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AREA FUN - EVENTS, PLACES TO GO
Tell me about your favorite things. See also "Fun for Kids". (Calendar section is never complete - too much going on. Your submissions, corrections or help are welcome!)
SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES, EVENTS (After this are links to special places, on-going or annual fun activities; after that - things to remember with pleasure or wish we'd done - or to plan next year. (And folks thinking of moving here enjoy seeing how much the area has to offer.)
Through April 27 - Gray Fossil Site special exhibit - Sue the Tyrannosaurus, fully articulated cast skeleton of most complete T.rex skeleton ever discovered - 42 feet long, 15.9 feet tall. Also interactive displays. $10 for special exhibit, $9 for Seniors, $7 for children. Half price for members of Natural History Museum and ETSU students with IDs. 8:30-5, 7 days/week, (to 7:00 on Tuesdays). See www.grayfossilmuseum.org.
April 7 (Saturday) - Bluegrass concert - Milligan Seeger Chapel, 6:30, $20. Blue Highway (9pm), Appalachian Trail, ETSU Bluegrass Band, Adam Larkey & Mountain Time, & Chris Mathes & All-Star Jailbird Band.
April 11, Friday - Tri-Cities Jazz Fest - Millennium Center, $10. ETSU Dept of Music 439-4270 or at door.
April 11 - Milligan College Orchestra - free spring concert, Seeger Memorial Chapel. 461-8723.
April 11 -April 26 - "To Kill a Mockingbird" - JC Community Theatre. 8pm F&S, 2pm Sundays April 13& 20. $10 Students & Srs, $12 adults. 926-2542 or www.Jcct.us. THIS STARS NEIGHBOR JOHN NAGY AS ATTICUS FINCH AND DAUGHTER EMILY AS SCOUT.
April 18 - Concert - Milligan Choir, Women's Chorale & Orchestra, with ETSU Choir - Free, 7:30, Seeger Chapel, 461-8723.
April 12 - Pipe Organ concert - Bristol Paramount Center for Arts, free, 7:30, 518 State St, Bristol. "Mighty Wurlitzer with 1000+ pipes, grand movie theatres on screen, & Buster Keeton short comedy silent movie.
JC Plant Swap - First Saturday, Mize Farm & Garden, 929 W Watauga. Thru Nov. 1. Swap plants, seeds, bulbs.
J'boro Storytellers Guild - Tuesday nights, 7-8:30, Cranberry THistle, 103 E Main St, $5. Connie Gill, 791-3981 or cowgirl_connie@comcast.net. May 8 - Molly Catron is storyteller.
Johnson City Symphony - 2008-2009 Concert Season (www.jcsymphony.com, 926-8742)
September 7 - VA Gazebo - "A Trip Across Tennessee"
October 18 - Mark O'Connor ("America's Fiddler" says Lib of Congress)
November 22 - Diba Alvi, coloratura soprano
December 13 - JCSO & area choral groups
February 14, 2009 - Trumpeters Mark Clodfelter & Jonathan Stites
March 14, 2009 - Canadian Brass - Bach to blues - "worlds leading brass ensemble"
Johnson City Community Theater - 2008 Season 926-2542, www.jcct.us. $10 - students & 55+, $12 adults.
(JC Press: "includes a legendary Broadway show, a literary classic, comedies about mixed-up love lives and a disastrous gone-wrong approach to Shakespeare.")
February 1-March 1 - "Love List"
April 11-April 26 - "To Kill a Mockingbird"
June 6-21 - "Lying in State"
August 15-30 - "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of 'Macbeth'" (predicted to have Shakespeare turning over in his grave.)
