Community Calendar

ETSU's Office of Professional Development, in conjunction with the Department of Media + Communication, will be offering "Podcasting for Everyone" starting Thursday, May 14th & Friday, May 15th 2026 from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. This workshop will be a total of eight hours and will include time in a professional recording studio.

Participants will learn about and experience each step of the podcast creation process, from idea to production, to distribution. Participants will use the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience obtained throughout the workshop to produce their own "mini" podcast episode. A video component will be included exlusive to this particular course. Successful completion of this course will result in a Podcasting Certificate sponsored by ETSU's Office of Professional Development.

The instructors for this course are Stacy Whitaker, Director of Engineering in the Department of Media + Communication and Tim Altonen, Assistant Engineer. Stacy is a broadcast engineer with 25 years of professional experience in communication, television, film and radio.

Discover the timeless flavors of the Mediterranean in this exclusive four-part cooking series!
Join us for an unforgettable journey through the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean, where each week brings fresh, updated takes on classic dishes that have nourished generations. Cook side-by-side with fellow food lovers, then sit down together to savor the meal you've created.
Series Details:

When: Thursdays, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM (four consecutive weeks) April 23rd, 30th, May 7th, and 14th.
What to Expect: Hands-on cooking, full recipes provided, shared communal dinner, and plenty of laughs and conversation.
Price: $70 per class — all four classes required for the complete experience ($280 total).
Why Commit to All Four? Each session builds on the last, exploring a different cornerstone of Mediterranean heritage while keeping things modern, approachable, and delicious.

Weekly Highlights (Mediterranean Edition):

Week 1: France — Revamped Provençal classics and a few new ideas!

Week 2: Italy — Bright, seasonal twists on Antipastos, fresh Ricotta Gnocchi, and simple yet stunningly delicious fare.

Week 3: Spain — Bold, shareable Tapas and Pintxos.

Week 4: Croatia — Hearty Dalmatian coastal gems with a contemporary edge.

Come cook, eat, and connect! Whether you're making new friends or catching up with old ones over plates of incredible food, these evenings are all about good company and great Mediterranean flavors.
Spots are limited — reserve your spot for the full series today!
See you in the kitchen!

**Guiding Good Choices Parenting Workshops - for Parents and Caregivers of Pre-Teens and Teens!**

Live on Zoom |  Free to Attend

**Thursdays at 7:30 PM EST, starting May 14**

Join us for this six-week program! Register at https://appalachianpromisealliance.org/parenting/#ggc

Parenting a pre-teen or teen can be tough—but you don’t have to do it alone! Guiding Good Choices is a 6-week evidence-based workshop designed to help parents of 4th - 9th graders build stronger connections, improve communication, and navigate challenges together.

What You’ll Learn:

- How to help your child problem-solve and make healthy choices
- Skills for managing frustration, anger, and conflict
- How to support your child’s friendships and social development
- Strategies to strengthen your family bond
- Plus, a new session on technology and screen time

For one special session, pre-teens and teens join in to practice the skills learned—and have fun!

Join a trusted community of parents, ask questions, and gain practical tools to support your child’s growth.  Thanks to generous grant support, this class is completely free!

*Sign up today and feel more confident in guiding your child’s future!*

Attached at the Heart Parenting Program Registration Open for Spring 2026 Series

Register now for free weekly sessions beginning in May by the Parenting Sweet, based on 70 years of evidenced-informed research for child and family wellbeing

Appalachian Promise Alliance wants to help make parenting sweet--whether you're looking for more cooperation, less stress and conflict, easier mealtimes, getting sleep, navigating technology use, finding community, addressing child care and development questions, or creating a lasting loving environment and connection in your family. The Parenting Sweet at Appalachian Promise Alliance announces registration for the Attached at the Heart Parenting Program for parents of children up to age 5 or expectant parents starting May 2026. Register now at www.ParentingSweet.org/#ahpp for live online Mondays at 7:30 pm, or live online and in-person options Fridays at 9:00 am.

