☀️ Today’s Weather
Sunday, March 29, 2026 — Overcast skies with a high of 68°F and a low of 35°F; just a 1% chance of rain.
😄 Joke of the Day
A Kingsport man told his buddy he was thinking about moving to Bristol. His buddy said, “Which one — Tennessee or Virginia?” The man replied, “Exactly — I can’t even decide which side of the street to eat on.”
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: Bays Mountain Park is one of the largest city-owned parks in the nation — but how many acres does it cover, and approximately how many miles of hiking trails wind through it?
Answer: Bays Mountain Park covers 3,750 acres and features roughly 44 miles of hiking trails.
🔝 Top Stories
Missing Kingsport Teen Found Safe
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Endangered Child Alert for a 17-year-old girl missing from Kingsport — and the case was resolved quickly when the TBI confirmed she had been located. Amyah Blankenship was last seen on Wednesday in Kingsport; she has a medical condition and was believed to be without her medication at the time of her disappearance. Blankenship is 5’0″, weighs 115 lbs, and has hazel eyes and brown hair. Authorities did not release further details about the circumstances of her recovery. The Kingsport community and police department worked in coordination with the TBI to spread word of the alert.
Kingsport City Schools Receives $90,000 Literacy Grant
Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is working to enhance student literacy after recently receiving a $90,000 Literacy Materials Implementation Grant from the Tennessee Department of Education. Assistant School Superintendent Andy True said the focus will be on the middle schools. The Tennessee Department of Education confirmed that Kingsport is one of 54 districts across Tennessee receiving grant funds for the next five years to support literacy instruction throughout grades 5–12, and the district will work with a state-approved vendor to provide intentional support and system-specific professional development. Kingsport was also recently awarded a Tutoring Innovation Grant to implement a scheduling and access innovation to hire additional tutors to support students in ELA and math.
Sullivan County Mayoral Race Heats Up Ahead of May Primary
Candidates had until noon Thursday to submit their petitions to run for county offices in Sullivan County, with offices including county mayor, sheriff, county commission, and school board appearing on ballots in the May 5 primaries and August 6 general election. The race for county mayor is garnering significant attention after Mayor Richard Venable announced he would not seek another term; two candidates have filed petitions — county commissioner Zane Vanover and school board member and former county commissioner Angie Stanley — and since both are running as Republicans, the May 5 primary will all but determine who will be the next county mayor. Early voting for the 2026 primary election opens on April 15 and closes on April 30.
Bays Mountain Park Brings Back Popular Kayak Stargazing Program
Bays Mountain Park is bringing back its kayak stargazing program this spring — a unique astronomy class where participants learn about the constellations, the Moon, and the viewable planets with the naked eye. Kayak Stargazing programs will be held April 14, 16, and 21 from 8 to 9 p.m., and May 7, 12, and 14 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for park members and $10 for non-members, and each program is limited to 20 boats — so early registration is encouraged. Participants are required to bring their own kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard and paddling equipment, along with a Type III personal flotation device.
Read more at Kingsport Times News
Warriors’ Path State Park Pursues Recreational Trails Grant
Tennessee State Parks announced that in March, leaders held two public meetings — one virtual and one in-person — to gather public input before Warriors’ Path State Park applies for a grant from the Recreational Trails Program; the virtual meeting was on March 4 at 1 p.m. and the in-person meeting was on March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Warriors’ Path State Park Recreation Building. The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded, state-administered grant program that provides funding for land acquisition for trails, non-routine trail maintenance, trail construction, trail rehabilitation, and trailhead support facilities. Written comments can be submitted to Park Manager Chris Cole at Christopher.Cole@tn.gov or by mail to Warriors’ Path State Park Recreation Building, 490 Hemlock Rd., Kingsport, TN 37663.
Fun Fest 2026 Dates Set for July 17–25
Fun Fest 2026 is scheduled for July 17–25, and organizers are now accepting applications for food vendors and food trucks for this year’s events. Fun Fest was also honored at the 2026 Southeast Festivals and Events Association’s Kaleidoscope Awards earlier this month. The beloved annual festival features more than 9 days of events at 50+ locations and 100+ individual happenings across the city. Events include the Sunset Concert Series, Kazoobie Kazoo Show, Trash Barrel Paint-In, Broad Street Boogie, Family Comedy Night, Handmade Market, Gospel Music Concert, Block Parties, the Fun Fest Parade, and the Downtown Street Fair.
