Arts and entertainment throughout the region

ART Melinda Fritts is the latest exhibiting artist at The Circle Gallery. Fritts is a painter best known locally for creating work in the presence of live music — setting up among the crowd and painting bands as they perform. The Circle Gallery is located on the first floor of Kingsport City Hall, 415 Broad St. Fritts' exhibit will be on display through June 16. ••• Impressions Gallery, 234 Broad St., Kingsport, is hosting the exhibit "Layers" by Kathy Milllhorn Hawk featuring mixed media work influenced by her travels, love of landscape and florals. Visitors are invited to attend a demonstration by Hawk showing several monotype techniques at the gallery on April 24 from 2-4 p.m. free of charge; no registration needed. A painting by the artist will be given away at a door prize drawing on April 30 at 3 p.m. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 423- 765-9100. ••• The Kingsport Arts Festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, in the 100 block of Shelby Street and feature the following events and activities: Chalk art and large canvas finger painting for kids; glassblowing with Ryan Gothrup; iron pour with WNC Sculpture; juggling, music and storytelling; Raku ceramics firing with the Clay Gurus; tie dye festival shirts with Engage Kingsport; and watercolor painting for teens and adults. The festival will also feature more than a dozen local and regional vendors, a gallery crawl and a number of demonstrations by local art groups. ••• Johnson City's Art Struck Festival will be held Saturday, April 25, at The Pavilion at Founders Park, 105 W. Main St., in downtown Johnson City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to arts demonstrations, dozens of local artists will have their works available for sale. The festival will feature a range of arts performances and highlights in addition to hands-on activities for all ages including mask decorating, bucket drumming, a weaving fence, and wand making. A chalk art competition will be held at the event along with a street art throwdown, in which local artists will create graffiti-style art on site. A variety of food trucks will be available for attendees to enjoy. All activities are free and open to the public. ••• Fischman Gallery will host the International Fl3tch3r Exhibit Aug. 7 through Sept. 27. An opening reception will be held Aug. 7, and an awards reception will take place Sept. 4. More information will be available prior to the opening. Fischman Gallery is located at 133 N Commerce St. in Johnson City. AUDITIONS FHG Productions will hold auditions for "Lights, Camera, MUSIC" on Monday, May 4, from 6-9 p.m. Performers of all ages and talents are needed for this cabaret variety show. Show dates are June 12-21. Auditions for our original adaptation of "Peter Pan" will be held Monday, June 29, from 6-9 p.m. Show dates are Aug. 14-23. All auditions held at the theatre at 2152 Hawthorne St., Kingsport. For more information visit FHGProductions.org. BIRDING The monthly meeting of Birding Kingsport will be on Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 584 Lebanon Road, Colonial Heights. The program is "Wading Birds and Some of Their Kin" by Bryan Stevens. Visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend. ••• The Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, will offer a monthly Birding in the Gap series on the second Saturday of June and November. Sessions are planned for June 13 and Nov. 14 from 9-11 a.m. Led by knowledgeable park rangers and enthusiastic volunteers, this series is designed for bird lovers of all experience levels. We'll meet at the museum's front gate and set out together to explore the beautiful museum grounds and the scenic Powell River greenbelt in Big Stone Gap. This easy, accessible walk is a perfect way to enjoy nature while discovering the fascinating world of birds. The program takes place rain or shine, so please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Binoculars are welcome but are not required. No registration is needed. For more details about the "Birding in the Gap" series, contact the park at 276-523-1322. CONCERTS Pro-Art and UVA Wise will present Aaron Campbell and pianist Xiao Liang in "Euphonium Around the World" on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. in Cantrell Hall at UVA Wise. The performance is free and open to all. ••• The Paramount Chamber Players will perform their spring concert, "Face and Masques," on April 23, 24 and 26. Concerts are scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport; Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Knoxville; and Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Johnson City. Tickets will be available at the door. ••• Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown returns to the Paramount Bristol on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. Performers will be tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction. During the two-hour show, the bands will perform three sets each, trading places in quick set changes and ending the night with an all-out encore involving both bands. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 423-274-8920, at the theater box office, or online at www.paramountbristol.org. Discounts are available for Paramount Bristol members. