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Kingsport Parks and Recreation hosting Glow Dodgeball event

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Family Fun Night event on January 17 at the Lynn View Community Center (257 Walker Street).

The glow dodgeball event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and feature multiple games of glow dodgeball. Cost is $5 per person, and the event is for anyone ages 5 and older. Children ages 5 to 10 will play from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and participants ages 11 and older will play from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Glow events are when participants wear neon or white clothes, the lights of a gym are turned off and the black lights are turned on. Everyone then “glows” in the dark while playing a game of dodgeball.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/49TSnFY. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “glow dodgeball” in the search bar.

For information about other events, activities and programs offered by the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org

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Bays Mountain Park takes us on a journey to the Sun

Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium is pleased to announce its latest planetarium show – “The Sun: Our Living Star” – where viewers will discover the amazing secrets of our closest star.

“The Sun: Our Living Star” will debut January 2 and continue showing as the main feature in the Planetarium Theater through April 30. The 40-minute program is being shown Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The Sun has shone on our world for four and a half billion years and the light that warms our skin today has been felt by every person who has ever lived. It is our nearest star and our planet’s powerhouse, the source of the energy that drives our winds, our weather and all life.

And don’t be fooled by the terminology. Although our star is a typical dwarf star, the Sun consumes 600 million tons of hydrogen each second and is 500 times as massive as all the planets combined.

“Discover the secrets of our star in this captivating show and experience never-before-seen images of the Sun’s violent surface in immersive full-dome format,” said Planetarium Director Jason Dorfman.

This program will be followed by a brief tour of the current evening sky using our Zeiss ZKP-4 optical star projector.

The alternate planetarium feature showing Saturdays and Sunday at 2 p.m. through February 28 will be “Appalachian Skies.”

“Appalachian Skies” takes visitors on a majestic tour of the current evening sky using the Zeiss optical star projector. This live presentation is enhanced with additional content from our VELVET LED projectors for a wonderful, immersive experience.

Each presentation is guaranteed to be unique, due to the live nature of the program, and the natural progression of the changing night sky throughout the seasons. Learn what fascinating mythological constellations, from Ancient Greece and other cultures, will be easily visible. Find out what planets are easily seen as well. Visitors will take this knowledge home and be able to locate these celestial sights for themselves.

For more information about Bays Mountain Park and its programs, events and activities, visit www.baysmountain.com.

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Atmos Energy to upgrade gas line along Watauga Street

Beginning January 5, residents who live on Watauga Street and in the nearby neighborhoods may notice survey crews working along the street.

These crews are working to identify the right-of-way on Watauga Street and will be marking it with stakes. This work is the necessary first step in Atmos Energy’s continued gas line upgrade along Watauga Street.

This gas line upgrade is scheduled to begin on January 5 and will be performed in two phases over the next six months. The first three-month phase will take place from the Watauga Street roundabout to Linville Street, and the second three-month phase will take place from Linville Street to Lamont Street.

Most of the work will take place between the sidewalk and the roadway, but some obstructions may mandate crews to work behind the sidewalk but still inside the public right-of-way. The right-of-way will be restored with seed and straw when the work is completed.

Motorists are urged to use caution during this time and be on the lookout for flagmen in the work zones. No road closures are expected.

For more information about this project, please contact Operations Supervisor John Bradley at 423-791-4996.

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Kingsport offering Beginner and Adult Guitar Lessons

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department will be offering beginner and adult guitar lessons this winter at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex.

The lessons will take place every Tuesday from January 20 through February 24 at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex (301 Louis Street). The Beginner lessons will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day; Adult lessons will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Participants ages 7 and up can register and the cost of the lessons is $100 per person. No prior experience is necessary for the Beginner lessons; all participants will need to bring their own guitar to the lessons.

Instructor Terry McCoy brings years of teaching and performing experience, offering personalized instruction that covers basic chords, strumming patterns, and even simple songs. The goal is to develop confidence, musicality, and a lifelong love for playing guitar.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3XrG6RM. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “guitar” in the search bar.

For information about other programs and classes offered by Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Kingsport Parks and Recreation hosting Fortnite tournament

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department is blasting and building its way into the new year by offering a special one-day Fortnite tournament next month.

The tournament will take place at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex (301 Louis Street) on January 2 beginning at 10 a.m. The event is open to players ages 7 to 17 and the entry free is $10 per player.

Participants will compete on the Playstation 5 and XBOX Series X and are encouraged to show up wearing their favorite pair of pajamas. You can bring your own controller or use one supplied by Kingsport Parks and Recreation.

The Fortnite tournament will guarantee three games, taking the total points from eliminations, placement, and wins to determine the winner.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/3KsOGNc. You can also register by clicking on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or by going to www.kingsporttn.gov and clicking on the “CivicRec” link, then searching for “fortnite” in the search bar.

For information about other programs, activities and classes offered by the Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Kingsport offering Midday Mat Flow Yoga classes

Yoga is an ancient practice that brings the mind and body together through stretching, breathing and meditation. Yoga can improve your mental health and balance, reduce stress and anxiety and is beneficial to your overall well-being.

The Kingsport Parks and Recreation Department is offering a new yoga course next month aimed at folks who are looking for a less-intense class to take during the middle of the day.

Midday Mat Flow yoga classes will be held every Wednesday at noon at the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex from January 7 through February 4. The hour-long classes are for participants ages 16 and older.

