Happy weekend, Tri Cities! In today’s happening-today edition: Holiday festivities return downtown, a campus makeover, and a local favorite comeback + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Holiday festivities return downtown: Bristol’s 2026 Stars and Stripes Celebration will light up July 4, starting 5 p.m. with the July 4 parade, live performances, and a tribute to the 50s, 60s, and 70s -- get all the details.
Campus makeover in progress: ETSU says an academic building will be ready this fall, part of nearly $300 million in upgrades with 30-foot Roman arches, upgraded classrooms, a second-floor balcony and green spaces -- see what’s changing on campus.
Local favorite makes a comeback: Beloved lunch spot Cranberries on Knob Creek Road will reopen soon under new owner Joe Buckles, a regular who owns Black Mountain Games, keeping soups, sandwiches and salads locals love -- read the full story.
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Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.* Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Find your river fix: If your week needs a quick reset, Camp Stonefly sits along the Watauga River with private membership camping for tents, RVs, or renting one of their campers, and it’s basically trout-whispering distance from your sleeping bag. Bring your unplugged self, leave the to-do list at home.
Dinner with a view: When you need a no-fuss seafood fix, Riverfront Seafood Co keeps it Southern and satisfying in a laid-back spot with breezy deck seating and legit river views. Treat yourself to a midweek reset, let someone else fry the fish, and enjoy that easy Tri-Cities evening.
Fairway therapy, anyone?:Warriors Path Golf Course is part of Tennessee State Parks, which means tree-lined holes, calm vibes, and a no-fuss place to shake off the weekday cobwebs. Grab a buddy, chase a personal best, or just practice that short game... your future Saturday self will thank you.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍬 Peppermint Farm Craft Fair and Farmer's Market @ Peppermint Farm (Johnson City) | Saturday (6/20) at 8:00 AM – Handmade goods, farm-fresh produce, and food trucks take over Peppermint Farm for a Boones Creek craft fair and market that feels local. Shop makers, growers, and bakers, let kids roam, then call that cinnamon roll supporting small business, and pretend you came for tomatoes.
📚 Books & Crafts Fair @ Book Lover's Warehouse (Johnson City) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Book Lover’s Warehouse is turning into a cozy makers’ market, with local artists, handmade goods, and giftable finds tucked between the stacks. Come for the paperbacks, stay for the pottery and soaps, and leave smugly satisfied that your summer shopping actually supports neighbors.
☀ Summer Solstice Celebration @ Yoga Farm (Elizabethton) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – This Summer Solstice gathering at the Yoga Farm honors the longest day with light, love, and connection. Think gentle movement, simple rituals, and neighborly conversation, then enjoy the sun putting in overtime while you soak up a little growth, abundance, and actual peace.
🧠 Alzheimer's Awareness Community Event @ The Blake at Kingsport | Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 AM – Break out your best purple, a picnic blanket, and that legendary potato salad for a community Purple Out Picnic, then stick around for the Alzheimer’s Tennessee fundraiser. It is an easy afternoon honoring neighbors facing Alzheimer’s, with stories, heart, and support, and it genuinely helps.
🟦 Lake Meadows Charity Cornhole Tournament @ Lake Meadows Homeowners Association (Johnson City) | Saturday (6/20) at 12:00 PM – Bags4Life and Tristan Deese are hosting a bring-your-own-partner cornhole bash by the lake to fight prostate cancer, with free hotdogs, burgers, and 60/40. Teams are $40, no two pros, five games guaranteed, double elimination, so bring a chair, a cooler, and your backyard-champion confidence.
💃 Line Dancing @ Bristol Ballet | Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 PM – Dust off those boots and two-step with Carla at Bristol Ballet, with a little hometown swagger from the Birthplace of Country Music. It is equal parts workout, nostalgia, and social hour, no partner required, just your best yeehaw, and a willingness to laugh at yourself.
🎬 Bristol Big Screen Nights @ Ida Stone Jones Community Tennis Center | Saturday (6/20) at 7:00 PM – Grab a blanket, because Parks and Rec is turning Tennessee Middle’s soccer field into a big-screen playground. LEGO shenanigans at Ida Stone Jones first, then The LEGO Movie under the stars. Free snacks, free admission, and no need to step on a stray brick. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Tri Cities report Weather forecastToday — High: 83°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 89°F — Low: 68°F — Precip: 9%
Sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 11pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. This house is wildThis Park Place standout offers over 3,300 finished square feet, five bedrooms, and a flexible office or sixth bedroom in the Lake Ridge School District. Granite counters, new engineered hardwoods, and a primary suite with soaking tub and tiled shower bring the polish. A screened porch, fenced yard, fire pit, and huge workshop-ready garage seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
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