This weekend in Abingdon, VA

The Learning Center at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum offers weekly JAM Kids music lessons through a partnership with Junior Appalachian Musicians. Aimed at students in grades 4 to 8 and beyond, these small group sessions highlight Appalachian acoustic traditions with instruction on guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Participants may bring their own instruments, and loaners can be provided while enrolled. Additional instruments may be introduced at the instructors' discretion. Classes take place throughout the year, and new students can begin at any time. Registration is required to participate. Each session is filled in order of arrival and limited to 30 students, so registration allows participation but does not guarantee a spot each week. The cost is $5 per class or $45 for a set of 10 lessons.

A full day of bidding centers on a small animal and livestock auction that begins with miscellaneous farm-related items, transitions to poultry and other small animals, and later features larger livestock. The small animal portion includes chickens and other poultry, chicks with occasional bottle babies, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and other similar species. The livestock portion follows with hogs and piglets, cattle including bottle calves, equine such as horses, mules, donkeys, and ponies with a current Coggins required, along with goats and sheep including nannies, wethers, kids, billies, and sheep lots. Sellers complete a contract with an auction employee at drop-off, which is available on the day of the auction only. Crates can be purchased during drop-off for $3 each, and cardboard boxes are not accepted for crated animals. In warm weather, plan for no more than two birds per crate unless they are pullets. Fees apply as follows: 30 percent for miscellaneous farm-related items, 20 percent for crated poultry and small livestock, $10 per head for stall-sized sheep and goats, and $20 per head for cattle and equine. Phone service on site is often limited, so messages sent that day may not be seen promptly.

Appa-Latin brings the Bristol community together at Cumberland Square Park to honor Hispanic Heritage Month with history, music, dance, food, art, and vendors. The event welcomes everyone to celebrate the cultures that make the city unique. It also promotes Hispanic and Latin businesses, as well as allies. Donations are invited to help cover festival costs.

Country music collides with postseason pressure and the electric vibe of The World’s Fastest Half-Mile as diamond-certified artist Brian Kelley headlines the pre-race concert for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He brings sun-kissed melodies, hit-packed energy, and Florida-born swagger to the infield stage, setting the tone for one of NASCAR’s most intense nights.

See you there!