Absolute Arts Dance Company sets showcase on May 16

Unicoi Cruise-InThe Town of Unicoi Cruise-In will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 8, at the Town of Unicoi Visitor Information Center, 106 Unicoi Village Place, Unicoi. Pre-registration is not required. Drop-ins are welcome. The event is free for both participants and attendees. Participants will need to register and sign a waiver upon arrival. A rotating selection of food trucks will also be available at each event. The car shows will continue on a regular basis through the end of September. Music on the SquareMusic on the Square, one of Jonesborough's classic summer outdoor music concerts, will host Cruz Contreras and The Black Lillies in Downtown Jonesborough from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 8, on the steps of the Washington County Courthouse. Music on the Square takes place each Friday evening through Sept.26. Cruz Contreras is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer whose career spans more than three decades in the Americana and roots music scene. Raised between Tennessee and Michigan, he began playing music at the age of 15. In 2007, Contreras founded The Black Lillies in Knoxville, Tennessee, alongside Tom Pryor, Jamie Cook, Robert Richards, and Trisha Gene Brady. Their debut album, "Whiskey Angel" (2009), was recorded in Contreras's living room and featured contributions from Billy Contreras on fiddle, Taylor Coker on bass, and Leah Gardner on backing vocals. The Black Lillies' music blends storytelling lyrics with acoustic and electric instrumentation, including guitar, fiddle, and keys. Their sound honors traditional root influences while incorporating modern arrangements, creating a style that feels both timeless and contemporary. This week's food truck is Pastor Pig BBQ. A rotating food truck will be featured each week throughout the season. Attendees can also visit our local downtown restaurants. Music on the Square is a free event open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to ensure a seat. For more information, visit Jonesborough.com/mots or call the Jonesborough Visitors Center at (423) 753-1010. Ramp FestivalThe Flag Pond Ruritan Club's 41st annual Ramp Festival will be held starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the old Flag Pond School located at 917 Old Asheville Highway, Flag Pond. The event will feature music, square dances and plenty of good food. Spring Arts FairThe Tanasi Arts Heritage Spring Arts Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Unicoi Visitor and Information Center. The event will feature 10 area artists. The center is located at 106 Unicoi Village Place, Unicoi. Sherman's March: A Journey Toward FreedomThe Tri Cities Civil War Round Table will host a presentation relating to the American Civil War and Reconstruction by Bennett Parten. His program, tilted "Sherman's March: A Journey Toward Freedom," will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 11, in Room 219 of the Toy F. Reid Employee Center at 400 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport. The presentation is free and open to the public. Parten's "Sherman's March: A Journey Toward Freedom" offers a new and groundbreaking account that reframes Sherman's March as the largest liberation event in American history. Dr. Parten's compelling narrative is the first to focus on the myriad stories of the enslaved individuals who self-emancipated. It's a journey told through the lens of resilience, hope and the beginning sparks of Reconstruction. Parten is an assistant professor of history at Georgia Southern University. His area of expertise is the Civil War period. He is a native of Royston, Georgia, and completed his doctorate in history at Yale University. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Zocalo Public Square and The Civil War Monitor, among others. He currently lives in Savannah, Georgia, where he often encounters reminders of Sherman's March. Individuals wishing to dine with Dr. Parten at 5 p.m. that Monday at The Chop House, 1704 N. Eastman Road, Kingsport, should request reservations by contacting Dr. Michael Smith at michaellanesmith@charter.net. New Food Distribution SitePaws and Pals Community Help Center is a new distribution location for the mobile food pantry from Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee. The mobile pantry will be on site rom 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month for the remainder of 2026 beginning Wednesday, May 13. Paws and Pals is located at 1413 N Main Ave., Suite D, Erwin. For more information call (423) 430-9329 or email pawsandpalschc@gmail.com. Ladies Luncheon and Flower BarThe Clinchfield Senior Adult Center will hold its second annual Ladies Luncheon and Flower Bar from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. Susan Lyons will be the guest speaker. Lunch will be provided, but guests who wish to make a bouquet from the flower bar to bring a store-bought or home grown assortment of flowers to share with everyone attending. To register, visit the center office or call (423) 743-5111. Strawberry FestivalThe 23rd annual Wayne Scott Strawberry Festival in Unicoi will return from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, in Unicoi. The festival is a celebration of community spirit and neighbor support. Handmade crafters/makers, churches and non-profit organizations are the focus of the festival. Held at the Unicoi Elementary School, the festival grounds are filled with thousands of visitors, local food, musical entertainment, special events and quality arts and crafts. It's the perfect atmosphere for family fun and community connection. The festival is named in honor of the late Wayne Scott, the founder of Scott's Farms. Trout MadnessLamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park in Flag Pond will hold its third annual Trout Madness fishing tournament on Saturday, May 16. The event will