Kingsport Scoop – April 13, 2026

☀️ Today’s Weather

Overcast skies over the Model City today — High 79°F, Low 60°F, with just a 7% chance of rain. Great day to get outside!

😄 Joke of the Day

A man walks into Pal’s Sudden Service in Kingsport and asks for directions to the nearest coffee shop. The cashier hands him his order in under 15 seconds and says, “Honey, you’re already at the fastest thing in town — but I hear Dutch Bros just opened if you want to wait in a line for once.”

🧠 Trivia Q&A

Question: Kingsport’s Warriors Path State Park is named after a historic trail used by Native Americans and early European settlers. What is the full historical name of that ancient trail, and along which major Tennessee river does Warriors Path State Park sit?

Answer: The park is named after the Warrior’s Path, an ancient trail used by Cherokee and other Native Americans — and the park sits along the shores of Patrick Henry Lake (formed by Patrick Henry Dam) on the Holston River in Kingsport.

🔝 Top Stories

🎉 Kingsport Rallies Around 3-Year-Old Charleigh McCracken’s Miracle Recovery

A parade of support rolled through Kingsport for one little girl — three-year-old Charleigh McCracken, described by her mom Gabby as “our little miracle girl,” who was diagnosed with a viral infection that attacked her heart instead of her immune system. At one point, Charleigh’s heart stopped for 27 minutes. She underwent open-heart surgery and suffered a stroke in both parts of her brain — but beat the odds. Charleigh’s celebration was part of the Walmart Heart Event, with a Walmart truck driver and heart champion noting how meaningful it was for the community to come together for the family.

🏫 Northeast State Kicks Off 60th Anniversary Homecoming Week

Northeast State invites all alumni, students, and faculty to join its 60th anniversary homecoming celebration, which began Monday, April 13. The college’s milestone anniversary brings together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the community for a week of spirited events and campus pride, including themed spirit days, student competitions, live entertainment, and opportunities for alumni to reconnect. The alumni and friends breakfast takes place Friday, April 17, at 9 a.m. at the Northeast State Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Kingsport, with homecoming week concluding with alumni night at the theater on April 17.

📅 Upcoming Events

🌿 45th Annual Spring Nature Festival — Warrior’s Path State Park

Expert naturalists are hosting a weekend full of outdoor discovery at Warrior’s Path State Park, with mini-seminars, guided hikes, animal tracking, birdwatching and more. The festival runs from the evening of April 12 until mid-morning on April 14, with events nearly every hour throughout the weekend. On Sunday, April 14, the celebration wraps up with a 9:30 AM Worship Service featuring music and an inspiring message from the Worship Team from Grace Bible Church. Free and open to the public.

Full schedule at kingsporttn.gov

🎨 Kingsport ARTS Festival 2026

The Kingsport ARTS Festival will be presented by Engage Kingsport and Kingsport Cultural Arts Office on April 18th, 2026 in Downtown Kingsport. The two-day festival also features events on April 19 from 6 PM to 10 PM — a “Light up the Night” parade featuring giant puppets, paper lanterns, and digital artwork projected onto downtown buildings — and on April 20 from 10 AM to 5 PM, with a full day of family-friendly activities including an iron pour, glass blowing workshop, Raku firing, tie-dye making, an art gallery crawl, and the launch of this year’s Sculpture Walk. Admission is free.

More info at artskingsport.org

🔥 Iron Pour Scratch Mold Workshops — Kingsport Cultural Arts

Kingsport Cultural Arts is bringing back its popular Iron Pour event on April 18 during the Kingsport ARTS Festival. To participate, you must first attend one of the remaining scratch mold workshops where you’ll scratch a unique design into a 5-inch sand mold — which will then be cast with molten iron by sculpture artist Joe Bigley and his team. Cost is $23 per person. Ages 18+ (children 6–17 welcome with an adult). All materials provided.

Remaining workshop date: April 17 (6–8 PM)
Location: The Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street, Kingsport

🍴 Taste of Small Business Kingsport

Monday, April 20, 2026 | 5:00–7:30 PM
MeadowView Convention Center

Sample bites from over 20 local restaurants, meet the owners, and enter to win door prize giveaways. Tickets are $30/person in advance (non-refundable) or $40 cash at the door if not sold out. All proceeds go to the participating small business restaurants. Tickets are available at most participating restaurants.

🏠 Downtown Kingsport Home Tour

Enjoy an afternoon in Downtown Kingsport on April 20 and take a self-guided stroll through six residential properties. The tour includes multiple lofts and homes in the historic Shelby and Sullivan Street districts, providing an inside look into downtown living. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 the day of, and guests may choose which property they begin and end with.

More info at visitkingsport.com

🌱 Kingsport Farmers Market Reopening

The Kingsport Farmers Market reopens on Saturday, April 27. The market is currently being renovated, so this season will feature a fresh, new space. Expect to find a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, local meats, artisan crafts, fresh flowers, and more.