October 10-25 - "Sweeney Todd"
November 28-December 13 - "Don't Dress for Dinner"
RESOURCE LINKS:
www.Netta.com - Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association - excellent site and brochure - many places, well-organized and illustrated. tourism@netta.com
Too much to list - well-organized by area, with times, directions, phones
Large helpful map with mileage chart, index. Examples:
Johnson City - Rocky Mount, Tipton Haynes Historic Site, Hands-on! Regional Museum
Bristol - Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Bristol Caverns
Jonesborough - Historic District, History Museum, Chester Inn
Kingsport - Bays Mountain Park and Platnetarium, Exchange Place pioneer homestead, Netherland Inn
Elizabethton - Sycamore Shoals State Historic area, Roan Mountain Rhodendron Gardens, Doe River Covered Bridge
www.JohnsonCityTN.org - Parks & Recreation Fun Guide - too many activities to list.
www.gotricities.com/content/home.dna - great events database
ww.see-tennessee.com/daytrips_main_page.htm - Enormous detail on where to go, history, special events.
www.wcyb.com "One tank trips" link is great. See also "Weather Bug"
www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/ - Sort by region, activity. Links to all of them. Nearest are Sycamore Shoals, Roan Mountain, Warriors Path. www.Tennessee.AreaParks.com - National parks in TN.
www.southernhighlands.org - Southern Highlands attractions new Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive, special events, ticket information. 1-800-468-7325
Tennessee - Rocky Mount, Christus Gardens, Gatlinburg, Lost Sea, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Rock City, Ruby Falls
North Carolina - Biltmore Estate, Chimney Rock Park, BLowing Rock, Tweetsie Railroad, Old Salem, Museum of the Cherokee Indian and Greak Smoky Mountain Railroad
Virginia - Luray Caverns, Natural Bridge, The Barter Theatre
www.tourelizabethton.com - Carter County, festivals, shows, special events www.elizabethtontennessee.com - great photography
www.handsonmuseum.org - changing interactive exhibits - Hands On! Museum - 315 E Main St., 434-HAND.
www.grayfossilmuseum.org - $10 for special exhibit, $9 for Seniors, $7 for children. Half price for members of Natural History Museum and ETSU students with IDs. 8:30-5, 7 days/week, (to 7:00 on Tuesdays). See also www.etsu.edu/grayfossilsite.
www.jcsymphony.com - Johnson City Symphony Orchestra - Concerts except for Christmas are at Seegar Chapel, Milligan College, 8:00 p.m. For season tickets and individual concert orders, click on link or call 926-8742. Free shuttle from Colonial Hill, Appalachian Christian Village, City Hall.
www.symphonyofthemountains.org - Symphony of the Mountains - Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol Call 392-8423
www.Reecemuseum.com - ETSU. Museum open 9-4 Tuesday, Wednesday Friday, 9-7 Thursday. 439-4392.
www.jccardinals.com/ - Fix - goes away from site
www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/
JONESBOROUGH
www.storytellingcenter.net - International Storytelling Festival, October 3-5. Weekly "Storytelling Live! - Tellers in Residence - June-October, 2pm Tues-Sat. $9 adults, $8 seniors, students, groups. 800-952-8392 or 913-1276.
www.storytellersguild.org - Tuesdays 7-8:45, Cranberry Thistle, J'boro, 791-3981.
www.musiconthesquare.com - Friday night summer concerts start in May - free & fun. See site for other concerts at Jonesborough Visitors Center. 752-1010
www.etsu.edu/physics/plntrm/planetarium.html 7-8 pm third Thursdays, Sept-April. Free.
www.FamilyPastime/com - Magazine and web site for local family-oriented magazine - places to go, fun activities, etc. Find it free everywhere you shop, or ask them why they don't have it.
www.Tipton-Haynes.org - Colonial farm life and history, eleven buildings, museum, shop, library. (423-926-3631)
OTHER NEAR-BY ATTRACTIONS:
www.baysmountain.com - Bays Mt Park & Planetarium Kingsport. 423-229-9447.