Join to access all of the sessions and address your parenting concerns. Provided free of charge with grant support, this is an incredible opportunity to take advantage of valuable parenting information and support by educators with more than 25 years of experience and training:

Two weekly options to choose between, Mondays or Fridays, are provided for attending the 1-hour online sessions, or in-person on Fridays. Follow weekly session topics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParentingSweet/events

Attached at the Heart parenting sessions help improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and parent knowledge about child development; increase parent confidence and positive parenting skills, increase levels of empathy toward children, ensure healthy secure attachment, increase family connection, protect against trauma, and help make parenting sweeter. are also a great way to connect with other parents and find support, encouragement, and friends.

For more information, visit www.ParentingSweet.org or email parentingsweet@appalachianpromise.org.

ETSU's Office of Professional Development, in conjunction with the Department of Media + Communication, will be offering "Podcasting for Everyone" starting Thursday, May 14th & Friday, May 15th 2026 from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. This workshop will be a total of eight hours and will include time in a professional recording studio.

Participants will learn about and experience each step of the podcast creation process, from idea to production, to distribution. Participants will use the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience obtained throughout the workshop to produce their own "mini" podcast episode. A video component will be included exlusive to this particular course. Successful completion of this course will result in a Podcasting Certificate sponsored by ETSU's Office of Professional Development.

The instructors for this course are Stacy Whitaker, Director of Engineering in the Department of Media + Communication and Tim Altonen, Assistant Engineer. Stacy is a broadcast engineer with 25 years of professional experience in communication, television, film and radio.

In celebration of the anniversary of the nation’s founding, Irish and old-time musicians are joining scholars from East Tennessee State University and Ireland, May 15 and 16, to discuss and celebrate America’s Irish Influences.

The two-day event, “America 250: Celebrating The Role of the Irish,” will be held at the Reece Museum on the ETSU campus on Friday, and at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton on Saturday. Attendance for both days is free and open to the public.

Friday’s gathering at the Reece Museum on the ETSU campus begins at 5 p.m. with a panel discussion titled “The Irish Influence on American Music.” Panelists include Dr. Hannah Gibson, an ethnomusicologist in Northern Ireland; Dr. Ted Olson, music historian and professor of Appalachian Studies at ETSU; and Dr. Lee Bidgood, ethnomusicologist and professor of Appalachian Studies at ETSU.

The panel discussion on Friday will introduce performances at 7 p.m. by two groups featuring Irish and old-time music. Will MacMorran, Chad Beauchaine, and Jason Herrara will open the concert, followed by the Empty Bottle String Band.

On Saturday, a second panel discussion, titled “The Role of the Irish in the Founding of America,” takes place at 2 p.m. at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Auditorium on West Elk Avenue in Elizabethton.

Panelists will include Dr. Aaron Ward of the National Museums of Northern Ireland; Dr. Ron Roach, chair of ETSU’s Department of Appalachian Studies; and Dr. Daryl Carter, professor of history at ETSU.

The Irish scholars participating in the panel discussions will bring a combination of educational experience and specialized research to the conversation. Gibson has served as a museum educator at Ulster American Folk Park in Ireland. Her ethnomusicology research has focused on the cultural intimacies of Irish country music.

Ward serves as director of public engagement at National Museums Northern Ireland, where he has led strategic initiatives focused on how people encounter history through place, storytelling and shared cultural experiences.

The events are sponsored by ETSU’s Department of Appalachian Studies in partnership with the Consulate General of Ireland, Atlanta.

Theatre Bristol Holds May 16 & 17 Auditions for “Red, White and Tuna”Mark your calendars to audition for this hilarious comedy!Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, April 2026 –  Play a role at Theatre Bristol! Auditions for “Red, White, and Tuna,” are May 16 and 17, 2026, at Theatre Bristol, 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Visit www.theatrebristol.org/audition for important audition times, location, rehearsal schedule, performances, form, roles available, and any updates.

"Red, White, and Tuna" is the hilarious comedy based in the third smallest town in Texas, Tuna, Texas. The characters from "Greater Tuna" are back and so are the laughs. Roles are available for men. What better way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country than celebrate July 4th at Theatre Bristol’s ARTspace. Shows run weekends July 2 through 12.

