Community Calendar

The Place Speaks is an exploration of how sacred histories are presented through visual art in Appalachia. Artworks by the Rev. Jimmy Morrow center divine visions and East Tennessee folklore while thematically overlapping with other visual artists in Appalachia and the American South. Using Morrow’s works and significant artifacts in the permanent collection that are grounded in regional placeness, The Place Speaks honors and respects the fusion of deeply personal, regional, and universal philosophies and beliefs as they relate to Appalachian landscapes.

Join us Thursday, Oct. 16 from 4:30-7 p.m. for the exhibition reception. Programming will begin at 4:30 p.m. with live music by musician and visual artist Abe Partridge, followed by a panel of artists and scholars from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Panelists include Dr. Rick Cary, Dr. Jenna Gray-Hildenbrand, and Aaron McIntosh.

Join us on Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 pm for a FREE screening of the 1964 Christmas classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Jackson Theatre in Historic Jonesborough, TN.

Burl Ives narrates this animated musical, first telecast in 1964. The Johnny Marks score includes the title tune, “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “We’re a Couple of Misfits.” ~ Rating G ~ Running Time 47 minutes

Because this is a FREE event -- sponsored by the Town of Jonesborough’s Department of Parks & Recreation -- we strongly encourage you to reserve your seats in advance. You can do so by visiting our website at THEJACKSONTHEATRE.COM

The Bristol Community Remembrance Project Coalition will dedicate a historical marker memorializing Mr. Robert Clark--the victim of an 1891 documented lynching in Bristol, VA. The Bristol Community Remembrance Project Coalition was formed in collaboration with the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL. The Equal Justice Initiative works with communities to commemorate and recognize the traumatic era of lynching by collecting soil from lynching sites across the country and erecting historical markers in these spaces. Since January 2023, the Bristol coalition has focused on creating awareness and understanding about racial terror lynchings and encouraging conversations that advance truth telling. The Robert Clark Historical Marker dedication will take place on Saturday, December 14, 11:00 am at Citizens Cemetery, Piedmont Avenue, in Bristol, VA. Parking and shuttle service will be provided at 10:30 am from State Street United Methodist Church, 650 Valley Drive, Bristol, VA.

The Toe River Chamber Ensemble invites the community to its festive Annual Holiday Concert on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church on Burnsville Square. Under the direction of R. Kevin Paul, the ensemble will fill the evening with festive classics and spirited sing‑alongs sure to spark holiday cheer. Composed of more than twenty volunteer musicians from Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, and Buncombe counties, the ensemble represents a wide range of ages and professions — from students and teachers to doctors, librarians, and retirees — all united by their passion for music.

Too much on your plate this holiday season? Help yourself avoid holiday weight gain by learning a few tips and tricks at this nutrition workshop.
Sessions are one hour and repeat at 10-11am, NOON - 1pm and 5:30-6:30pm. Print materials and food prep tools provided plus healthy snacks.
Please call to reserve your seat: 423-574-1919

Make parenting more enjoyable and build parenting skills and support with the Attached at the Heart Parenting Program (AHPP), registering now at ParentingSweet.org for online Thursdays at 7:30PM, and online or in-person sessions on Sundays at 4PM. Provided free of charge, AHPP helps improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and parent knowledge about child development; increases parent confidence and positive parenting skills, increases levels of empathy toward children, ensures healthy secure attachment, increases family connection, and protects against trauma. It is also a great way to connect with other parents and find support, encouragement, and friends.

St Paul's Church will host a free Christmas Dinner Christmas Day 3-5pm. Everyone is welcome.

Make parenting more enjoyable and build parenting skills and support with the Attached at the Heart Parenting Program (AHPP), registering now at ParentingSweet.org for online Thursdays at 7:30PM, and online or in-person sessions on Sundays at 4PM. Provided free of charge, AHPP helps improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and parent knowledge about child development; increases parent confidence and positive parenting skills, increases levels of empathy toward children, ensures healthy secure attachment, increases family connection, and protects against trauma. It is also a great way to connect with other parents and find support, encouragement, and friends.

Join us for the premiere of Nurse: Empathy Heals, a powerful new film from award-winning filmmaker Chusy Haney-Jardine of Plan A Films, inspired by real stories from the Nurse Narratives Initiative of the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement.
This documentary explores the healing power of empathy, the complex realities nurses navigate every day, and why they remain some of our most essential heroes.

At this special screening, we will celebrate and thank nurses:
Join us for a reception with light hors d’oeuvres at 6:00 pm. The ETSU Research Corporation will host a TOAST to NURSES.
One complimentary beer or wine (21+ with valid ID). A non-alcoholic option will be available.
Following the screening, stay for a live Q&A with nurses and members of the filmmaking team who helped bring these stories to the screen.
After the film, Tennessee Hills is honoring nurses and all first responders with a free beer at the Johnson City location, with a presentation of the event program and badge (21+ with valid ID).

RSVP by Monday, January 5, at 4:30 PM

The Nurse Narratives Initiative is a collaboration between Ballad Health, The Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement, The ETSU College of Nursing, and StoryCollab, powered by the ETSU Research Corporation. The initiative brings first-person stories to life to elevate and honor the nursing profession.

Make parenting more enjoyable and build parenting skills and support with the Attached at the Heart Parenting Program (AHPP), registering now at ParentingSweet.org for online Thursdays at 7:30PM, and online or in-person sessions on Sundays at 4PM. Provided free of charge, AHPP helps improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and parent knowledge about child development; increases parent confidence and positive parenting skills, increases levels of empathy toward children, ensures healthy secure attachment, increases family connection, and protects against trauma. It is also a great way to connect with other parents and find support, encouragement, and friends.