☀️ Today’s Weather
Overcast skies over Kingsport today — High 92°F, Low 67°F, with a 29% chance of rain. Stay hydrated and keep an umbrella handy just in case.
😄 Only in Kingsport
Kingsport threw a massive Fourth of July bash on Main Street, got a rock band that’s sold 25 million albums to headline for free, and still had people home in time to get up for church the next morning. That’s the Model City for you.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: What Kingsport-associated inventor is credited with Super Glue?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
🎸 Grand Funk Railroad Rocks Kingsport’s Red, White & BOOM
Kingsport’s fifth-annual Red, White & BOOM Independence Day Celebration brought rock legends Grand Funk Railroad to downtown Main Street on July 4. The free, public event featured food trucks, fireworks, and live music as part of the city’s celebration. Since 1969, Grand Funk Railroad has sold more than 25 million albums, had 19 charting singles, and earned seven gold and 10 platinum certifications. Fireworks followed the concert at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Read more at Kingsport Times News
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🚦 Street Closures Announced for Kingsport’s July 4 Festivities
The City of Kingsport announced a series of street closures to accommodate the busy schedule of July 4th events downtown. The day began with the Mack Riddle American Legion Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m., running down Center Street from Wateree Street to Memorial Park on Fort Henry Drive. Main Street was closed beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, with hard blocks put in place by 1 p.m., and Red, White & BOOM festivities beginning at 5 p.m.
📅 Upcoming Events
🎵 Twilight Alive Concert Series: Departure (Journey Tribute) — July 10, 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Downtown Kingsport
The Twilight Alive Summer Concert Series continues on July 10 with Departure, a tribute to the legendary rock band Journey, as part of Kingsport’s popular downtown concert series.
More info at This is Kingsport
🍝 SMILE Foster Closet Gift-a-thon & Spaghetti Dinner — July 10, 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026 | Doors 5:00 PM, dinner 5:15–7:00 PM, drawing 7:30 PM
Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, 1415 Waverly Rd, Kingsport
A spaghetti dinner and prize drawing benefiting SMILE Foster Closet and the local foster families they support. Dinner is $3 per person ($3.50 to-go). Gift-a-thon tickets are $2 each or six for $10, with no limit on entries. Every prize is worth at least $50, including themed baskets, gift cards, and event tickets.
🎉 Fun Fest 2026 Block Party Weekend — July 10–12, 2026
Friday–Sunday, July 10–12, 2026
Various locations across Kingsport
Block Party Weekend is the pre-kickoff of Fun Fest, with this year’s dates on July 10th, 11th, and 12th. Fun Fest itself runs from July 18 through July 26, with events happening across Kingsport.
🎡 Fun Fest 2026 — July 18–26, 2026
Saturday, July 18 – Sunday, July 26, 2026
Multiple locations across Kingsport (Downtown, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Allandale Mansion, Kingsport Farmers Market, and more)
Fun Fest is Kingsport’s signature community celebration — named Festival of the Year by both the Southeast Festivals and Events Association and Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association in 2024. What started in 1981 has grown into one of the largest and most diverse festivals in Tennessee, offering hot air balloons, national headliner concerts, a parade, road races, block parties, and kids’ activities. This year’s Sunset Concert Series lineup includes Tauren Wells and We Are Messengers on July 24, Bret Michaels and Edwin McCain on July 25, and Brad Paisley and Avery Anna on July 26.
🎤 Fun Fest Sunset Concert: Jeremy Camp & Katy Nichole — July 23, 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026 | 7:00 PM
J. Fred Johnson Stadium, Kingsport, TN
The Fun Fest Sunset Concert Series kicks off on July 23 with Christian artists Jeremy Camp and Katy Nichole performing at J. Fred Johnson Stadium — one of four headline concerts during 2026 Fun Fest.
🎸 Fun Fest Sunset Concert: Daughtry & Switchfoot — July 24, 2026
Friday, July 24, 2026 | 7:00 PM
J. Fred Johnson Stadium, Kingsport, TN
Rock acts Daughtry and Switchfoot take the Fun Fest stage on Friday, July 24 at J. Fred Johnson Stadium as part of the 2026 Sunset Concert Series.
🤠 Fun Fest Sunset Concert: LeAnn Rimes & Brothers Osborne — July 25, 2026
Saturday, July 25, 2026 | 6:30 PM
J. Fred Johnson Stadium, Kingsport, TN
The 2026 Fun Fest Sunset Concert Series closes out on Saturday, July 25 with country stars LeAnn Rimes and Brothers Osborne performing at J. Fred Johnson Stadium.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
Harry Coover, a chemist who worked at Eastman in Kingsport and accidentally discovered the adhesive properties of cyanoacrylate that became known as Super Glue.