz Quartet, Judi Gray, Kathy Hill & The Deltas, Megan and her Goody Goodies, Michael Messing Magic, Midtown Community Center, Natti Lovejoys, Nora Jane Struthers, Oak Ridge After DArk, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Secret City Festival, Shana Banana, The Accidentals, The Black Lillies, Tim Kubart, TN Creates, Tuskegee Airmen, Vintage Rhythm Room, Warren Gooch, World War II, World War II re-enactment

RISE ABOVE: Redtail exhibition soars into Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:28 am June 1, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Rise Above

Commemorative Air Force project celebrating Tuskeegee Airmen appears as part of Secret City Festival’s “Celebrate Our Heroes” weekend

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron, America’s tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, brings their RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to Oak Ridge this week as part of the Secret City Festival’s “Celebrate Our Heroes” event. The exhibit is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through Saturday at 115 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge in front of Maxed Out Gym.

The RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit is a fully functional mobile movie theater housed in a climate controlled 53-foot semi trailer that is deployed to events around the country. This immersive experience inspires and educates audiences about the Tuskegee Airmen, our country’s first black military pilots and their support personnel, and the obstacles they had to overcome to serve their country during World War II. Because of its dynamic 160-degree panoramic screen, the film creates the feeling of being in the cockpit soaring above the clouds in the P-51C Mustang—the signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen. View a preview at www.redtail.org/traveling-exhibit/.

More than half a million people in 36 states have experienced a compelling and inspirational piece of American history delivered by this unique educational outreach vehicle since the program launched in 2011, a press release said. Each year, the CAF Red Tail Squadron embarks on a nine-month cross-country tour that includes appearances at air shows, schools, museums, and community events. The group’s six guiding principles—Aim High, Believe In Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready To Go, Never Quit, and Expect to Win—serve as the foundation for their outreach programs and are based on the experiences and successes of the Tuskegee Airmen. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: CAF, CAF Red Tail Squadron, Celebrate Our Heroes, Commemorative Air Force, Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron, Dr. Dog, Interfaith Evening of Music and Dance, living history, Megan and her Goody Goodies, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge After DArk, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, RISE ABOVE, RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, Secret City Festival, Sing!, The Black Lillies, Tuskegee Airmen, Vintage Rhythm Room, World War II re-enactments

Secret City Festival: Seven days of celebration

Posted at 4:53 pm May 29, 2017
By Carolyn H Krause Leave a Comment

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, 2017, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge. (Photo and caption courtesy Celebrate Oak Ridge and Carolyn Krause)

 

Two weekends, counting Fridays. Two weekdays. Seven days of celebration, from June 2 through June 10, mostly at A. K. Bissell Park. And admission to all events is free of charge.

The new Secret City Festival, brought to you by Celebrate Oak Ridge, will be bookended by two special weekends. The first weekend will celebrate Oak Ridge and World War II history. A free family movie will be shown on Tuesday, June 6; the arts will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 7; and music and art are the focus of the second weekend, June 9-10.

Celebrate Oak Ridge June 2017 Schedule Web

On Friday, June 2, tours of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with shuttles running to and from the American Museum of Science and Energy and New Hope Center. U.S. citizenship and pre-registration are required for tours. Graphite Reactor tours at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will also be held then on a first-come, first-served basis, with departure on buses from AMSE.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch will officially open the festival, and the crew of the U.S.S. Oak Ridge will present and ring the U.S.S. Oak Ridge bell at 8:30 p.m. At 9 p.m., the movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” will be shown free of charge.

Overnight, approximately 200 re-enactors will be setting up an overnight encampment with World War II-era tents in Bissell Park. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Community, Dancing, Entertainment, Music, Nonprofits, Slider Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, Adam Austin, American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, Cattywampus Puppet Council, Celebrate Oak Ridge, Celebrate the Arts, Cereus Bright, Clinton Riddle, Dave Eggar, Dr. Dog, Edgar Harrell, Eileen Neiler, Electric Darling, First United Methodist Church Choir, Grace Covenant Church Choir, Green McAdoo Cultural Center, Henry Fribourg, Hudson K, Interfaith Celebration of Music & Dance, J-25 Jazz Quartet of Oak Ridge, Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Dance Group, Kathy Hill & The Deltas, Megan and her Goody Goodies, Michael Messing Magic, Midtown Community Center, Natti Lovejoys, New Hope Center, Nora Jane Struthers, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge After DArk, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association Dance Group, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Band, Ready for Rain Band, Robyn James Ensemble, Secret City Festival, Secret City Winds, Shana Banana, Sing!, Teen Spirit, The Accidentals, The Black Lillies, Tim Kubart, Udari Jayasiri, United Way of Anderson County, Warren Gooch, World War II, Y-12 National Security Complex

Public invited to Congressional Art Competition at Roane State Oak Ridge campus on Sunday

Posted at 11:30 am April 28, 2017
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

The public is invited to the 2017 Congressional Art Competition Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 30, at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus.

