COMMUNITY EVENTS: Blue Ridge Taphouse plans grand reopening

Full Moon HikeLamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park in Flag Pond will hold a full moon hike from 9:45 to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. Join park ranger Jeff Sweeney for a moderate hike up to White Oak Flats to observe the full moon along the Rocky Fork Valley and the distant mountain peaks. This hike is an exclusive after-hours hike and has a $10 fee. Attendees are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp and water and to wear closed-toed shoes. Visit https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/april-full-moon-hike-2026 to register. For more information call (423) 673-5345 or email Jeffrey.Sweeney@tn.gov. Erwin First FridayDowntown Erwin will hold First Friday on April 3 with food, entertainment and much more. Union Street Taproom will offer a live music performance at 7 p.m. from the Richard Banks Trio. Food truck Annie's Chuckwagon will be parked outside. Union Street Gallery will be hosting Knoxville jeweler Mimi Kezer and Jonesborough woodworker Mike Bishop. The Capitol Hall will host its grand opening with a concert featuring Asheville's Firecracker Jazz Band at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at eventbrite.com. Witness Walk The Unicoi County Ministerial Association will hold a Witness Walk and Good Friday Service on Friday, April 3. The Witness Walk will begin at 11 a.m. at the Erwin Food Lion and proceed through downtown Erwin concluding at Centenary United Methodist Church on N. Elm Ave. A service at Centenary with lunch will follow the walk. Erwin Presbyterian Egg HuntErwin Presbyterian Church will hold an Easter egg hunt featuring games, food and activities at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3. The church is located at 105 N. Elm Ave., Erwin. Egg Hunt at The GreensThe Greens at Erwin Healthcare Center will hold an Easter egg hunt from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. The event will include games, snacks and an appearance by the Easter Bunny. The Greens at Erwin is located at 100 Stalling Lane, Erwin. Free Veterans BreakfastErwin Moose Lodge No. 939 will hold a free veterans breakfast for veterans and their guests on Saturday, April 4. Coffee will be available at 8 a.m. The chow line starts at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast, a project of the United Veterans Council of East Tennessee, Inc., is held the first Saturday of each month. The lodge is located at 50 Jones Road, Erwin. Erwin Moose Egg HuntErwin Moose Lodge No. 939 will host a community Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Families are invited to bring the kids for an afternoon of fun. The Erwin Moose Lodge is a fraternal organization dedicate to caring for children, seniors and the community. The lodge is located at 50 Jones Road, Erwin. Love Chapel Christian Egg HuntLove Chapel Christian Church will host an Easter egg hunt for kids at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 5. The church is located at 1415 Love Station Road, Erwin. Rocky Fork CleanupLamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park in Flag Pond will host its next Rocky Fork Cleanup from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 5. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Rocky Fork Ranger Station at 280 Jennie Moore Road. The monthly cleanups are held on the first Sunday of every month with the goal of keeping Rocky Fork's trails and creeks free of litter. Meet park ranger Cory Franklin, who will direct volunteers to the cleanup location. Rocky Fork has the cleanest water of any tributary in the Nolichucky River Watershed. With 2,000 acres of park land surrounded by 8,000 acres of National Forest, park staff strive to keep Rocky Fork pristine and appreciate help from the public. Gloves and trash bags will be provided but feel free to bring your own supplies. All ages welcome are welcome. Evergreen Egg HuntEvergreen Freewill Baptist Church will hold an Easter egg hunt after the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, April 5. There will be more than 10,000 eggs for kids to find. Evergreen FWB Church is located at 910 Hoback St., Erwin. Republican Women's ClubThe Washington County Federated Republican Women's Club will meet Monday, April 6, at the Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone St. The club plans to introduce the Washington County Commission candidates as well as the Washington County school board candidates. Lunch is available at 11:30 a.m. and will be catered by Chef Clare Richards. The meeting begins at noon. Membership in the WCFW is not limited to residents of Washington County. The club welcomes all interested women. Men are also encouraged to join as associate members. The WCFRW was established in the mid-1940s. It is chartered by the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women and by the National Federation of Republican Women. To learn more about the WCFRW, contact Brenda Frizzell at (434) 989-3470 or email wcrwtn@gmail.com. Find the club on Facebook at Washington County TN Republican Women. Barberitos Benefit MealThe Unicoi County Band Booster Association will hold a fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, at Barberitos. The fundraiser is at the Barberitos location on 1735 W. State of Franklin, Johnson City. Diners must show the social media post about the fundraiser to the cashier for the purchase to count. Apothec Tea ConcertMusician and Erwin resident Ryder Casey will perform for an after-hour event at Apothec Tea & Co. in Erwin beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. The Ryder Casey Tea Experience will feature musician Preston Woodby as the opening act. Tickets are $20 and will include one hot or iced tea of your choice, curated grazing-style treats and a cozy candlelit atmosphere. Seats are limited, and tickets are available at the store or online at apothicteaco.com. Apothec Tea & Co. is located at 102 South Main, downtown Erwin. Blue Ridge Taphouse ReopeningThe Blue Ridge Taphouse will hold a grand reopening from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. The Griddle food truck will be on site, and Gary Schwenke & Friends are scheduled to perform. Blue Ridge Taphouse is located at 1001 S. Industrial Drive, Erwin. The taphouse has been closed since September of 2024 due to damage inflicted by flooding from Hurricane Helene. Mother's Day Tea Apothec Tea & Co. will hold a Mother's Day Tea Party at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. This is an afternoon of tea, treats and time together. Attendees will enjoy three teas, traditional three-tier treats and a free tea gift for each mother. Tickets can be purchased at the store or at www.apothectea.com. Apothec Tea & Co. is located at 102 S. Main in downtown Erwin. Big Train ShowThe Big Train Show, an event sponsored by the George L. Carter Railroad Museum, Inc., will be held Friday and Saturday, May 29-30, inside Ballad Health Athletic Center (the mini-dome) on the campus of East Tennessee State University. Sipping and Switching will present 15,000-square-feet of their HO scale train track. More than 80 vendors with more than 300 tables of model trains, books, clothing and much more will be present. As always, the event will offer operating layouts, including HO, N and Z scale, along with Live Steam. Free parking will be available in the adjacent parking garage. Food booths will be open. Service dogs/animals are permitted. For more information, call or text Scott M. Stodola at (423) 557-7050 or email him at carternrhs@gmail.com. Care & Share HoursUnicoi County Care & Share has announced new expanded operating hours. The new hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Hours on Saturday are from 9 a.m. to noon. Care & Share is closed Tuesdays and Sundays. Care & Share is located at 344 Carolina Ave., Erwin. •••Send your community calendar events to ksilvers@sixriversmedia.com or bstevens@sixriversmedia.com. You can also use the submission form at erwinrecord.net.