Who said the Covered Bridge Celebration is just for adults?

Children from across the area had the opportunity to take part in various activities thanks to the opening of Kids Island Friday morning.

“Sycamore Shoals is our Kids Island sponsor and they’ve been alongside with us for several years now,” Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce director Tonya Stevens said. “We appreciate them helping us out with that. We have a lot of different opportunities for everyone, young or older.”

A chance to work with the community is an item hard to pass up, according to Corey Paulson, director of marketing and communications for the facility.

“We’ve been doing it long before I started here two years ago,” Paulson said. “It’s something we look forward to continuing for years to come. This is something great for Sycamore Shoals to be involved in the community and a great way for kids to be out and about, and get exercise. This is just something we look forward to each year, especially this year being the 50th anniversary of the event. It’s an obligation we have to the community to be part of this.”

The sounds of laughter and joyous activities will continue into Saturday with a plethora of activities available, including amusement rides, inflatables, face painting, train rides, water balls and swings, along with other items.

Saturday’s busy agenda gets underway at 6:30 a.m. with the 5K run and 3K walk registration. Paulson added that as of Friday, over 200 individuals were signed up for the event. Both events start at 8 a.m. with an award ceremony afterward.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the annual Kids’ Catfish tournament, held at 386 Stoney Creek Highway at the Workforce Development Complex. The event is sponsored by the WDC, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the United State Forest Service with the tournament beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until noon.

Shifting back near the Covered Bridge, a community yard sale gets underway at 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on E Street. Yoga in the park is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. while the ever popular Little Mr. & Miss  Hillbilly Contest, sponsored by Double C Western Supply, begins at 11 a.m. at Covered Bridge Park.

The Food City Water Wars is set to begin at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. off Riverside Drive.

With music and the Cruise-Inn going on in the later hours, the fireworks finale, sponsored by Snap On, will be seen throughout the area around 9:30 p.m.