The Art Competition for students in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, represented by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, is held annually to recognize the artistic talents of high school students.

The Awards Ceremony will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. in the City Room of the Coffey-McNally Building. Visitors are welcome to view the artwork, which is on display on campus, located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge. Seating for the Awards Ceremony is limited.

The main goal of the art competition is to support and foster creativity among America’s youth. The winner of the art competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Also, the winner will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a reception and see their artwork hung inside the U.S. Capitol, a press release said.

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill.

Filed Under: Arts, College, Education, Entertainment, Federal, Government Tagged With: 2017 Congressional Art Competition Awards Ceremony, art, art competition, Chuck Fleischmann, Congressional Medal of Honor Student Art Exhibit, education, Roane State, Roane State Community College

Jefferson Middle School artists take second-place award in Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk

Posted at 2:00 pm April 16, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

ChalkWalk_JMS_StudentsPainting

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1.

The girls planned their masterpiece for several months and spent eight hours drawing it onto the pavement at Market Square, a press release said. Their work depicted an old painting of a Kraken attacking a ship and then beginning to emerge in vivid colors from the frame. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Education, Entertainment, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Anshra Ajaz, Avery Parish, Chalk Walk, Dogwood Arts Festival, Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk, Holly Cross, Jefferson Middle School, Jim Dodson, Kiri Nelson

Reception for Roane State Student Art Show is April 27

Posted at 8:22 pm March 29, 2017
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College will host an April 27 reception as part of its annual Student Art Show in the O’Brien Art Gallery on the Roane County campus.

The reception and awards ceremony is Thursday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in the art gallery. The public is invited.

This annual event (April 12-27) is open to all Roane State student artists and is an opportunity for students to hone their skills and gain exhibition experience. This year’s juror is Brian Jobe.

For more information, please contact Stacy Jacobs at jacobssl@roanestate.edu, (865) 354-3000, ext. 4311; or Bryan Wilkerson at wilkersonbs@roanestate.edu, (865) 354-3000, ext. 4748.

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill.

Filed Under: Arts, College, Education, Entertainment, Front Page News Tagged With: art, Brian Jobe, Bryan Wilkerson, O'Brien Art Gallery, Roane State, Roane State Community College, Stacy Jacobs, Student Art Show

Art Center show to highlight works by instructors, students

Posted at 9:26 pm March 10, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

student2

The next installation in the Oak Ridge Art Center’s galleries will be the Instructor/Student Show titled “Movers, Shakers, Mentors, Makers II.”

This will showcase works by the current instructors and their students, a press release said.

“So if you were curious as to what happens in their classes, you will not want to miss this amazing show!” the press release said.

There will be an opening reception for this show from 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 17, with a gallery talk about the newest installation at 6:30 p.m. It’s a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend, the press release said.

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: instructor/student show, Movers Shakers Mentors Makers II, Oak Ridge Art Center, opening reception

Semi-animated musical show Saturday at Grove Theater

Posted at 9:07 pm March 10, 2017
By Carolyn Krause Leave a Comment

Pink House performers

“The Pink House: A Tale of Two Faces” will be presented on Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Grove Theater.

This traveling, semi-animated variety show hosts eminent local musicians in an ongoing epic about an artist and his various misadventures, a press release said.

The show is illustrated by Desmond Darko of Oak Ridge. It is voice-acted by Darko, Courtney Harvey, and Austin Puckett.

Musical guests are Mojlae, a folk guitarist who experiments with electronic and synthetic sounds, and The Shut Inns, an alternative rock band that uses grunge and punk influences. To hear samples of Mojlae’s music, visit https://soundcloud.com/mojlae. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music Tagged With: Austin Puckett, Courtney Harvey, Desmond Darko, Grove Theater, Mojlae, musical show, The Pink House, The Pink House: A Tale of Two Faces, The Shut Inns

See the 2017 Secret City Festival schedule here

Posted at 4:03 am March 10, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival Flyer 2017

See the Secret City Festival schedule of events above. The events start Friday, June 2, and end June 17.

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. For more information, contact sponsor@celebrateoakridge.org.

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Dancing, Entertainment, Front Page News, Movies, Music, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Secret City Festival

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Recent Posts

  • Anderson County Chamber Headquarters Dedication Set for October 17
  • ORISE announces winners of 2025 Future of Science Awards
  • SL Tennessee Supports New Anderson County Chamber Headquarters
  • ORAU 2025 Pollard Scholarship recipients announced
  • Democratic Womens Club Hosts State Rep. Sam McKenzie
  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Womens Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karens Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today