feature a full day tournament with fish to harvest, prizes for anglers and much more. Bring the family out as this tournament is designed to encourage young anglers to keep this practice alive and well for future generations to enjoy. Anglers will also have the opportunity to learn about the history of fishing as well as wildlife biology and conservation efforts from multiple agencies/organizations involved in this tournament, including Tennessee State Parks, TWRA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Trout Unlimited. There will also be food available from the Friends of David Crockett Birthplace State Park to help raise donations for post-flood recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in 2024. The tournament is free to the public. Donations are encouraged. Participation is limited to youth between ages 6 and 16. The gathering place for the event is at 200 Jennie Moore Road in Flag Pond. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Fishing ends at 12:30 p.m. Online registration suggested through events page at Tennessee State Parks. Participants must possess a valid Tennessee fishing license and trout stamp and can harvest up to five fish per angler. Anglers must supply their own fish stringer and cooler to harvest fish. Anglers can bring their own fishing gear and nets. A limited supply of gear can be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Prizes are based on raffle tickets distributed at registration/sign in. One complimentary raffle ticket per angler. Prizes will be announced from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Artificial lures are encouraged; but worms can be used. Please, do not use corn as bait. The fishing area will be marked off for anglers involved in the tournament. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be canceled; Those preregistered will be notified by email if this happens. Dance ShowcaseAbsolute Arts Dance Company will present its sixth annual showcase at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, at the Unicoi County High School Auditorium. The theme for the show is "America in Motion," celebrating 250 years of dance in the United States. The solo showcase will begin at 11:30 a.m., with doors opening at 11 a.m. and the group showcase will be at 2:30 p.m. with doors opening at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for ages 10 and older, $10 for ages 5 to 9 years and ages 4 and under free if sitting on a lap. For more information, call (423) 956-5343. Mobile Medical ClinicPaws and Pals Community Help Center will host the Providence Mobile Medical Clinic of Kingsport from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, May 22. The mobile clinic will offer 100 percent free medical care, testing and medications. The medical equipment is operated by licensed medical professionals. This is open to individuals 18 to 65 and the only requirements to visit the mobile clinic is to be uninsured and have some type of photo ID. The organization would like to offer services to Unicoi County on a regular basis. Paws and Pals Community Help Center is located at 1413 N. Main, Suite D, Erwin. For more information call (423) 247-4536, option 1 and option 1 again. Unicoi Cruise-InThe Town of Unicoi Cruise-In will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 22, at the Town of Unicoi Visitor Information Center, 106 Unicoi Village Place, Unicoi. Pre-registration is not required. Drop-ins are welcome. The event is free for both participants and attendees. Participants will need to register and sign a waiver upon arrival. A rotating selection of food trucks will also be available at each event. The car shows will continue on a regular basis through the end of September. Kids Day at the MooseThe Erwin Moose Lodge No. 939 and the Relay for Life Kaleidoscopes Team will host a childhood cancer awareness event on Saturday, May 23. Kids Day at the Moose is scheduled to kick off at noon and is sponsored by Putt It In, Food City, Pizza Inn of Elizabethton, Jim's Motorcycle Shop, Texas Roadhouse, Outlaw Country Jeepers, Union Street Gallery, Tractor Supply and Office Depot. The event offers food, games, prizes and more. The first 100 families will receive a Texas Roadhouse discount card. The event will feature mini golf. The first 20 children to play mini golf will receive a fluorescent drawstring backpack. The Town of Erwin Fire Department will attend with a truck for children to explore. The Erwin Moose Lodge is located at 50 Jones Road, 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. Small Town, Big PicnicThe Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of one of last summer's most enjoyable community events — Small Town, Big Picnic —taking place this year on Saturday, June 6, in downtown Erwin. Building on tthe success of the 2025 event, this year will bring back the same great elements—while adding even more. Attendees can once again expect contests, community engagement and a vibrant downtown experience, along with expanded activities, additional participation from local businesses and new elements designed to make the event even more exciting. Small Town, Big Picnic is all about celebrating community in a simple, meaningful way—supporting local businesses, spending time downtown and enjoying a fun, shared experience with friends, family and neighbors. More details will be announced soon. Summer Stage CampUnicoi County High School Fine and Performing Arts will hold a summer stage camp from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, July 6, through Friday, July 10. The camp will feature a fables and fairytales theme. Students will present a performance at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 10. Registration is $60 per student. To receive registration details, email wrightl@unicoischools.com. Due to limitations of the stage production, the camp can only accept 25 students. 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.