www.grandfather.com - Grandfather Mountain - Mile-high swinging bridge, wildlilfe, hiking and picnics, nature museum, shop, calendar of special events - highest point in Blue Ridge Mountains. 800-468-7325. (Also at www.Southernhighlands.org)
Abingdon, VA tourism Abingdon, VA - Barter Theatre, Historic district, Virginia Highlands Festival. Very good brochure by Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau. (email: acvb@abingdon.com)
www.biltmore.com (800-543-2961) - Biltmore Estate, Ashville NC - America's largest home (250 rooms), estate of George Vanderbilt, paintings, furniture. Gardens by Frederick Law Olmstead - 250acres. Winery. Directions, tickets, special events, tours.
www.carterfamilyfold.org - Carter Family Fold - Hilton's, VA. Hilton's Virginia. 276-386-6054, 8:00
www.bristolcaverns.com - our visitors' favorite trip so far.
www.andrewjohnson.areaparks.com/ - Greenville
www.bartertheatre.com/ - Abingdon, VA
www.gatlinburg.com/ - Sevierville TN - Great Smoky National Park, skiing, shopping, aquarium
www.danielboonetrail.com/
Recent fun still on site just so you'll know what you could have done:
NASCAR Race Week - March 14-16. Bristol Motor speedway.
www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/ Food City 600 and Sharpie Mini 300.
Ringling Bros. Circus - March 13-16, Freedom Hall. 7pm Thursday & Friday, 2 & 6 Saturday, 2pm matinee Sunday. See www.JohnsonCityPress.com video report.
March 15 - Johnson City Symphony with classical guitarisn Matt Palmer. Also Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, which he said was his "most excellent symphony," Tom Stites conductor. 8 p.m., Seeger Chapel, Milligan. For tickets, call 926-8742 or go to www.jcsymphony.com .
March 29-30 - Civic Chorale - American choral music from early 1800s to second half of 20th century - spirituals, folk hymns, folk songs, jazz. March 29 concert is at Kingsport Renaissance Center Auditorium, 8 p.m., $10. March 30 concert is at First Presbyterian Church, donation $10 suggested. See www.thecivicchorale.org or call 247-1147, or e-mail conductordavid@embarqmail.com .
December 17, Monday, 7:00 - Johnson City Community Concert Band - Christmas Carols. Central Baptist Church. Donations. www.JCCCBand.com.
December 15, 16, 17 at 7:00 - "I'll be Home for Christmas" - musical about family and hope in golden days of radio, at First Christ Church of Johnson City - Cast of 70, accompanied by Charles Goodwin Big Band with Rick Simerly. Free but need tickets - 200 E Mountcastle Dr, 232-5700.
November 24, Saturday, 8:00 - Appalachian Brass Ensemble - Science Hill HHS Auditorium. About 20 performers, "among the finest brass and percussion artists in the Appalachian region." $10 for adults, $4 for seniors and students. Call 747-3511 or www.appalachianbrass.org.
(December 15 - deadline for discounts to National Storytelling Festival - see below.)
November 30 and December 1, 7:00. The Nutcracker at NPAC. $10 for Clara's tea party for ages 4-9. Www.greenevillenpac.com or 423-638-1679.
A Christmas Carol - www.bartertheatre.com, 276-628-3991
Nov 17, Saturday - JC Symphony Orchestra with Edgar Meyer, internationally known bassist. www.jcsymphony.com, 423-926-8742. Tickets are going fast. He's played with a lot of greats and has received the MacArthur Foundation Award and three grammies. Distinguished background.
Nov 16, Friday, 7:30- Jazz at the Millenium. First of season 2007-2008 season. This is exciting. David Champouillon director. Trombonists Conrad Herwig & Rick Simerly and The Charles Goodwin Trio, performing with ETSU Jazz Ensemble. Last year was great. $10 general, $20 VIP seats and reception. Call 439-4270.
