Community Calendar

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is proud to host one of the region’s most beloved summer traditions as the Pro-Art Association launches its 50th season with the 14th annual Symphony of the Mountains performance at UVA Wise. This year’s concert will shift to a new day and location, with Symphony of the Mountains taking the stage in the David J. Prior Convocation Center on Sunday, July 19th at 3 p.m. for All American Legacy with Jake Hoot featuring The Voice champion alongside the full orchestra. The concert is free and open to all. Bring your friends and family for an afternoon of music and community in the heart of Wise.

Under the masterful direction of Cornelia Laemmli Orth, Symphony of the Mountains celebrates American music, heritage and community in an inspiring program honoring the nation’s rich musical traditions. Featured performer Jake Hoot is a storyteller with a six-string and a purpose. Best known as the Season 17 winner of NBC’s The Voice, Jake has graced iconic stages like the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, captivating audiences with his rich, soulful voice and undeniable gift for storytelling. Together with bandmates Jamie Floyd, Brittney Hoot and Charles Peahouse, Jake Hoot joins the orchestra for a dynamic collaboration featuring original songs and Nashville favorites, blending country, folk and contemporary with the grandeur of the full symphony orchestra.

Join us for a special 250th anniversary commemoration interpreting the Battle of Island Flats — the first major battle of the Cherokee War of 1776 and one of the opening conflicts of the American Revolution on the southern frontier - on Saturday, July 25, from 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday, July 26, from noon to 3 pm at Exchange Place Living History Farm, 4812 Orebank Road in Kingsport.

Fought near the Long Island of the Holston in July 1776, the battle saw frontier settlers and Virginia militia from Virginia’s New River Valley clash with Cherokee warriors led by Dragging Canoe during a coordinated campaign against the expanding settlements along the Holston, Watauga, and Nolichucky rivers. The battle marked a major turning point in the struggle for control of the southern Appalachian frontier and helped open Southwest Virginia, upper East Tennessee, and eventually Kentucky to expanding settlement.

At this two-day commemoration Cherokee interpreters from the Appalachian region and Virginia militia living historians will bring the frontier world of the 18th-century to life near the very landscape where these dramatic events unfolded. Visitors will experience:
* Living History Encampments – Explore authentic frontier camps and learn about daily life on the Tennessee frontier during the Revolutionary era
* Cherokee Cultural Interpretations – Learn about Cherokee history, lifeways and the broader Cherokee War of 1776. Local/regional Native American artifacts will be on display with the tribal archaeologist on hand to answer questions. A Cherokee flute player will play Native American music throughout the day.
*Historic Foodways – Discover the foods, cooking methods, and survival skills used by frontier settlers and Cherokee communities.
*Battlefield Interpretation - Learn how the battle unfolded through maps, historical analysis and interpretation of the Island Flats battlefield.
*Historic Weapons Demonstrations – See period long rifles, trade guns and other historic firearms with scheduled firing demonstrations plus a display of war clubs and a weapons demonstration by the Cherokee War Chief.
*Primary Sources & Historical Documents – View reproductions of original Revolutionary-era documents relating to the battle and its aftermath.

Cherokee Medicine Man Lee “Ewani” Eames will give a presentation on “The Healing Herbs of the Appalachian Mountains” on Sunday, July 26, at 1 pm. He will bring with him some of the herbs that our ancestors have used for centuries throughout east Tennessee and surrounding areas, that have helped to heal and sustain both European and Native American descendants alike.

Sponsored by Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes and Exchange Place, this free event is part of Fun Fest. No ticket or registration is required. For more information and updates, contact 713–825–9131 or wooldrickfritts@gmail.com or see https://www.facebook.com/events/exchange-place-kingsport-tn-1850s-farm/battle-of-island-flats-commemoration/1438188830844429/

All ages are invited to join us for an exciting evening with the often overlooked and misunderstood moth!

Did you know North America is home to more than 12,000 species of moths? Compare that to our 800 or so species of butterflies. Not only are moths important pollinators, they are also critical to the food web, especially in their caterpillar state.