📅 Upcoming Events
2nd Annual Spring Social at Kingsport Farmers Market
Date/Time: Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Location: Kingsport Farmers Market, Kingsport, TN
The 2nd Annual Spring Social is happening at the Kingsport Farmers Market on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT. This community gathering celebrates the arrival of spring with local vendors, food trucks, and a festive atmosphere. It’s a great opportunity to support local businesses and enjoy the season with neighbors.
eChem Expo 2026 — Solutions Marketplace & Technology Innovations Conference
Date/Time: April 7–9, 2026 (Pre-conference April 7; Main event April 8–9)
Location: MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport, TN
EndeavorB2B has announced the 26th anniversary of the eChem Expo Solutions Marketplace & Technology Innovations Conference, scheduled for April 8–9, 2026, at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tennessee; the two-day event will feature technology innovations, workforce discussions and sustainability-focused sessions for process industry professionals. Pre-conference activities on April 7 include a perimeter tour of the Eastman Chemical facility and the ISA Golf Tournament. Networking continues throughout the conference with scheduled happy hours, networking breaks, and an official off-site bar crawl giving attendees the opportunity to explore downtown Kingsport.
Bays Mountain Park Kayak Stargazing
Date/Time: April 14, 16 & 21 (8:00–9:00 PM); May 7, 12 & 14 (8:30–9:30 PM)
Location: Bays Mountain Park Reservoir, Kingsport, TN
Bays Mountain Park is bringing back its kayak stargazing program this spring — an astronomy class with a twist where participants learn about the constellations, the Moon, and the viewable planets with the naked eye. The cost is $5 for park members and $10 for non-members, with each program limited to 20 boats. Participants must bring their own kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard and a Type III personal flotation device. Register via the CivicRec link at kingsporttn.gov.
Kingsport ARTS Festival 2026
Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: 100 Block of Shelby Street, Downtown Kingsport, TN
The Kingsport ARTS Festival will be presented by Engage Kingsport and the Kingsport Cultural Arts Office on April 18th, 2026 in Downtown Kingsport, taking place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 18th in the 100 block of Shelby Street. The festival features glassblowing, music, storytelling, and much more, along with over a dozen local and regional vendors, a gallery crawl, and several demonstrations by local art groups. Admission details have not yet been announced — check artskingsport.org for updates.
Read more at ArtsKingsport.org
Exchange Place 40th Annual Spring Garden Fair
Date/Time: Saturday, April 25, 2026 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM) & Sunday, April 26, 2026 (12:00–5:00 PM)
Location: Exchange Place Living History Farm, 4812 Orebank Rd, Kingsport, TN 37664
Admission is $5, with those under 12 admitted free; join the 40th annual Spring Garden Fair — the oldest garden fair in the region and a favorite among gardeners, featuring thousands of plants for sale including perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs, with an emphasis on herbs, natives and heirlooms, along with garden-related arts and crafts. Visitors will see heritage breeds of animals and spring activities on a mid-19th century farm, as volunteers shear the sheep, spin and weave the wool, make butter, and prepare the garden, while children’s activities abound as volunteers help children create garden crafts and learn gardening skills. A Cold Process Soap Workshop will be held during the Fair on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Read more at ExchangePlaceTN.org
Sullivan County Primary Election — Early Voting Begins
Date/Time: Early voting April 15–30, 2026; Primary Election Day May 5, 2026
Location: Sullivan County Election Commission locations, Blountville, TN
Offices that will appear on ballots in the May 5 primaries and August 6 general election include county mayor, sheriff, county commission, and school board. The race for county mayor is sure to garner significant attention after Mayor Richard Venable announced he would not seek another term; the two candidates who have filed petitions are county commissioner Zane Vanover and school board member and former county commissioner Angie Stanley. Early voting for the 2026 primary election opens on April 15 and closes on April 30.