Charlotte's Web at Knoxville Children's Theatre: A Maryville Family Trip Worth the Drive (Sept 20-27)
Look, I will admit it: a 25-minute drive to a kids theatre in Knoxville sounded like a lot on a school night. But this week Knoxville Children's Theatre is putting on Charlotte's Web, and for families in Maryville it is about as close to a no-brainer as a live show gets.
KCT is a real local gem. The kids on that stage are kids - it's a theatre company producing professional-quality plays for children, by children, and they've been doing it well enough that Visit Knoxville, MapQuest, and the company's own site all point families there. The current show is E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, adapted by Tony Award-winning playwright Joseph Robinette - the version that's faithful to the book you probably read aloud a hundred times.
The dates and times
The show runs through Sunday, September 27, 2026. There are evening performances this week - Thursday, September 24 at 7 PM and Friday, September 25 at 7 PM - plus weekend matinees (Sunday, September 27 at 3 PM) and daytime school shows earlier in the week. Tickets run about $14 to $18, which for a live kids production in Knoxville is genuinely reasonable.
Where it is and how to get there
KCT is at 747 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902 - right by the Knoxville Museum of Art. From Maryville, it's mostly a straight shot up US-129/Pellissippi and into downtown Knoxville, roughly 25 minutes when traffic cooperates.
Parking is the part parents actually stress about, and it's fine: there's plenty of free parking right at the facility in front, the side, and the back, plus additional free parking across the street in the city lot by the Knoxville Museum of Art. If you've got a kiddo who needs the accessible entrance, the main lot has handicapped spaces and the building has accessible entrances.
What to know before you go
- Buy tickets ahead. The performance page lists seats by showtime, and school matinees can fill fast. Grab yours early rather than chancing walk-up.
- It's a real play, not a singalong. This is a faithful adaptation - great for older elementary and up, and for little ones who can sit through a story they know. If your kid is new to live theatre, this is a gentle, familiar first show.
- Plan a tiny bit of buffer. Aim to leave Maryville a little early; World's Fair Park is easy to find, but the Henley Street/Western exit into downtown has a few lights.
- Make an afternoon of it. The matinee is at 3 PM on Sunday - pair it with a walk around World's Fair Park before or after, and you've got a whole easy day.
The bottom line: if you're looking for one thing this week that gets the kids off screens and into seats, Charlotte's Web at KCT checks the boxes - real theatre, familiar story, honest prices, and a parking situation that won't ruin your mood. Grab tickets before this run closes Sunday.