☀️ Today’s Weather
Heavy drizzle today with a high of 73°F and a low of 45°F — bring an umbrella! There’s an 81% chance of rain.
😄 Joke of the Day
They say the mountains around Johnson City are great for hiking. But the real workout? Trying to explain to someone from Nashville that we have four seasons — and that “leaf season” counts as its own holiday.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day edition of Johnson City’s Main Street Days festival set a record for attendance. How many people attended, and what distinction did it earn among Washington County festivals?
Answer: The March 14, 2026 Main Street Days festival drew 13,100 attendees, making it the largest festival in Washington County outside of the Appalachian Fair.
🔝 Top Stories
Tapestry at Roan Hill Opens Its Doors for Former John Sevier Residents
A new beginning is taking shape for dozens of families in Johnson City with the opening of Tapestry at Roan Hill, a new low-income apartment complex designed to welcome residents from the former John Sevier Center as well as new tenants. City leaders marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting celebration, and for residents moving in, the moment carries deep meaning. The complex includes 145 new rooms, along with a community room, a mail room, a fitness center, and outdoor space. Developers said the project is intended to preserve affordability while improving living conditions.
Main Street Days St. Patrick’s Day Edition Draws Record 13,100 Attendees
The City of Johnson City said its St. Patrick’s Day edition of Main Street Days made a “significant economic impact” for downtown businesses, with the March 14 festival drawing 13,100 people — making it the largest festival in Washington County outside of the Appalachian Fair. According to the City, visitors spent an average of 107 minutes enjoying the festivities, exploring downtown stores, and supporting local restaurants. Johnson City launched Main Street Days in fall 2024 to bring back a street festival to the downtown area, and this year’s festival hosted more than 100 arts and crafts vendors.
Johnson City Anti-Crypto Mining Group Holds Community Meeting
The Johnson City Coalition Against Bitcoin Mining held its monthly community meeting on Tuesday, as the group hopes to educate the public about all the issues surrounding the potential arrival of a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining facility within city limits. The city has hired a contractor to perform a study on noise and vibration levels. One community representative noted that one of the main factors driving cryptocurrency facilities to the area is the relatively low cost of electricity, along with access to waterways and cheaper water.
Federal Judge Gives Evans’ Lawyers More Time for Discovery in JCPD Lawsuit
A federal judge will allow lawyers for Mikayla Evans more time to gather “discovery” in her civil lawsuit against the City of Johnson City and certain police officers before he rules on the defendants’ motions to dismiss. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer’s order supported the argument that Evans’s lawyers lacked a full opportunity to take discovery from the defendants, including subpoenaing evidence or conducting depositions, prior to the initial deadline to rule on defense motions for summary judgment. Evans’s lawsuit is one of three federal civil suits filed against Johnson City in relation to JCPD’s handling of sexual assault cases, particularly those involving convicted sex criminal Sean Williams. Judge Greer set an in-person scheduling conference for April 6 and ordered both sides to file a joint discovery plan 48 hours in advance.
Johnson City Coalition Against Bitcoin Mining Holds Study on Noise and Vibration
Note: See anti-crypto mining story above.
Main Street Days Record Crowd Confirms Economic Boost for Downtown Businesses
The St. Patrick’s Day edition of Main Street Days proved to be a success, drawing thousands to downtown Johnson City and generating a significant economic impact for local businesses. Held on March 14, the event welcomed an estimated 13,100 attendees, making it the largest festival in Washington County outside of the Appalachian Fair. According to data from Placer.ai, visitors spent an average of 107 minutes enjoying the festivities, exploring downtown stores, and supporting local restaurants. From live entertainment and family-friendly activities to more than 100 arts and crafts vendors, Main Street Days created a lively and engaging atmosphere that translated into measurable success for downtown merchants, with business owners across the district reporting record-breaking sales and a surge in new customers.
Read more at johnsoncitytn.org
Johnson City’s Boones Creek Publix Shopping Center Moving Forward
Johnson City commissioners unanimously approved the Promenade Development Agreement for the development of a shopping center at the northwest corner of Boones Creek Road and Christian Church Road, which will include a Publix grocery store and several outparcels for future businesses. Per the agreement, the city is obligated to widen Christian Church and Boones Creek roads, obtain an entrance permit from TDOT, and provide traffic control — and will bond $3 million to fund the road widening. Developer Horne Properties told the city the Boones Creek Publix will be larger than the existing Johnson City Publix, calling it “their biggest prototype.”
