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| Appreciating the arts is an integral part of the city of Kingsport.
Residents have convenient access to the region’s theatres, orchestras,
dance performances, concerts and museums and are able to expand their
cultural knowledge and experiences. Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra, celebrating nearly 60 years of continuous operation, is one of the oldest professional orchestras in the United States. The Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra presents multiple performances of eight subscription concerts and several pop concerts annually. Soloists, who have appeared with the orchestra in recent seasons, include internationally renowned guitarist Christopher Parkening, double-bassist Edgar Meyer and Broadway sensations Doug LeBrecque, Michael Maguire and Christiane Noll. In addition to musical presentations, the symphony orchestra sponsors educational programs in the region’s schools. The organization places musicians in the classroom and invites 1,700 area fifth graders to a free “Youth For Youth” concert given each fall by the Kingsport Symphony Youth Orchestra (KSYO). The KSYO provides advanced training for more than 50 young musicians from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The Voices of the Mountains draws its members from throughout the Tri-Cities and performs holiday and masterworks concerts with the Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra. Barter Theatre, the State Theatre of Virginia, is located in the historic and charming town of Abingdon, Virginia. The professional resident theatre presents contemporary productions, classics, musicals and comedies from February through December. In 1946, it was the first theatre in the country to be designated a State Theatre. Throughout the years, Barter has helped launch the careers of Gregory Peck, Frances Fisher, Kevin Spacey, Ernest Borgnine, Patricia Neal, David Birney and many others. While visiting Barter, be sure to stop in The Café at Barter Stage II for lunch, dinner, or for just a snack. Music is a special part of the region’s heritage. Nearby Bristol Tenn./Va., was designated by the United States Congress in 1998 as the Birthplace of Country Music. The Birthplace of Country Music Alliance has a museum detailing the history of how the music started in this area. Residents participate in community festivals nearly every season of the year. Car shows, fireworks displays, river races and concerts are just a few. Most of these festivals are offered at little or no cost. One of the area’s most popular festivals is the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce’s Fun Fest. Held each summer in Kingsport since 1981, Fun Fest is a nine-day festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The festival brings the entire community together for block parties, concerts, sporting events, children’s activities and more. Another popular area festival in the region is the annual Appalachian Regional Fair. More than a quarter-million people attend the fair each year. Founded in 1926 as the Gray Community Fair, the original half-day event has expanded into a nine-day extravaganza. Each night of the fair, today’s most popular sounds in country music echo from mountain ridges. At on-site pavilions, thousands of individuals compete in various contests, such as agriculture, crafts and food, each hoping for blue ribbons. www.DowntownKingsport.org |
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