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. The Paramount Center is located at 518 State St. in Bristol. The show is appropriate for all ages. ••• The Argentina-based Orchestra of Indigenous Instruments and New Technologies will bring "Hidden Sounds of the Americas" to the Wise County Performing Arts Center at J.W. Adams Combined School in Pound on Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in conjunction with Pro-Art's W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series. Tickets will be available at the door. ••• The Black Jacket Symphony will present Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" at East Tennessee State University's Martin Center on Thursday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information contact the box office at 423-439-2787 or email at Tickets@ETSUMartinCenter.org. ••• The Larry Prevatte Memorial Duffield Jam is held on the first, third and fifth Thursday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the Thomas Village Community Center, 355 Cecil D. Quillen Drive in Duffield, Virginia. For more information call 276-431-1083. ••• Twilight Alive concerts will return to downtown Kingsport this summer. The free concerts will take place in the 100 block of Broad Street on Friday nights beginning at 7 p.m. The concert lineup is: Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute on May 29; Carson Peters and Iron Mountain on June 5; Trey Hensley Band on June 12; KP and the Classics on June 19; Hooch – Music on the Rocks on June 26; Grand Funk Railroad with opener Nashville Yacht Club Band (on Main Street as part of Kingsport's Red, White and BOOM Independence Day Celebration) on July 4; Departure: The Journey Tribute Band on July 10; and Fun Fest's Broad Street Boogie presents Sons of Sailors: a Jimmy Buffett cover band (start time at 8 p.m. or following the Fun Fest Parade) on July 17. ••• Morningstar Flute Ensemble will perform Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Florida Ave., Bristol, and Sunday, June 7, at 3 p.m. at First Broad Street United Methodist Church, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport. The theme this spring is "Music from Around the World." For more information contact Charlotte Ellis at 423-323-4933. ••• Symphony of the Mountains will present "Show Me the Paths: A Concert of Light and Hope" at East Tennessee State University's Martin Center on Sunday, May 17, at 3 p.m. For ticket information, contact the ETSU Martin Center Box Office at 423-439-2787 or email Tickets@ETSUMartinCenter.org. DANCE Outdoorsman, 4535 Highway 11W, Blountville, will host Nightshift on Friday, April 24. Line dance from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Potluck at 6:15 p.m. The band plays from 7-10 p.m. FESTIVALS The Johnson City Jazz Festival will be held through April 19. The festival kicked off Thursday, April 16, at Capone's in downtown Johnson City. The music this weekend at the Martin Center's Powell Recital Hall in Johnson City, and the festival will hold its grand finale on Sunday, April 19, at the Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough. For more information, visit www.JohnsonCityJazzFestival.com. ••• The Gathering in the Gap Music Festival at the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park in Big Stone Gap will be held on Saturday, May 23. Featured performers will be Sister Sadie, Dave Eggar and David Shenton featuring Erin Shields and Sasha Lazard, and the Lonesome River Band. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gatheringinthegap.org, by calling the park at 276-523-1322, or by stopping by the park during regular operating hours. GARDENING The next installment in the Gardening Seminar Series will be held Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Community Room at Sycamore Shoals State Park in Elizabethton. Master Gardeners Ben Hunter, Cameron Coates and David Faller will discuss how different vegetables may require different treatments, how to conquer weeds, and pruning blackberries, blueberries and fruit trees and renovation of strawberries. The seminar is free to the public. To preregister call 423-543-5808. HISTORY & HERITAGE Volunteers at historic sites across the country, including Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site, will team up with the American Battlefield Trust for their annual Park Day event on Saturday, April 25. Work to accomplish at Tipton-Haynes will include waste removal, brush/tree trimming, fire wood stacking, garden maintenance, building cleaning, nature trail care, and more. A guided tour of the site will take place before the work begins at 10 a.m. Volunteers will receive Trust-branded bandanas as a thank you for their work. Tipton-Haynes is located at 2620 S. Roan St., Johnson City. HOBBY HORSE DERBY Kingsport Parks and Recreation will host its second annual Hobby Horse Derby on Sunday, April 26, at Allandale Mansion from 1-4 p.m. Hobby Horsing is a unique sport that involves participants riding stick horses for events like barrel racing and jumping courses. The April 26 event will include barrel racing, a jump course and a speed race and is broken down by age categories: 3 to 6, 7 to 11, 12 to 15 and 16 and older. There is a cost to participate, and participants must bring their own hobby horse to the event. Winners will be selected based on course time and fewest faults. To register, visit https://bit.ly/422oUUG. KAYAK STARGAZING Bays Mountain Park will host Kayak Stargazing from 8-9 p.m. on April 21 and from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on May 7, 12 and 14. Each program is limited to 20 boats. Participants are required to bring their own kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard and paddling equipment, along with a Type III personal flotation device. You will also be allowed some time to paddle around the lake as you wait for the sky to darken. To register, visit https://bit.ly/4scXg2N. For more information about Bays Mountain Park visit www.baysmountain.com. NATURE An exhibit at The Nature Center at Steele Creek Park in Bristol is examining plant and animal species that originated elsewhere and now pose harm to the region's native wildlife. "Aliens Among Us: Non-Native Invasive Species in the Park" is now open in the Lakeview Gallery at The Nature Center each Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Beginning Memorial Day, the center will remain open each day until 6 p.m. For more information, call 423-989-5616. ••• Bays Mountain Park has