☀️ Today’s Weather
Foggy skies today with a high of 89°F and a low of 65°F — only a 6% chance of rain, so leave the umbrella at home.
😄 Only in Kingsport
Kingsport has a live-fire training building, a planetarium, a wolf habitat, and is getting an In-N-Out Burger. Most cities pick a lane. Kingsport just calls it progress.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: What beloved Kingsport festival first began in 1981?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
Kingsport Police Respond to Critical Incident at Allandale Falls — Scene Cleared
The Kingsport Police Department responded to a critical incident in the Allandale Falls area on Saturday afternoon, with officers on scene as of 12:30 p.m. and the public asked to avoid the area until the situation was resolved. KPD later confirmed the critical incident near Allandale Falls had been cleared and that the incident was “resolved without loss of life,” with no public safety concern remaining.
Know a Local Business That Should Be Here?
If you send us a business that becomes a sponsor, we’ll pay you $50 for it. No cap, no catch. Just hit reply with their name and we’ll take it from there. (We still make the final call on fit, same as any other pitch.)
Kingsport Fire Department Gets New Live-Fire Training Building
The Kingsport Fire Department recently received a new live-fire training building, a significant addition for the department’s training capabilities. The facility will allow firefighters to conduct realistic training exercises in a controlled environment, strengthening their readiness to respond to structure fires throughout the community.
SCSO: Shooting Suspect Taken Into Custody in Gray
The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office reported that a shooting suspect who had been considered armed and dangerous was taken into custody in Gray. Authorities had previously issued warnings to the public while actively searching for the individual. Full details on the circumstances of the shooting and any charges are available from the source link below.
NASCAR Stars Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace Sign Autographs at Local Food City
NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace made appearances at the Food City in Blountville on Friday. The event drew fans from across the region eager to meet the drivers ahead of race weekend activities. Visit the link below for more details on the appearance.
Two People Face Child Endangerment Charges in Sullivan County
Two individuals were recently charged with child endangerment in Sullivan County, according to a report from local news sources. Details on the specific circumstances leading to the charges were not fully available from the headline alone. Visit the link below for the full story.
📅 Upcoming Events
Event details are pulled from public listings and can change. Please confirm dates and times on the official event page before making plans.
Tennessee Lit Con 2026
Date/Time: Friday–Saturday, September 25–26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
Location: MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport, TN
Tennessee Lit Con is back for year two as a two-day event, bringing together favorite authors, narrators, and vendors, with 100 authors, 20 vendors, and 5 narrators featured at the beautiful Meadowview Resort and Convention Center. Visit the Eventbrite page for tickets and the full schedule.
Exchange Place Fall Folk Arts Festival 2026
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
Location: Exchange Place, Kingsport TN 1850s Farm
The Exchange Place Fall Folk Arts Festival returns at the historic 1850s living history farm. Visit the event page for full details on this annual gathering celebrating local heritage and culture.
Folkfest Fall Shindig
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM
Location: 140 Broad Street, Kingsport, TN
A fall folk music and community gathering in downtown Kingsport. Visit the event page for full details.
Motivating Magic Show — Kingsport, TN
Date/Time: Thursday, October 8, 2026, starting at 6:30 PM
Location: Temple Baptist Church, Kingsport
The Motivating Magic Show is coming to Temple Baptist Church, Kingsport. Visit the event listing for more details on this community-friendly show.
Park After Dark 2026 — Bays Mountain Park
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Bays Mountain Park, Kingsport
Guests will enjoy moonlight walks, barge rides, stargazing, trick-or-treating and a Halloween-themed laser show in the planetarium. Visitors can also trick-or-treat with animal ambassadors, paint a Halloween pumpkin to take home, and gather at the wolf habitat to hear about wolf folklore and end the night with a howl. Food trucks will also be on-site serving up delicious treats and refreshments.
TOKs 2nd Annual Car and Bike Show
Date/Time: Saturday, October 24, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM
Location: Highland Park, Kingsport
TOKs 2nd Annual Car and Bike Show is happening at Highland Park, Kingsport. Visit the event page for more details on this community car and bike showcase.
Haunted Half Marathon
Date/Time: Saturday, October 31, 2026, starting at 7:30 AM
Location: Kingsport (details via Visit Kingsport)
The Haunted Half Marathon is happening on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 7:30 AM onwards. Visit the event page for full registration details and course information.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Date/Time: Friday, October 30, 2026, starting at 8:45 PM
Location: MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics is happening at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, Kingsport. Visit the event page for tickets and program details.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
Fun Fest, the multi-day summer celebration that has grown into one of the most anticipated community events in the Tri-Cities region since its founding in 1981.