Those interested in backstage roles may contact info@theatrebristol.org about costuming, set design and construction, lighting, sound, stage management, props, publicity, assisting, and many other opportunities. All roles are volunteer and experience or a strong willingness to learn is welcome.

“Red, White, and Tuna” is part of Theatre Bristol’s 2026 Season of comedies, dramas, and musicals, including "American Tall Tales" with River’s Way, "Charlotte's Web," "Grease," "The Mockingbird Sings," "Deathtrap," and "It’s A Wonderful Life - The Musical"; and the Cathy DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts classes; "The SpongeBob Musical": Youth Edition; PLAYtime in the ARTspace; The StART of Adventure summer camp; and audition and stagecraft workshops. 

For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.

Theatre Bristol Holds May 16 & 17 Auditions for “Red, White and Tuna”Mark your calendars to audition for this hilarious comedy!Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, April 2026 –  Play a role at Theatre Bristol! Auditions for “Red, White, and Tuna,” are May 16 and 17, 2026, at Theatre Bristol, 512 State Street, Bristol, TN. Visit www.theatrebristol.org/audition for important audition times, location, rehearsal schedule, performances, form, roles available, and any updates.

"Red, White, and Tuna" is the hilarious comedy based in the third smallest town in Texas, Tuna, Texas. The characters from "Greater Tuna" are back and so are the laughs. Roles are available for men. What better way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country than celebrate July 4th at Theatre Bristol’s ARTspace. Shows run weekends July 2 through 12.

Those interested in backstage roles may contact info@theatrebristol.org about costuming, set design and construction, lighting, sound, stage management, props, publicity, assisting, and many other opportunities. All roles are volunteer and experience or a strong willingness to learn is welcome.

“Red, White, and Tuna” is part of Theatre Bristol’s 2026 Season of comedies, dramas, and musicals, including "American Tall Tales" with River’s Way, "Charlotte's Web," "Grease," "The Mockingbird Sings," "Deathtrap," and "It’s A Wonderful Life - The Musical"; and the Cathy DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts classes; "The SpongeBob Musical": Youth Edition; PLAYtime in the ARTspace; The StART of Adventure summer camp; and audition and stagecraft workshops. 

For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.

Open Mic Stand-up comedy is at Crossroads Craftworks every Monday!

This weekly workshop provides a free performance venue for aspiring stand-up comics.

Signup: 6:30 pm
Show: 7ish pm
$5 cash at the door / performers get in free
Age 18 and up only.

Here's how it works:
Wanna get behind the mic? The sign up sheet goes out at 6:30.
Wanna sit back and laugh? Bring $5 cash for the cover. The show starts around 7ish. BYOwhatever.

This is unfiltered, uncensored comedy. So adults only, please.

We encourage anyone who is interested in performing to give it a chance. Bring your notes, your laptop, whatever you need to get started. This is your opportunity to workshop your material and get feedback from other comics.

**Guiding Good Choices Parenting Workshops - for Parents and Caregivers of Pre-Teens and Teens!**

Live on Zoom |  Free to Attend

**Thursdays at 7:30 PM EST, starting May 14**

Join us for this six-week program! Register at https://appalachianpromisealliance.org/parenting/#ggc

Parenting a pre-teen or teen can be tough—but you don’t have to do it alone! Guiding Good Choices is a 6-week evidence-based workshop designed to help parents of 4th - 9th graders build stronger connections, improve communication, and navigate challenges together.

What You’ll Learn:

- How to help your child problem-solve and make healthy choices
- Skills for managing frustration, anger, and conflict
- How to support your child’s friendships and social development
- Strategies to strengthen your family bond
- Plus, a new session on technology and screen time

For one special session, pre-teens and teens join in to practice the skills learned—and have fun!

Join a trusted community of parents, ask questions, and gain practical tools to support your child’s growth.  Thanks to generous grant support, this class is completely free!

*Sign up today and feel more confident in guiding your child’s future!*