“The program is aimed at working folks who may want to take a yoga class during their lunch break and not have to worry about being too sweaty after class,” said Program Coordinator Renee Ensor. “So, we’re trying something new. The yoga will be less intense and involve more stretching than anything else.”

The cost of the program is $25 for city residents and $30 for non-city residents. There will be a limited number of mats available so feel free to bring your own.

To register, visit https://bit.ly/43DsIgT. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “yoga” in the search bar.

For information about other programs, activities and classes offered by Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org or call 423-224-2489.

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Kingsport offering Boxing for Fitness classes

Boxing can be a new and exciting way to get in shape and stay healthy. Not only can boxing improve your heart health and boost your endurance, but the sport also improves balance, helps with weight management and enhances your mental health.

Kingsport Parks and Recreation is offering a Boxing for Fitness program next month at the Lynn View Community Center (257 Walker Street). The program is a beginner’s fitness class with a specialization in boxing.

A certified instructor will teach participants the fundamentals and foundations of boxing. There will be no contact between the participants and gloves will be provided.

Classes will take place on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. from January 10 through February 14 (except January 24). The program is open for participants ages 18 and older and costs $50 for city residents and $60 for non-city residents.

“Boxing is not your typical fitness activity, which is why you should consider signing up for the program today,” said Program Coordinator Michael Morris. “Boxing is both rewarding and enjoyable, as you improve your cardio, your strength and your reflexes all at the same time.”

To register, visit https://bit.ly/4pQEWLB. You can also click on the CivicRec link in the Connect Kingsport app or go to www.kingsporttn.gov and click on the “CivicRec” link, then search for “boxing” in the search bar.

For information about other programs, events and activities from Kingsport Parks and Recreation, please visit www.kingsportparksandrecreation.org.

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Kingsport announces a call for vendors

Kingsport Cultural Arts is pleased to announce a call for vendors for the third annual Kingsport Arts Festival.

The festival, which showcases the talents of our region’s best artists and creatives, will take place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 18, 2026, in the 100 block of Shelby Street.

Vendors interested in participating in next year’s festival have until January 15 to submit an application. The selection process will take place soon after and chosen artists will be notified by February 15.

Upon acceptance, vendors must pay a booth fee of $50 by March 1 or forfeit their spot.

“We’re delighted to continue this festival in 2026, again with a focus on education and engagement,” said Program Leader Linore Huss. “We’re looking for unique and original work by artists and artisans to grow our community’s understanding of what “the arts” can include.”

To apply to become a vendor, please visit https://bit.ly/4j3Leph.

The one-day festival will feature an iron pour, glassblowing, chalk art and creating tie dye T-shirts. In addition, the festival will feature more than a dozen vendors, free activities and performances.

The Kingsport Arts Festival is a partnership between Kingsport Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport. This project is supported, in whole or in part, by the State of Tennessee, Tennessee Arts Commission.

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Kingsport announces holiday closures, sanitation changes

Kingsport offices will be closed during the Christmas holiday – December 24 and December 25 – and the New Year’s holiday – January 1.

The garbage and trash collection routes for the holiday season are as follows:

  • December 22 through December 24 – no changes to the collection routes.
  • December 25 – no collection on this day.
  • December 25 routes will be collected on December 26.
  • December 26 routes will be collected on December 27.
  • January 1 – no changes to the collection routes.

Kingsport’s demolition landfill will be closed December 24 and 25 and January 1. The convenience center (300 Industry Drive) will be closed December 25, but open December 24 and January 1 from 7:30 am to 12:30 p.m.

Kingsport’s sanitation crews will be picking up extra items associated with gift giving – such as boxes and bags of wrapping paper/ribbon/bows – from December 29 through January 2. Place these items on the curb three to four feet away from the cart on your garbage collection day.

For more information about Kingsport’s sanitation services, please visit www.kingsporttn.gov.

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Bays Mountain Park receives $100,000 grant

The City of Kingsport is pleased to announce Bays Mountain Park has received a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. These grant funds will go towards the construction of a new floating bridge along the western end of Lakeside Trail.

City and state officials held a check presentation ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the Nature Center to celebrate the awarding of the grant.

“Today is an exciting day for Kingsport and we are thankful the state has invested in and continues to invest in Bays Mountain Park,” said Mayor Paul W. Montgomery.

For more than 20 years, the floating bridge has connected Lakeside Trail to itself and has served as the main path to travel along the reservoir. However, the bridge has sustained significant wear and tear over the years due to the weather and fallen trees and is in need of being replaced.

The proposal calls for the construction of a new bridge adjacent to the existing one and once complete, the old bridge will be removed. Kingsport is currently working on the design of the new bridge.

In November, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development awarded 30 communities across the state more than $2 million in Tourism Enhancement Grants to strengthen local tourism assets and drive Tennessee’s continued growth as a world-class destination.

Brent Lambert, East Tennessee Division Manager for the Tennessee Department of Tourism, explained how tourism is the second leading industry in Tennessee, generating more than $3.3 billion in tax revenue for the state.

“In Tennessee, more than $1,100 per household is being saved due to tourism,” Lambert said. “That’s a big deal and places like Bays Mountain Park…I have friends who swear to me this park is the best park in the State of Tennessee.”

For more information about Bays Mountain Park visit www.baysmountain.com.

Link to: City of Kingsport
City of Kingsport, Tennessee