Covered bridges, Dolly Parton, football, folk arts, a home show, Oktoberfest and even a sky full of drones...fall has officially arrived in the Tri-Cities! 🍁

🧭 Welcome Back, Trailblazers!

Well, we made it.

The calendar says fall, the mornings are starting to feel a little different, and Northeast Tennessee has apparently decided the best way to welcome the season is to schedule everything on the same weekend. 😂

After Bristol Rhythm & Roots and NASCAR gave us two huge Bristol weekends back-to-back, we're spreading out across the region this week.

Covered Bridge Days returns to Elizabethton, the Tri-Cities Home Show takes over the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, ETSU lights up the Johnson City sky with hundreds of drones, Exchange Place celebrates Appalachian traditions in Kingsport, and downtown Bristol is breaking out the bratwurst for Oktoberfest.

And Dolly Parton fans? Jonesborough has something especially fun planned for you on Friday.

Whether you're searching for things to do in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Elizabethton, Jonesborough or Northeast Tennessee this weekend, you have options.

Lots of them.

Let's go exploring!

⭐ TRAILBLAZER PICK OF THE WEEK

🌉 Covered Bridge Days 2026

📍 Downtown Elizabethton, TN
📅 Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27
💰 FREE admission and performances
🎶 Live music • Food • Vendors • Kids' activities • Fireworks

Few landmarks say Northeast Tennessee quite like Elizabethton's historic covered bridge, and this weekend the city celebrates one of its favorite traditions.

Covered Bridge Days brings three days of music, food, arts and crafts vendors, children's activities and entertainment to downtown Elizabethton.

And here's something families will appreciate: all Covered Bridge Days performances are free.

You can stroll through downtown, browse vendors, grab something good to eat, let the kids enjoy the activities and, of course, take that obligatory picture beside the covered bridge. 📸

The festival also includes fireworks, making this one worth sticking around for after dark.

Even better, downtown parking lots and on-street parking are free.

🌐 Complete Schedule & Festival Information:
https://coveredbridgedays.org/

🧭 Trailblazer Tip: Don't just visit the festival grounds. Give yourself some extra time to explore downtown Elizabethton and its locally owned shops and restaurants while you're there.

🏡 ALL WEEKEND

Tri-Cities Home Show

We've been talking about this one for a couple of weeks, and it's finally here!

📍 Appalachian Fairgrounds
100 Lakeview Street, Gray, TN

📅 Friday: Noon–6 p.m.
📅 Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
📅 Sunday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

🎟️ FREE admission

If you've been thinking about updating your kitchen, improving your outdoor space, tackling a remodeling project or simply collecting ideas for someday, this is a great place to start.

The Fall 2026 Tri-Cities Home Show at the Appalachian Fairgrounds brings home improvement professionals and vendors together under one roof.

You'll find ideas involving remodeling, home design, outdoor living, décor, DIY projects, home automation, security and more.

One advantage of attending a home show is being able to talk with several companies about a project without spending days tracking everyone down individually.

And yes, Realtors like home shows too. We can't help ourselves. Give us countertops, flooring samples and landscaping ideas and we're happy. 😂🏡

🌐 Show Information & Free Tickets:
https://appalachianfairhomeshow.com/

🌸 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Downtown with Dolly

Apparently September 25 – 9 to 5 – is simply too perfect an opportunity to pass up.

And Jonesborough didn't. 💗

📍 Downtown Jonesborough
⏰ Noon–8 p.m.

Downtown with Dolly celebrates the life, music and legacy of Dolly Parton, our very own Queen of Appalachia.

Jonesborough is joining communities around the country in celebrating Dolly on 9/25, with activities highlighting her music, Appalachian heritage, generosity and commitment to children's literacy.

There is even a Cuppa, Cuppa, Cuppa Cobbler Competition, where attendees can sample entries and vote for their favorite.

Yes, Dolly Parton and cobbler.

That's about as Southern as a Friday afternoon can get. 😂

🫖 Tea & Tales: A Dolly Parton Tribute

Want to make your Dolly day a little fancier?

📍 Historic Eureka Inn & Event Center
⏰ 3:30–5 p.m.
🎟️ $50 | Gluten-free option $55

Enjoy traditional tea service while sharing favorite Dolly stories, songs, movies and memories.

🌐 Downtown with Dolly Information & Tea Registration:
https://jonesborough.com/dolly

✨ FRIDAY NIGHT

Bucs Under the Stars

Here's one I think families should put on the calendar.

