This year, the Taste of Carter County will take place in conjunction with a tour of Elizabethton High School’s new Citizens Bank Stadium 5-8 p.m. Thursday.
Attendees may participate in one or both activities. The tour is at no cost; tickets to the Taste are $20. Proceeds will benefit Elizabethton’s Athletic Parent Organization and the Betsy Band.
Season ticket holders will be able to see their new seats during the tour, and all others will be able to see the stadium, the new Cyclone statues, sponsored bricks, a donor wall and other commemorative features.
“We’re certainly proud of the accomplishments of the school and just want to welcome folks to be a part of that,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tonya Stevens said.
The event offers exposure to restaurants that people may be sampling for the first time, as well as a venue for people to try new dishes from their favorite restaurants.
“This is an opportunity to visit a good variety of the restaurants that we have in the area,” Stevens said.
Participating restaurants include The Southern, Pizza Hut, Fatz Cafe, Chick Fil A, Beef O’Brady’s, Applebee’s, Jiggy Ray’s Downtown Pizzeria, Carter at Main, Bojangles, Powers Coffee, Smoky Mountain Bakers, Sophisticated Cakes by Mandy, Ole Barn Restaurant, Jackie’s Cakes, Kimbo’s, J’s Corner, Ingles and Lakeo.
Tickets are available online at elizabethtonchamber.com as well as through the Betsy Band, Elizabethton’s Athletic Parent Organization, the EHS Athletic Office, at the Chamber of Commerce or at Security Federal Bank. Tickets must be picked up by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Security Federal Bank is sponsoring the Taste this year.
“We’re pleased to be working with the organizations within the high school, the parent organization and the band boosters,” said Stevens. “Being able to have the event in conjunction with the opening of new stadium is very exciting for us, and we know that it’s a great opportunity for our community as well.”
The Taste will be held on the visitors’ side with handicap access and seating, while the Tour will occupy the home side.
The concession stand will be open offering some snacks and drinks, but organizers request that no food, drink, chewing gum or tobacco be consumed while on the playing field.
Organizers are very proud of the new stadium and excited to see the progress now possible with an updated facility.
“I hope that when people walk into the stadium, they’re just as proud as a community as we are,” said Assistant Director of Schools, Richard VanHuss. “The response so far has been overwhelming. We feel the kids now deserve and have earned this nice facility.”

Tour schedule
5 to 5:30 p.m. Alumni soccer game
5:45-6:15 p.m. Football pregame activity
6:15-6:45 p.m. Meet and greet on the field with football team, boys’ and girls’ soccer teams and cheerleaders
7-7:30 p.m. New songs performed by the band and accompanied by the cheerleaders