Out & About: Arts and entertainment throughout the region | Arts & Entertainment

Greater Kingsport Kennel Club Agility Trials will be held Oct. 10-12 at Three Bulls Farm, 625 Beech Grove Road, Bulls Gap. (Entries close Sept. 29.) Indoor arena. Food vendor. Volunteer raffle. For more information visit gkkc.org or see the GKKC page on Facebook.

The Gallery @ Barr Photographics, 203 W. Main St., Abingdon, Virginia, is exhibiting a collection of handcrafted brooms by Abingdon artist, broom maker, witch enthusiast and folk art alchemist Valerie Barr titled “Broom Alchemy.” The exhibit will be celebrated with a reception and art demonstration by Barr, to which the public is cordially invited, on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 2-6 p.m. “Broom Alchemy” will hang, and be offered for sale, through Nov. 30.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia, is featuring the artwork of Trish Dover-Bedwell, program director for the Mount Rogers Adult Education Program. Dover-Bedwell, who primarily works in watercolor, first discovered her passion for art through nature journaling as a Master Naturalist in 2020. Two of her pieces on display have earned awards at the Chautauqua Festival in the Park Art and Photography Show. In addition to her paintings, Dover-Bedwell has created cards and prints of her artwork, some of which are available for sale during the exhibit. For more information call 276-619-4300 or visit www.swcenter.edu.

The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, will offer a monthly Birding in the Gap series on the second Saturday of each month. Participants should meet at the front gate of the museum. The Birding in the Gap monthly series will be held rain or shine. Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing for the weather and comfortable walking shoes. Binoculars are encouraged but not required. Registration is not required for this program. For more information email [email protected] or call 276-523-1322.

Bays Mountain Park, in partnership with the Friends of Bays History Committee, will host Campfire Tales with storyteller Dr. Hannah Harvey on Oct. 10 and 11. The events will take place at the park’s outdoor amphitheater from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Park admission and tickets to the sessions are free both evenings thanks to Knoxville TVA Credit Union. The sessions are recommended for families, teens and adults, with Friday’s program geared more towards kids, while Saturday’s is designed for older teens and adults. Seating is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Free s’mores will be provided from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and Ethan and Nora’s food truck will be on site with hot dogs and beverages for purchase. For more information call 423-229-9447.

Acoustic Autumn concerts will be performed Thursdays in October from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Founders Park Amphitheater, located at 225 Commerce St., Johnson City. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or folding chairs. The concerts are free and open to all ages. The remaining concert schedule is: Oct. 9 — Madi Foster; Oct. 16 — Dan Trull; Oct. 23 — Trevin Sluss; and Oct. 30 — Seth Thomas.

Boozy Creek Community Center, 1989 Shelleys Road, Bristol, Virginia, will host The Hayden Spangler Band on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 5-6:30 p.m. (Fish and chicken meal at 4 p.m. Door prizes at 4:45 p.m.) For more information call 276-466-0026.

The Larry Prevatte Memorial Duffield Jam is held on the first, third and fifth Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the Thomas Village Community Center, 355 Cecil D. Quillen Drive in Duffield, Virginia. For more information call 276-431-1083.

The Candlelight concert series is coming to MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport. Scheduled performances are: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons, Oct. 25 and Nov. 21; Halloween Classics, Oct. 25; Rings and Dragons, Nov. 21; Queen vs. ABBA, Dec. 20; and Christmas Carols on Strings, Dec. 20. Tickets can be purchased at: https://feverup.com.

Jonesborough Community Dance Social with music by Limited Edition Band with Lee Gouge and Mike Archer will be held at the Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St., on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 7-10 p.m. A line dance will be held from 6-7 p.m.

Outdoorsman, 4535 Highway 11W, Blountville, hosts an intermediate line dance from 5:30-6 p.m., line dance from 6-7 p.m., and concerts from 7-10 p.m. Potluck is at 6:15 p.m. The upcoming performer schedule is Oct. 10 — Gouge, Rush & Archer Band; Oct. 17 — NightShift; Oct. 24 — Gouge, Rush & Archer Band; and Oct. 31 — Southern Breeze.

The Jonesborough Doll Show will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St. Appraisals and doll repairs will be available. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For more information call 423-753-0022 or 423-276-5273.

The Nolichuckey Volunteer Fire Department will host a Chili Cook-off Fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 4–7 p.m. at 133 Mathes Circle in Chuckey. Just over a year ago, during the floods of 2024, the department and its neighbors were completely cut off from the outside world. Today, the VFD is still working to rebuild, and the funds from this cook-off will go directly toward purchasing supplies and equipment needed to serve the community more effectively.

The Tri Cities Civil War Round Table will host a presentation relating to the American Civil War and Reconstruction by Dr. Don Leech titled “Sherman’s March: A Traditional Strategy” on Monday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. in Room 219 of the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center, 400 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport. This presentation is free and open to the public, and all interested are invited to attend. Individuals wishing to dine with Dr. Leech at 5 p.m. that Monday at The Chop House (1704 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport) should request reservations by contacting Dr. Michael Smith at [email protected].