📍 ETSU University Commons, Johnson City
⏰ Activities begin at 5:30 p.m.
✨ Drone show at 8:30 p.m.
💰 FREE and open to the public

ETSU is celebrating Family Weekend and America's 250th anniversary with Bucs Under the Stars, featuring music, games, family activities, food trucks and a large-scale drone light show.

The drones take to the sky at 8:30 p.m., creating illuminated images celebrating ETSU and America's 250th birthday.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a spot on University Commons and look up.

This sounds like one of those simple fall evenings that could turn into a pretty great family memory.

🌐 Official Event Information:
https://news.etsu.edu/articles/etsu-to-host-drone-light-show-during-family-weekend

🏈 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

ETSU vs. Western Carolina

The Blue Ridge Border Battle

📍 William B. Greene Jr. Stadium
Johnson City, TN
⏰ Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.

College football and fall in East Tennessee just belong together.

Saturday's game is a good one too.

The ETSU Buccaneers host Western Carolina in the Blue Ridge Border Battle as the Bucs begin conference play.

It's also Family Weekend, Gold Out and Faith Day, so expect plenty of blue...well, technically gold...around Johnson City Saturday afternoon. 💙💛

🌐 Schedule, Game Information & Tickets:
https://etsubucs.com/sports/football/schedule

🍺 SATURDAY IN BRISTOL

5th Annual Bristol Oktoberfest

📍 Historic Downtown Bristol
⏰ 2–6 p.m.
🎟️ $40 + $2 card processing fee
🔞 21+

Trade State Street's guitars from Rhythm & Roots for bratwurst and Oktoberfest attire.

The Bristol Chamber's 5th Annual Oktoberfest lets participants stroll through historic downtown Bristol while sampling German-style food and drinks at 11 participating locations.

Your ticket includes the participating food and drink samples, and guests can visit the stops in whatever order they choose.

And yes, Oktoberfest attire is encouraged. There's even a costume contest. 🍺🥨

One important note: this event has sold out in previous years, so I wouldn't count on waiting until Saturday afternoon to decide.

🌐 Information & Tickets:
https://www.bristolchamber.com/oktoberfest/

🎻 SATURDAY & SUNDAY

54th Annual Fall Folk Arts Festival

📍 Exchange Place Living History Farm area, 4812 Orebank Road, Kingsport
📅 Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
📅 Sunday: Noon–5 p.m.
🎟️ Adults: $5
👧 Children under 12: FREE

If you're looking for something that feels like fall in Appalachia, this may be it.

The 54th Annual Fall Folk Arts Festival celebrates harvest season on an 1850s farm with traditional crafts, farmstead demonstrations, music, seasonal foods and children's activities.

This year's festival is expanding its heritage programming in celebration of America's 250th birthday, with one of its largest collections of heritage craftspeople and demonstrations.

You'll also find traditional folk art, seasonal crafts and autumn plants available for purchase.

For only $5 for adults and free admission for children under 12, this is also one of the weekend's best values.

🌐 Festival Information:
https://exchangeplace.info/

🎶 SATURDAY NIGHT IN BRISTOL

Key West – Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band

Ready to trade the mountains for Margaritaville for a few hours? 🌴

📍 Paramount Bristol
518 State Street, Bristol, TN
🚪 Doors: 6:30 p.m.
🎵 Show: 7:30 p.m.
🎟️ $34.04–$102.50, including applicable fees and taxes

The Key West Band, one of the country's longtime Trop-Rock groups, brings the music of Jimmy Buffett to Paramount Bristol.

This year's performance includes Doyle Grisham, who began performing with Jimmy Buffett in 1974 and became a longtime member of the Coral Reefer Band, along with several guest musicians.

Expect the familiar Buffett favorites plus some deeper cuts for the serious Parrotheads.

🌐 Official Information & Tickets:
https://paramountbristol.org/event/keywest2026/

⚠️ Paramount Bristol advises guests to purchase through its official website or box office rather than third-party ticket sellers.

🏃 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

16th Annual Bluegrass Half Marathon & Relays

📍 Pavilion at Founders Park, Johnson City
⏰ Race begins: 7:30 a.m.

Sunday morning starts early in downtown Johnson City.

The Bluegrass Half Marathon offers both the traditional 13.1-mile race and relay options for teams of two to four runners.

The race begins and ends near the Johnson City Farmers Market Pavilion at Founders Park.

Not ready to run 13.1 miles?