Featuring:
* Moth sheeting! Check out moths up close after dark, using special equipment under the guidance of a conservation biologist
* Entomologist talk! Learn how you can help reverse the challenges faced by moths (and all insects)
* Visit with community organizations working to support insects and our ecosystem
* Purchase native plants to support moths and other insects at your home

No registration required, but if you would like to be notified of changes due to inclement weather, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992369592083

Suggested donation: $5 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Gardens, a 501(c)(3) organization

Thank you to the community partners that will be joining us:
DarkSky NC
Xerces Society
Bug Lovers Native Plants

This event will be part of NC Moth Week. Participants who find and photograph 10 moths of any species in North Carolina July 18-26 and upload them to iNaturalist by Aug. 16 can earn a glow-in-the-dark decal or a custom-embroidered badge from Science Across NC. https://scienceacrossnc.org/events/moths/

Join us for a special 250th anniversary commemoration interpreting the Battle of Island Flats — the first major battle of the Cherokee War of 1776 and one of the opening conflicts of the American Revolution on the southern frontier - on Saturday, July 25, from 10 am to 3 pm and Sunday, July 26, from noon to 3 pm at Exchange Place Living History Farm, 4812 Orebank Road in Kingsport.

Fought near the Long Island of the Holston in July 1776, the battle saw frontier settlers and Virginia militia from Virginia’s New River Valley clash with Cherokee warriors led by Dragging Canoe during a coordinated campaign against the expanding settlements along the Holston, Watauga, and Nolichucky rivers. The battle marked a major turning point in the struggle for control of the southern Appalachian frontier and helped open Southwest Virginia, upper East Tennessee, and eventually Kentucky to expanding settlement.

At this two-day commemoration Cherokee interpreters from the Appalachian region and Virginia militia living historians will bring the frontier world of the 18th-century to life near the very landscape where these dramatic events unfolded. Visitors will experience:
* Living History Encampments – Explore authentic frontier camps and learn about daily life on the Tennessee frontier during the Revolutionary era
* Cherokee Cultural Interpretations – Learn about Cherokee history, lifeways and the broader Cherokee War of 1776. Local/regional Native American artifacts will be on display with the tribal archaeologist on hand to answer questions. A Cherokee flute player will play Native American music throughout the day.
*Historic Foodways – Discover the foods, cooking methods, and survival skills used by frontier settlers and Cherokee communities.
*Battlefield Interpretation - Learn how the battle unfolded through maps, historical analysis and interpretation of the Island Flats battlefield.
*Historic Weapons Demonstrations – See period long rifles, trade guns and other historic firearms with scheduled firing demonstrations plus a display of war clubs and a weapons demonstration by the Cherokee War Chief.
*Primary Sources & Historical Documents – View reproductions of original Revolutionary-era documents relating to the battle and its aftermath.

Cherokee Medicine Man Lee “Ewani” Eames will give a presentation on “The Healing Herbs of the Appalachian Mountains” on Sunday, July 26, at 1 pm. He will bring with him some of the herbs that our ancestors have used for centuries throughout east Tennessee and surrounding areas, that have helped to heal and sustain both European and Native American descendants alike.

Sponsored by Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes and Exchange Place, this free event is part of Fun Fest. No ticket or registration is required. For more information and updates, contact 713–825–9131 or wooldrickfritts@gmail.com or see https://www.facebook.com/events/exchange-place-kingsport-tn-1850s-farm/battle-of-island-flats-commemoration/1438188830844429/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 15, 2026

Winds of the Mountain Empire Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Free Concert Featuring Carmina Burana

BIG STONE GAP, VA — Winds of the Mountain Empire will celebrate its 20th anniversary performance with a free
concert on Sunday, July 26, at 4:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
Founded in 2006, Winds of the Mountain Empire is a professional wind ensemble that has brought together
musicians from throughout Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky, and beyond for two
decades of high-quality wind band performances.

This year’s anniversary concert will feature a powerful and celebratory program, including The Star-Spangled
Banner, arranged by John Williams; March from Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith; Meridian by Ola
Gjeilo, featuring UVA Wise Associate Professor of Music and pianist Peter Ryan; world premiere performances of
Above the Mountains by UVA Wise music major Joshua Cunningham and Regalia: A Ceremonial Overture by
Donald W. Sorah; and the cornerstone work of the program, Carl Orff’s dramatic and iconic Carmina Burana.

The concert is made possible with the generous support of The Slemp Foundation and the Pro-Art Association,
whose support helps Winds of the Mountain Empire continue offering free, high-quality performances to
audiences throughout the region.