Bays Mountain Park has an interactive exhibit in the Nature Center titled “Discover Our Appalachian Highlands Home.” The exhibit features a large lake diorama with various mammals, reptiles, birds and aquatic life native to our region. The exhibit also includes information panels and interactive sensory stations. For more information about Bays Mountain Park and its programs, events and activities, visit www.baysmountain.com.

Bays Mountain Park’s night sky observing sessions — StarWatch — have returned for the fall season. StarWatch sessions allow the public to enjoy the splendor of the night sky at Bays Mountain Park’s observatories. If the weather is good, attendees can typically see star clusters, nebulous gas clouds, colorful multiple-star systems, distant galaxies and the moon and planets (when visible). If the weather is poor, the park will have an alternate activity in the planetarium theater. StarWatch sessions will be held Oct. 4 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 8, 22 and 29 at 6 p.m. Be sure to dress for temperatures at least 20 degrees cooler than expected and do not use white light flashlights at the observing grounds. This is a free event and does not require registration. StarWatch is hosted by the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club and Bays Mountain Planetarium. For more information, visit www.baysmountain.com or call 423-229-9447.

Registration is now open for Bays Mountain Astronomy Club’s 40th annual StarFest convention, scheduled for Nov. 7-9. This year’s theme is “Sharing the Sky.” Registration includes attendance to all of the event’s speakers and activities, five meals, door prizes, telescope viewing and a custom-art zip-up hoodie. Registration with payment must be received by Oct. 19. (Due to a planned water maintenance project, the water will be turned off at the park during StarFest. Several portable toilets and hand washing stations will be available around the parking areas.) For all the details and to register, please visit For more information, visit www.baysmountain.com.

“Big Astronomy” is showing in the Bays Mountain Park Planetarium Theater through Dec. 31. The 45-minute program is being shown Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m. The alternate planetarium feature showing Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Dec. 31 will be “Appalachian Skies.” For more information about Bays Mountain Park and its programs, events and activities, visit www.baysmountain.com.

Project Friendship by the Kingsport Altrusa Club is continuing its meet-and-greet events at Shooters Billiards in Kingsport on the second and fourth Fridays at 6 p.m. This event is for anyone who works from home, is new to the area, or just doesn’t get out often. It’s a low-key way to meet others and have fun! Text to 423-384-0425 for more information.

Hands On! Discovery Center is an all-ages science center that offers a guest experience that includes fun, interactive programs and immersive, STEM-based exhibits for the whole family as well as exhibits and information about the Gray Fossil Site, an active fossil dig site dating back 5 million years. Tickets may be purchased at https://visithandson.org/tickets.

Theatre Bristol will present “The Odd Couple” at the Cameo Theatre through Oct. 12. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at TheatreBristol.org/tickets.

LampLight Theatre in Kingsport will present “Poe’s Paradox,” a play that delves deep into the darkness of the human soul through the lens of one of America’s most enigmatic writers, Edgar Allan Poe. The tale explores themes of loss, abandonment and the struggle for redemption. There will be a post-show meet and greet with the actors and production team and photo opportunities with Edgar Allan Poe and your favorite phantoms from his literary works. This production runs every weekend through Oct. 26. Performances times are Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Because of the subject matter and intensity of the subject matter, the play is rated PG-13. For reservations and information, call 423-348-7610 or visit www.lamplighttheatre.com.

Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present “Deathtrap” now through Nov. 1 on the Gilliam Stage. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com.

Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present “Anne of Green Gables: The Musical” now through Nov. 2 on the Gilliam Stage. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com.

The Chuckey Depot Railroad Museum in Jonesborough has opened a new exhibit titled “All Aboard! The Golden Age of Rail Travel,” which features the years between the late 1800s and mid 1900s. The exhibit will display artifacts and stories of well-known passenger trains such as the Santa Fe “SuperChief,” the Pennsylvania Railroad “Broadway Limited” and Southern Railway’s “The Tennessean.” The Chuckey Depot Museum is open free of charge, but donations are appreciated. The depot is located at 110 S. Second Ave. in Jonesborough. Museum hours are: March through September: Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through February: Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit Jonesborough.com or call 423-753-1010.

The Kingsport Model Trains Project operates eight model train layouts in six rooms at the Lynn View Community Center including a 24-by-20 “O” scale representation of the Santa Train. The site is open the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and most Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m. To double check, visit the group’s Facebook page. The project continues to seek a new home or at a minimum 3,000 to 4,000 square feet of storage until a new home is found.

Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park will explore “The World of Bees” during the 28th annual Wildlife Weekend that begins Friday, Oct. 10, with a 3:30 p.m. reception to recognize the Nature Center’s recent accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. Later that evening, ETSU Professor Darrell Moore will deliver the keynote address, and the winners of the Amateur Photography Contest will be announced. A host of activities, including guided hikes and live animal exhibits, will highlight the second day of the celebration on Saturday, Oct. 11. Additional details and a detailed schedule of planned events are available online at www.bristoltn.gov/WLW or by contacting The Nature Center at 423-989-5616.