Lawyers for Mikayla Evans Win More Time for Discovery in Sean Williams-Related JCPD Suit
A federal judge has dismissed all of Johnson City and police officers’ motions to throw out a lawsuit that claims corruption related to convicted police investigations into convicted child sex predator Sean Williams. Despite defendants’ arguments that Evans’s lawyers “did not diligently pursue discovery” earlier, Judge Greer agreed that some of that could have been due to the many motions filed in the case, and set an in-person scheduling conference for April 6, ordering both sides to file a joint discovery plan 48 hours in advance.
Read more at Kingsport Times News
Johnson City ETSU Eaglets Growing Strong at Local Nest
The ETSU Eagle Cameras-monitored Johnson City nest welcomed its second eaglet of the season earlier this month. The first eaglet (JC26) for parents Boone and Joelene fully hatched on Saturday at 6:54 a.m., while the second eaglet (JC27) emerged on Monday at 6:50 a.m., just two days later. The eaglets will “grow and mature over the next 12 weeks” with moderators anticipating successful fledges at that time, when the pair will leave the nest and fly for the first time. ETSU Eagle Cameras monitors and operates livestreams for two nests in the Tri-Cities area: Johnson City and Bluff City.
📅 Upcoming Events
Jonesborough Easter Eggstravaganza
Date/Time: Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: International Storytelling Center, 100 W Main St, Jonesborough, TN
Jonesborough will host its annual Easter Eggstravaganza on March 28 with egg hunts, family activities, a petting zoo, and free movies downtown. The event spans multiple downtown locations including Jimmy Neil Smith Park, The Christopher Taylor House, and Central Christian Church. This is a great free family outing just a short drive from Johnson City!
More info at Johnson City Press
Free Movies at The Jackson Theatre — The Prince of Egypt & The Chronicles of Narnia
Date/Time: Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Location: The Jackson Theatre, Jonesborough, TN
The Jackson Theatre presents two free family-friendly films on Saturday, March 28: “The Prince of Egypt” at 3:00 PM (a retelling of Moses and the Ten Commandments), followed by “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” at 7:00 PM — an enchanting version of C.S. Lewis’s fantasy novels about four British children who enter a magical world. Both are part of the Family Series and are free, sponsored by Christ Church of Jonesborough.
More info & tickets at Town of Jonesborough
Northeast State Spring Career Fair 2026
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Northeast State Community College Ballad Health Center for the Performing Arts, 2425 Highway 75, Blountville, TN 37617
The Career & Workforce Development Center at Northeast State Community College is hosting the 2026 Spring Career Fair, where employers from across the region will share information about available job openings and career opportunities. The event offers a wonderful opportunity for job seekers to network with employers representing a wide range of career fields, and is free of cost and open to job seekers from the public.
Vernon Dalhart: First Country Music Star — Jackson Theatre
Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Location: The Jackson Theatre, Jonesborough, TN
The Jackson Theatre will present “Vernon Dalhart: First Country Music Star” on Friday, April 17 at 7:00 PM, in partnership with the International Storytelling Center. This special evening of words and music celebrates one of the most influential recording artists of the 1920s and 1930s — Vernon Dalhart was the first artist to record a million-selling country hit, and both recordings are enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame, with Dalhart later inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
More info at Jonesborough Town Calendar
Thirsty Orange Beer Festival 2026
Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026 | General Admission 2:00 PM, Premium Access 1:00 PM
Location: Founders Park, 225 Commerce Street, Johnson City, TN
Thirsty Orange Beer Festival returns on Saturday, April 18, 2026 for a full day of sampling 150+ craft beers, ciders, and meads from breweries across the region. Expect great drinks, food trucks, and a true beer-festival atmosphere in the heart of Johnson City. This is a 21+ event. This is the festival’s 13th annual edition and is one of the most anticipated events of the year in the Tri-Cities.
More info at thirstyorange.com
Art Struck Festival 2026
Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Johnson City, TN
Art Struck Festival returns to downtown Johnson City on April 25, 2026, running from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This beloved annual outdoor arts festival features local and regional artists, live music, food, and a lively celebration of creativity in the heart of downtown. A great event for art lovers and families alike.
Keep Jonesborough Beautiful — Greatest American Clean Up
Date/Time: Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Jonesborough, TN
The “Keep Jonesborough Beautiful” community cleanup event is set for April 11, 2026, running from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to pitch in and help keep our historic neighboring town looking its best heading into spring. Check the Jonesborough Town Calendar for volunteer details.
More info at Jonesborough Town Calendar