Things To Do In Maryville

The Fanboy Expo, like stepping through the screen of a blockbuster superhero movie, brings comic and movie fans face-to-face with their favorite characters, actors, and artists. For two days, costumed attendees hob-nob with the Highlander, talk shop with Jerry "The King" Lawler , or chat with Lorenzo Lamas about his much publicized transition from starring in Renegade to opening his petting zoo, Lorenzo Lamas' Llamas. In addition to meeting celebrities from silver and small screen sci-fi and fantasy hits, comic book fans can also pick their favorite artist and creator's brain, snagging an autograph in the process. Should they find themselves in need of a new action figure or collectable t-shirt, fans can make their way to a number of merchandise and memorabilia dealer booths throughout the event space.

The Emerging Cinemas network presents world-class performing arts, recorded on-scene at internationally recognized theaters and splashes them across the big screen before popcorn-chomping American audiences. Coppélia, choreographed by Patrice Bart, is a comic tale that follows the en pointe follies of a lovesick villager whose fiancée must compete with a life-like dancing automaton to win his affections. Composed by Mozart, The Magic Flute, a two-act opera with both dialogue and singing, tells the story of young prince Tamino and his love interest, Pamina, as they struggle through a series of fantastical trials and stress-induced cupcake binges to realize their union.

One runner tucks his laser gun under his arm as he ducks behind an obstacle. Just before he's out of sight, his sister shoots at him from afar, settling the score with her sibling without having to deflate the tires on his bicycle. Within Battlefield Knoxville’s 36,000-square-foot arena, up to 40 players, armed with a selection of futuristic and realistic weaponry, go toe to toe at once. During play, groups embody fantasy action scenarios during games of Capture the Flag, Base Assault, and Rescue the Hostage. The facility also includes a gaming center where players give their limbs a rest at 13 flat-screen gaming stations that offer group bouts on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 consoles.

Coal Creek Armory's defense experts supervise a 10-lane indoor range where civilians, law enforcement, and the military hone their firearms handling. A triple-filtration system extracts discharged particles and pumps back out clean air to keep shooters comfortable. Light markers at 7, 15, and 25 yards illuminate the electronically placed targets, and an armored backstop turns the sounds of bullet impact into the pleasing notes of a xylophone. Additionally, every guest gets complimentary eye and ear protection, and a flat rate for handgun rentals lets sportsmen swap out and experience different models. Beyond overseeing the range, Coal Creek's team also leads courses such as basic handgun safety, advanced marksmanship, and training tailored to security officers. The armory also encompasses a pro shop, where onsite gunsmiths repair and customize firearms.

As soon as the players take the court for the 2 p.m. tip-off, the nationally ranked Volunteers basketball squadron is sure to dazzle fans with dribbles, dunks, dishes, and maybe even a few inside-the-park home runs. Lead by the long, athletic prowess of Tobias Harris, Scotty Hopson, Cameron Tatum, and the rest of the sphere-shooting titans, the Volunteers have built a reputation as a fast team that will run the court and score quick, exciting baskets. Diehard Tennessee fans can catch head coach Bruce Pearl as he parades the sideline with a fury of energetic antics to rile up his squadron against the stingy Charleston Cougars team. End 2010 with a flurry of tomahawk jams with today's Groupon to a New Year's Eve Tennessee basketball game.

The noble squires at Sir Goony's Family Fun Center engineer amusement with a sprawling facility dedicated to outdoor recreation. Towering, inflatable slides draw guests' eyes upward at the splash zone, where voyagers shatter the sound barrier in a near-vertical plunge before braking softly in a pool of water mixed with the joyful tears of Isaac Newton's supporters. An enclave of absurd obstacles—including a professorial owl and an irate tree—await to disrupt putts at the Center's two 18-hole miniature-golf courses, which runs alongside scenic water features and other cheerful decor. At Sir Goony's 800-foot go-kart track, racers hug the tire-cushioned rails, weaving in and out of fellow drivers in single or tandem karts. Guests can soothe itchy trigger fingers and don their favorite pair of sequined protective goggles at the paintball course, which promotes fast-paced action with a relatively open field populated by inflatable obstacles that supply minimal cover.