Several streets in downtown Kingsport will be closed temporarily on Friday (July 19) to accommodate the 2024 Fun Fest parade.

The parade begins on Clinchfield Street (adjacent to the Kingsport Center for Higher Education), and continues to Center Street, then to Sullivan Street and finally back to Clinchfield Street.

NOTE – Clinchfield from Market Street to Clay Street will be closed by 10 a.m. on Friday to allow for parade lineup.

All side streets leading into Center between Clinchfield and Sullivan will be closed starting at 4 p.m. on Friday. Center and Clinchfield will be closed 30 minutes prior to the parade beginning (approximately 6 p.m.).

Detour signs will be in place and all closures will be lifted at the conclusion of the parade.

Allandale Mansion is hosting a game day event later this month, where friends and family can get together at the mansion and enjoy a relaxing afternoon playing their favorite card or board game.

The Board Game Day event will be held at Allandale Mansion from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on July 30. Come out and explore the mansion’s collection of games or bring along one of your own to enjoy. Bring a friend or come ready to meet up with other players, and feel free to bring your own lunch or enjoy a provided snack.

Though the event is free, Allandale Mansion officials are asking folks to register to know approximately how many people will be showing up.

To register, please visit https://bit.ly/3UZc9XD. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on “CivicRec,” then search for “game day” in the search bar.

For information about other programs, activities and classes offered by the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org or call 423-229-9460.

The City of Kingsport is supporting a regional initiative aimed at helping people improve their credit scores and set them on a course to financial wellness.

The initiative is called “Hwy 720; Where financial literacy and community intersect” – a campaign meant to link financial counseling to the community at large and helping people achieve a credit score of 720. In Tennessee, the average credit score is 697, which is below the national average of 718.

“A healthy credit score can change your life,” said Kingsport Mayor Pat Shull. “If you can achieve a score of 720, you can open doors to so many opportunities like housing, lower interest rates and a better life for you and your family.”

With this in mind, organizations are joining together to note the importance of the score July 18^th through the 23^rd at various locations including a networking event at a Kingsport Axmen game.

Financial professionals will hold seminars, workshops and appointments at various banks, credit unions and non-profit organizations across the Tri-Cities region. During these meetings, financial professionals will offer advice, resources and information about how to improve your credit score and hopefully reach the key number of 720.

To find a location near you visit www.unitedwayetnh.org/tri-cities-720 for more information or to schedule an appointment. For more information about the campaign, contact Tiffany Greer at tiffany.greer@firsthorizon.com or 423-461-1725.

Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life and you want that day to be amazing and memorable with as little stress as possible.

So, whether it’s a small, private ceremony or a large wedding with two hundred guests, the City of Kingsport can help you out with many rental options for when you and your significant other officially tie the knot.

Kingsport offers a variety of wedding locales, including Bays Mountain Park, the Farmers Market, Allandale Mansion, or any number of our other city parks. Each location provides a unique setting based on your specific needs.

Allandale Mansion – Known as Kingsport’s White House, the historic Allandale Mansion is a 5,700 square foot Georgian-style mansion located on 25 acres of picturesque land. Weddings are held on the property throughout the year with rental options being the mansion, Harvey’s barn, the Brook’s pavilion and the 2,000-square-foot outdoor amphitheater.

With beautiful indoor and outdoor scenery and a remote location yet still close to town, Allandale Mansion truly is a place unlike any other in the Tri-Cities.

Bays Mountain Park – For couples who enjoy the great outdoors, the largest city-owned park in Tennessee may just be the perfect place for your upcoming wedding. Imagine yourself and your guests surrounded by nature with the trees, mountain or lake as your backdrop. It’s a picture you won’t soon forget.

Farmers Market – Located in the heart of downtown Kingsport, the Farmers Market is a wedding venue capable of accommodating several hundred guests while still being easily accessible for folks of all ages. In addition, the facility was recently renovated with a fresh coat of paint, finished floors and oversized ceiling fans to provide comfort no matter the season.

Outdoor Parks – Kingsport has greenspaces of all sizes located from one end of town to the other. Glen Bruce Park, Centennial Park, Borden Park or even the Kingsport Carousel could handle your special day in a jiffy without breaking the bank – and all with a touch of nature in the background.

All of these rentals can be conveniently reserved through the CivicRec link at www.kingsporttn.gov or on the This is Kingsport website at www.thisiskingsport.com.