☀️ Today’s Weather
Light drizzle today in Kingsport — High 86°F, Low 71°F, with a 57% chance of rain. Keep an umbrella handy if you’re heading out to Fun Fest Block Party events!
😄 Only in Kingsport
Fun Fest Block Party Weekend kicks off with neighborhood gatherings across the city, and somewhere on the Greenbelt, a jogger is pausing to read a detour sign, shrugging, and continuing on anyway. That’s the Model City spirit.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: What Kingsport mall also carries the Fort Henry name?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
Section of Kingsport Greenbelt to Be Temporarily Rerouted
A section of the Kingsport Greenbelt will be temporarily rerouted to accommodate nearby repair work taking place on the Clinchfield Street bridge. The Clinchfield Street Bridge project will replace a portion of the bridge’s concrete deck and widen the sidewalk on the west side, with work expected to take about six months to complete. Northbound traffic heading to Stone Drive will be detoured during construction, while southbound traffic from Stone Drive will not be affected.
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Former Vol Quarterback Joey Aguilar Holds Youth Football Camp in Kingsport
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie and former University of Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar recently held a youth football camp in Kingsport. The camp brought an opportunity for young athletes in the area to receive instruction and mentorship from the hometown-connected NFL player. Local and state officials joined residents in welcoming Aguilar back to the region for the community event.
Kingsport Kicks Off Fun Fest Block Party Weekend
Block Party Weekend is the pre-kickoff of Fun Fest, with this year’s dates set for July 10, 11, and 12. Parties can be a private neighborhood gathering of friends or a public party anyone can attend, or anything in between. Fun Fest itself is a nine-day festival filled with family-friendly events and activities, with more than 100 events taking place throughout Kingsport in over 30 locations — from food trucks and fireworks to hot air balloons, sporting events, and road races.
📅 Upcoming Events
Fun Fest Block Party Weekend — July 11–12, 2026
Block Party Weekend, the pre-kickoff to Fun Fest, continues through July 12. Parties are happening in neighborhoods all around Kingsport — some private, some open to all. Check funfest.net for a list of public block parties near you.
Greeneville Flyboys at Kingsport Axmen — Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The Greeneville Flyboys take on the Kingsport Axmen on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport. Come out and support your hometown Axmen for a summer evening of Appalachian League baseball.
Cars & Coffee — Event #4 — Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM
The Wilderness Trail Region Porsche Club of America, in partnership with Red Door Agency, is hosting their fourth Cars & Coffee event on July 11, open to all makes and models. The event takes place at 321 W Market St, Kingsport, beginning at 8:00 AM.
Scenic Planetarium Yoga — Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Scenic Planetarium Yoga is happening Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM at 853 Bays Mountain Park Rd, Kingsport, TN. For tickets and further details, visit the event listing.
Kingsport Fun Fest — July 17–25, 2026
Kingsport Fun Fest runs July 17–25, 2026 at various locations across Kingsport, TN. The nine-day celebration features food trucks, fireworks, hot air balloons, sporting events, road races, and much more. This year’s Sunset Concert Series at J. Fred Johnson Stadium features Jeremy Camp and Katy Nichole (July 23), Daughtry and Switchfoot (July 24), and LeAnn Rimes and Brothers Osborne (July 25).
Fun Fest Parade — Friday, July 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM — Downtown Kingsport
The Fun Fest Parade takes place on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM in Downtown Kingsport. Join us for the official Fun Fest kickoff as floats parade through the streets — bring a chair and enjoy the show.
Lunchtime Live Concert Series – Bristol Lightning — Friday, July 17, 2026 at Noon
For the final concert in the 5th annual Lunchtime Live Concert Series, the Friends of the Kingsport Public Library & Archives are hosting Bristol Lightning at the Farmers Market Pavilion at noon on Friday, July 17 — an eclectic band led by world-renowned cellist Dave Eggar that combines bluegrass, folk, classical, hip-hop, and tap dance.
Fun Fest Adult One Pitch Softball Tournament (COED) — Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Join in the Adult One Pitch Softball Tournament — pre-registration required — with the COED division taking place Saturday, July 11 from 10 AM to 8 PM at Brickyard Park. Registration fee is $150 per team.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
Fort Henry Mall, the major Kingsport shopping center that takes its name from the same historic frontier fort referenced by Fort Henry Drive.