Nov 2, 6-9pm & Saturday Nov 3, 9-4 - Milligan "Festival of Seasons: Holiday Gift Market." All kinds of crafts, gifts, ornament. Jazz by Rick Simerly, cider, demonstrations. Great fun and lots of good gifts. $5 donation. www.milligan.edu/ALM
October 4-6 - Sycamore Shoals Quilt Show - sponsored by the Sycamore Shoals Stitchers, features a show and demonstrations by local quilters held in the park museum. Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Link has year's schedule of activities at Sycamore Shoals.
October 5 & 6, Fri & Sat - Erwin Apple Festival, 8-8. Schedule of concerts, activities, over 300 venders. Other Unicoi activites on this site also.
October 5-7 Jonesborough Storytelling Festival - (10-10 F-F, 10-4:30 Sunday). Site gives map, schedules, featured tellers, special events. It's too late for pre-registration savings - see site for prices. (Examples, for adults: $150 - full weekend, $102 - Friday or Saturday, $133 - Saturday & Sunday, $47 Sunday) $10 to ghost story and $15 for minight cabaret. Register on-line or at 800-952-8392, x221.
Hour-long programs with 30-minute break between(choose what you want from program), in tents downtown. Shuttle ($1) runs from Jonesborough Elementary to Visitors Center every 20 minutes, 8:30-midnight. Parking $2.
October 12 & 13, Bible Storytelling Festival . $15, Suncrest Drive. 12 tellers, week after International Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough.
Gray Fossil Site - 8:30-5 daily. Free self-guided tours of permanent exhibit. Guided tours of all exhibits and fossil site: Adults $5, Seniors $4, Ages 5-10 $3.
Lakeside Concert Series - 7-10pm Tuesday evenings through August 21, Winged Deer Park. Free. Bring blankets, lawn chairs.
August 7 - Battle of the Bands - local artists 18 years or younger.
August 14 - Drum Line Serenade - area high schools' precision drum lines
August 21 - JC Communicy Concert Band
Farmer's Market - Cherry Street parking lot, Wednesday & Saturday to 2pm until October. Not "entertainment" exactly, but fun and healthy.
April 13 & 14, 7:30 - 2007 - Tri-Cities Jazz Fest, ETSU D.P.Culp Center. TIckets 439-4270. Gen admin $10 Friday, $25 Saturday. Last year was spectacular. Don't miss it.
April 14, 10-4 - Tartan Days - Jonesborough, Scotch-Irish celebration. Free. 913-2889 or www.thecelticbupboard.com .
Johnson City history interactive exhibit - Hands On! Museum - 315 E Main St., 434-HAND or www.handsonmuseum.org.
March 12 - Bass fishing event - Cherokee Lake, Morristown. FLWOutdoors.com or 270-352-1000.
March 16-17 - St. Patrick's Day Celtic Celebration. Renaissance Center, 1200 Center St, Kingsport. Concert 6pm Friday $10 - 392-8414. 5-5:45 March 17 - School of Music Fiddlers, $2. Music, history, crafts, silent auction. Info - 392-8414 or 975-0045.
March 15, 7pm - Planetarium show, free. ETSU Hutcheson Hall. "The Origin of Time" - Astronomer Dr. Gary Henson, 439-6906 or hensong@etsu.edu.
March 17, 8pm - Last JC Symphony concert this season - "Dancers and Painters." Concert & watercolors. Tickets 926-8742 or www.jcsymphony.com or at door ($20 adults, $10 students). Seeger Chapel, Millian College.
March 18, 3:00 - Civic Chorale concert, Munsey Memorial Methodist Church. $10 donation suggested. www.geocities.com/jcchorale, or dhendric@tusculum.edu .
April 27-29 - Quilt & Needlework Exhibit, Appalachian Fairgrounds, Gray. Entries accepted April 26, 10-6. Awards April28, 2pm. For info and pre-registration - Barbara Henson, 727-9182 or Kay Triplett, 727-9021, or skt537@localnet.com
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