Cole Kids: Matinee Performances
Great family shows are available at a time that is convenient for young theater-goers with content that is suitable for children and the young at heart. These performances are open to daycare, day schools, child care centers, homeschool groups, as well as retirement communities and those that don't drive at night.
Listed with most shows is the length of the performance and the target age group for children but the shows are fun and engaging to most age groups.
Tickets for some shows are available . For other shows, contact the for personalized service and group rates.
All prices include all applicable sales tax. A fee of $3 per ticket is added to online transactions. Avoid this fee by calling the Box Office.
With the exception of "Blippi" (see the specifics with that show), all shows require children of all ages to have a ticket. No lap children. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 - 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Sugar Skull! A Dia de Muertos Musical Adventure
When a spirited candy skeleton suddenly springs to life, a young girl finds herself on a magical, musical journey to unravel the true meaning of 鈥淭he Day of the Dead鈥� tradition.
Target Age: 5-12 Years Old ~ Running Time: 65 minutes
Tickets
- Public Tickets: $20
- Schools/Daycares: $10 (bus drivers get in free!)
- Retirement Communities: $15 (bus drivers get in free!)
- Homeschool Groups: $15
Purchase tickets for this show exclusively through the .
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 - 2 p.m.
Blippi: Join the Band Tour
Get ready to sing, dance, and play along with Blippi and his best buddy Meekah as they rock out with fans in this interactive live performance! Whether it's drumming to the beat, strumming guitars, or hopping to catchy rhythms, kids are encouraged to get out of their seats and move with the music. Featuring fan-favorite songs, laugh-out-loud silliness, and lots of surprises, Blippi: Join the Band Tour makes learning fun through the joy of live music. It's more than a show 鈥� it's a full-on celebration designed to spark joy and curiosity in even the littlest concertgoers. C'mon and join Blippi to make music in the brand new live Blippi: Join the Band Tour!
Enhance Your Blippi
Families can enhance their outing by purchasing a Photo Experience along with show tickets. This gives children the opportunity to make a lasting memory by taking a photo alongside Blippi on stage. NOTE: To attend, each guest must have both a Photo Experience ticket and a Blippi: Join the Band Tour show ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Target Age: 2-7 Years Old ~ Running Time: 90 minutes
Tickets (Pricing depends on seat location)
- Rows A-M: $60
- Rows N-S: $50
- Rows T-W: $50
- Rows X-CC: $40
Children under 2 years old do not require a ticket if they sit in an adult's lap. Groups of 10 or more receive 20% off tickets with the exception of Rows A-M.
Photo Experience Ticket: $55 (Any adult or child going on stage for photos will require a ticket. Children must be accompanied by an adult, but the entire party doesn't have to purchase a ticket.)
Tickets for the show and the photo experience are available or through the .
Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 - 10 a.m.
Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol
Set in the 1930s in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, this unforgettable production and amazing cast imagines Ebenezer Scrooge as the owner of a mining company town, where his callous greed blinds him to the joys and gifts of the season.As a Christmas Eve snowstorm approaches, Scrooge is visited by his deceased business partner and three ghosts who compel him to see life anew and discover that love is the greatest gift we have. The legendary holiday tale re-written as a new American classic features Charles Dickens鈥� classic characters and Dolly Parton鈥檚 one-of-a-kind songwriting expertise, making this a holiday event you鈥檒l want to share with those you love.
Target Age: 13 Years Old & Up ~ Running Time: 2hr 30mins
Tickets
- Public Tickets: $35
- Schools/Daycares: $22 (bus drivers get in free!)
- Retirement Communities $32 (bus drivers get in free!)
- Homeschool Groups: $20
- Public tickets for the show are available or through the . Groups should contact the Box Office to purchase at a discount.
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 - 3 p.m.
Cirque-tacular Shimmer: A Winter Cirque Reverie
Journey to a shimmering winter wonderland of circus spectacle and derring-do! Marvel at the bendy ballerina in her glistening snow globe. Find yourself aglow as this aerial snow show mesmerizes your senses. Astonishing acrobatics, dazzling specialty acts, and glittering costumes abound in this "cool," warm and whimsical world of Shimmer! A cirque winter reverie the whole family will enjoy!
for more information about the show and the troupe.
Target Age: 4 Years Old & Up ~ Running Time: 90 mins
Tickets (Pricing depends on seat location):
- Rows A-M: $30.00 each
- Rows N-S: $25.00 each
- Rows T-W: $25.00 each
- Rows X-CC: $20.00 each
Groups of 10 or more receive 20% off tickets.
Public tickets for the show are available or through the . Groups should contact the Box Office to purchase at a discount.
For More Information
For information about the other programming at Cole Auditorium CLICK HERE. Visit our Social Media Pages , , . Join our ColE-mail list to receive e-mail or US Mail updates about programming at Cole Auditorium.
The Cole Auditorium has been the home to nationally-recognized touring performances representing a diverse range of genres since the facility opened in 1999. The Cole has provided local access to such headliners as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, Phil Vassar, & Martina McBride and Broadway tours of "Annie," "Showboat," "CATS," and a performance of "Hello, Dolly," that opened the facility on Oct. 29, 1999.