This weekend in Tri Cities, TN

Navigate a clearly marked route spanning 6 to 8 miles across trails and fields. Aim for the ideal pace or take it easy and ride at a comfortable speed, with optional jumps and obstacles along the way. A refreshment stop awaits at the midway point. Entry is $40. Participants may RSVP to handle the waiver and arrange their start, or attend without advance notice. Friends are welcome to ride together on a private farm.

A new Poke-Kon Fest show comes to Johnson City, Tennessee at Holiday Inn Johnson City. This family friendly event features appearances by voice actors along with a variety of vendors and artists, creating a welcoming experience for fans of all ages.

Celebrate dedication and progress at a belt promotion ceremony highlighting achievements across the BJJ program. Professor Steve Bongiorno of South Jersey BJJ will present two Black Belt promotions to Coach Brian Duncan and Shane Vaughn, alongside additional advancements throughout the academy, including multiple Blue Belts and a Purple Belt. Students who plan to participate on the mats should wear a Gi. Seating will be available for parents, family, and other spectators. Students who are unable to attend may receive promotions during a later regular class. A small gathering is planned afterward at Bays Mountain Brewing Company, and the event is open to friends from neighboring academies and the regional BJJ community.

A relaxed, creativity-focused meetup that welcomes everyone, from seasoned artists to first-time sketchers looking for a calm place to make art and connect. The atmosphere is supportive, with an emphasis on appreciating each person’s artistic path. Expect engaging touches like weekly challenges, sketchbook sharing, art mentoring, and a rotating topic or prompt to spark conversation and ideas. Work on a small personal project, draw from a provided still life, or begin something brand new. Please bring dry materials only, such as pencils, charcoal, or pastels, and skip glitter, inks, paints, glues, or other spillable supplies. The gathering takes place at Tea Table on the first floor. Seating is limited and may vary by room setup, with space for up to 10 participants. RSVPs are encouraged, though drop-ins are welcome. Purchasing food or beverages to support the teahouse nonprofit is encouraged. For questions, contact Benjamin Abbott with The FADE Initiative at benjaminabbott3@gmail.com or Laura Carlson at Laura@fadeinit.org.

Now in its 16th year, the Bluegrass Half Marathon is a premier regional event for distance runners. All races begin and end at the Pavilion at Founders Park in Johnson City. The event is organized by The Goose Chase, with electronic timing provided by We Run Events.

Outdoor painting takes place on Allandale’s front lawn during the Daniel Boone Antique Car Show. Registration is available. Canvases need an official event stamp on the back to qualify for awards. The event includes daily painting and an exhibition with awards in the Main Gallery at the Renaissance Center. Additional details are forthcoming.

A rain or shine micro crawler competition takes over the covered outdoor course at HobbyTown. Sign-ups happen first, the course briefly closes so organizers can set gates, then competition runs begin. Once the course is closed, only drivers called for their runs may be on track for the remainder of the event. Parking is limited, so participants are asked to leave the spaces directly in front of the store for customers, use the spots by the HobbyTown sign or the grass along the left side of the building, and carpool when possible. If using the grass, stage vehicles toward the far edge so others can line up behind without interrupting the event. Basic rules are kept straightforward to welcome newcomers, and updates will be posted around the outdoor course area and inside the store. Restrooms, power, and a vending machine are available. Entry is cash only at sign-in at $10 per class. When the shop closes later in the day, interior doors will be locked and course access will continue through the gated area on the left side of the building. Competition classes include 24th and 18th scale categories for both amateur and advanced levels. These require the appropriate base platforms for each scale, allow any tires, electronics, motors, chassis, and body types, and prohibit four wheel steering as well as front or rear dig. A Hardbody class calls for a flat skid, tires up to 60 mm, and a body or truggy cage that covers both axles. Buddy Class teams up two drivers who must each finish the course, uses any rig up to 1/18 scale, and does not allow four wheel steering. The SCX30 stock class is limited to Axial SCX30 vehicles with 5 inch gates, stock bodies with factory filler pieces used when accessories are removed, and no brass components except Injora brass steering links when upgrading to higher torque servos such as Injora or Reefs. Wheel and tire changes are permitted with aluminum beadlocks only, and the stock ESC can be paired with a Spektrum radio. Youth competitors 12 and under get their own class and may run either 24th or 18th scale rigs. For amateur 24th and 18th classes, and for unlimited and youth classes, gates are set to a consistent width and include a bonus option. Scoring is based on penalties, with the goal of finishing with the lowest total. Hitting a gate adds points for that gate and makes it dead, while in pro divisions both markers remain live and can be scored separately. Touching, lifting, or otherwise handling a truck during a run adds a significant penalty each time, returning to the pits for repairs adds more, and skipping or missing a gate also accrues points. Boundary penalties are not in use for this event. Fair play is mandatory. Cheating reports will be taken seriously, runs may be ended, and repeat issues can lead to disqualification or suspension from future competitions. If anything about the rules is unclear, questions can be addressed on site.

Experience live monthly jazz at Johnson Brothers Art and Music Center with food and drinks, presented by the Johnson Brothers Cultural Arts Series.

A drop-in discussion group focused on business books gathers at The Philosopher’s House in the Fireplace and Living Room on the first floor. Conversation centers on the current selection, and anyone who enjoys learning is welcome. No registration is required. Food and beverage purchases are encouraged to support the teahouse nonprofit, yet attendance is open regardless of ability to pay. For questions, contact the organizer, Jenna Tamayo, at 1jenna.tamayo@gmail.com. The reading lineup for the year features Radical Candor, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, The Innovators Dilemma, Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, Financial Intelligence, Psychology of Money, The 80/20 Principle, Unreasonable Hospitality, Net Positive, Hooked, The Hard Thing about Hard Things, and The Slight Edge.