an interactive exhibit in the Nature Center titled "Discover Our Appalachian Highlands Home." The exhibit features a large lake diorama with various mammals, reptiles, birds and aquatic life native to our region. The exhibit also includes information panels and interactive sensory stations. For more information about Bays Mountain Park and its programs, events and activities, visit www.baysmountain.com. PLANETARIUM Bays Mountain Park has brought back its popular sky viewing programs — StarWatch and SunWatch. StarWatch sessions allow the public to enjoy the splendor of the night sky at Bays Mountain Park's observatories. If the weather is good, attendees can typically see star clusters, nebulous gas clouds, colorful multiple-star systems, distant galaxies and the moon and planets. If the weather is poor, the park will have an alternate activity in the planetarium theater. StarWatch sessions will be held April 18 and 25 at 8:30 p.m. During SunWatch sessions, participants can safely view the sun's surface, lower atmosphere and sunspots using special telescopes at the Bays Mountain dam. SunWatch observations are held on clear Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m., March through October. ••• Bays Mountain Park will show "The Sun: Our Living Star" as the main feature in the Planetarium Theater through April 30. The 40-minute program is being shown Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m. This program will be followed by a brief tour of the current evening sky. For more information about Bays Mountain Park and its programs, events and activities, visit www.baysmountain.com. PROJECT FRIENDSHIP Project Friendship by the Kingsport Altrusa Club is continuing its meet-and-greet events at Shooters Billiards in Kingsport on the second and fourth Fridays at 6 p.m. This event is for anyone who works from home, is new to the area, or just doesn't get out often. It's a low-key way to meet others and have fun! Text to 423-384-0425 for more information. REUNION The 30-year reunion for the Golden family will be held April 24-26 in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Events will be held at the Old Golden Graveyard on Golden Creek, Kentucky; the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center; the Stephen Golden first settlement site and his resting place on Golden Creek; and the Hampton Inn. For more information contact Carol Golden, family historian, at 865-376-7141 or goldencj@msn.com. SCIENCE Hands On! Discovery Center is an all-ages science center that offers a guest experience that includes fun, interactive programs and immersive, STEM-based exhibits for the whole family as well as exhibits and information about the Gray Fossil Site, an active fossil dig site dating back 5 million years. Tickets may be purchased at https://visithandson.org/tickets. THEATER LampLight Theatre in Kingsport will present "Alice in Wanderland: A Spiritual Journey Back to Wonderland" April 24 through May 10. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with matinee performances Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. For ticket information call 423-343-1766. ••• Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present "Pickleball," a new comedy by Jeff Daniels, through April 26. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. ••• Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present "Always, Patsy Cline" through May 10. Based on a true story, this heartfelt musical celebrates the life and career of country music legend Patsy Cline and features songs such as "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Sweet Dreams" and "Walking After Midnight." For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. ••• Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present "The Savannah Sipping Society" May 12 through Aug. 8. In this comedy, four very different Southern women, all strangers, are drawn together by an impromptu Happy Hour and decide it's high time to reclaim the excitement their lives once held. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. ••• Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present "The da Vinci Code," based on Dan Brown's international bestseller, May 23 through Aug. 8. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. ••• Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, will present the musical "Guys and Dolls" June 9 through Aug. 9. This great American musical comedy features hits like "A Bushel and a Peck" and "Luck Be a Lady" and tells a story of romance, adventure, second chances, and the transformative power of love. For ticket information call 276-628-3991 or visit www.bartertheatre.com. ••• Theatre Bristol will present "Grease" June 19-28 at the Paramount Bristol, 518 State St., Bristol, Virginia. Performance times are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. For ticket information or to make reservations visit ParamountBristol.org/GREASE. TRAINS The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum will host a Spring Blossom Rail Excursion through the scenic Hiwassee River Gorge of East Tennessee on Saturday, May 16. The boarding location is 9406 US Highway 411 in Delano, Tennessee (5.2 miles south of Etowah). Free parking is available at the train loading site. Passengers will start boarding the train in Delano at 11:30 a.m. for a 12:01 p.m. departure. Premium crown and coach tickets are available. Visit www.wataugavalleynrhs.org for more information and to purchase tickets. ••• The Chuckey Depot Railroad Museum in Jonesborough is open free of charge, but donations are appreciated. The depot is located at 110 S. Second Ave. in Jonesborough. Museum hours are: March through September: Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through February: Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit Jonesborough.com or call 423-753-1010. ••• Submit items for Out & About at features@sixriversmedia.com.