Neither am I. 😂

You can still cheer on the runners and enjoy a Sunday morning downtown.

Late registration is listed at $70 during packet pickup, subject to availability.

🌐 Race Information & Registration:
https://thegoosechase.org/bluegrass-half-marathon-relays/

💎 HIDDEN GEM OF THE WEEK

Square Dance at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum

📍 Birthplace of Country Music Museum
101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA
📅 Saturday, September 26
⏰ 7 p.m.

Want something a little different Saturday night?

The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Bristol Ballet are hosting a Square Dance.

And no, you don't need to be an expert.

Square dancing has deep roots in Appalachian social life, making this a fun way to actually participate in the region's culture rather than simply learn about it from behind museum glass.

🌐 Event Calendar & Information:
https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/events/

🏎️ FOR THE MOTORSPORTS CROWD

DER Racing Series at Bristol Dragway

Didn't get enough Thunder Valley last weekend?

📍 Bristol Dragway
151 Speedway Boulevard, Bristol
📅 Friday–Sunday, September 25–27

The DER Racing Series returns to Bristol Dragway for a full weekend of drag racing.

It's a completely different experience from NASCAR at the Speedway, but anyone who likes horsepower and straight-line speed may want to keep Bristol on the weekend itinerary.

🌐 Race Information:
https://www.derracingseries.com/

🎵 FREE SATURDAY NIGHT OPTION

Walnut Street Music Series

📍 Johnson City Brewing Company – Walnut Street
714 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City
⏰ 7–9 p.m.
💰 FREE

Want something simple?

Grab a chair and head to Walnut Street for free live music Saturday evening.

This week's scheduled performer is Red Slippers, part of the free Walnut Street Music Series.

It's a nice option if you've spent Saturday at the Home Show or football game and want something relaxed to finish the day.

🌐 Johnson City Event Information:
https://visitjohnsoncitytn.com/events/

🧭 SUGGESTED TRAILBLAZER WEEKEND

Friday: Start in Gray at the Tri-Cities Home Show, then head toward Jonesborough for Downtown with Dolly. Finish the evening in Johnson City with Bucs Under the Stars and the 8:30 p.m. drone show. ✨

Saturday: Spend the morning at Covered Bridge Days in Elizabethton or the Fall Folk Arts Festival at Exchange Place. Football fans can head to Johnson City for the 3:30 p.m. ETSU–Western Carolina game, while adults looking for something different can spend the afternoon sampling their way through Bristol Oktoberfest.

Sunday: Early risers can cheer on runners at the Bluegrass Half Marathon. Afterward, head back to Elizabethton for the final day of Covered Bridge Days or spend a slower Sunday afternoon exploring the traditional crafts and demonstrations at Exchange Place.

🍂 FINAL THOUGHTS

This may be one of the best examples we've had all year of why I started Tri-Cities Trailblazers.

Look at what you can experience within one weekend.

You can celebrate Dolly Parton in Tennessee's oldest town, watch hundreds of drones light up the sky over ETSU, walk through a festival beside a historic covered bridge, experience harvest traditions on an 1850s farm, watch college football, sample Oktoberfest in downtown Bristol, listen to live music and gather ideas for your next home project.

And you don't have to leave Northeast Tennessee to do any of it.

This is also the time of year when our region really begins to shine. 🍁

The temperatures start changing, festivals fill the calendar, football is back, the mountains begin their slow transition toward fall color and suddenly there's a reason to take the long way home just because the scenery is pretty.

Whether you've lived here your entire life or you're just discovering the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, weekends like this are a reminder that there's always something new to explore.

So pick an event you've never attended.

Take the kids somewhere new.

Support a local vendor.

Explore a neighboring town.

And enjoy the beginning of fall in the Appalachian Highlands.

🏡 Thinking About Calling Northeast Tennessee Home?

One of the best parts of my job isn't simply helping people buy or sell a house. It's helping them discover the communities and lifestyle that make Northeast Tennessee such a special place to call home.

If you're thinking about relocating to Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Gray, Jonesborough, Elizabethton or one of our surrounding communities, I'd love to help you discover where you fit.

Becky Kemp
Affiliate Broker | Weichert Realtors Saxon Clark

555 E Main Street, Suite 101
Kingsport, TN 37660

Cell: 423-770-1796
Office: 423-765-9118

TN Real Estate by Becky

Helping you find not just a house, but a place to truly feel at home in Northeast Tennessee.

Until next time, Trailblazers! 🧭