The 51st annual Covered Bridge Celebration will be spilling into Historic Downtown Elizabethton next week.
And it will be all for the kids.
With various entities coming together, families will be able to take part in the inaugural “Got the Kids Covered!” free kids’ area, on display June 8-10 during the celebration.
Jilian Reece, director for Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition, said that while Kids’ Island events — which will continue this year — are always popular, she, along with others, heard from various families that the costs of items during the celebration hampered the ability of enjoying everything that was offered.
Reece added that different organizations came together rather quickly to form a free kids’ area.
Another key component of the event is the assistance of the Bonnie Kate Theater, Reece said. Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in different activities inside the facility.
“We’re so thankful for Marcia Ross lending her time and effort and offering the space,” Reece added. “There’s been so much work done to renovate the Bonnie Kate. There will be donation buckets during our events inside the Bonnie Kate where the public can donate to help with renovations.”
Tonya Stevens, Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Director, added that she was excited to see downtown get incorporated more with the event and credited the work of Reece and Ashlee Williams from the library to spearhead the initiative. The director added there will be no changes to the Kids’ Island and that she is excited to see the additional opportunities for fun available to children.
The celebration is turning out to be one for the ages, according to Stevens. Along with a loaded lineup, the event will see vendors from as far as Texas, Alabama and Mississippi participating, with the vendor total being maxed out.
There are still opportunities to participate in the yard sale and pageant. For more information, individuals can either contact the Chamber at (423) 547-3850 or visit the 51st Annual Covered Bridge Celebration Facebook page for more information.
Reece unveiled the lineup and vendors for the kids’ area and the Bonnie Kate to the Elizabethton Star on Tuesday.
The “Got the Kids Covered!” Covered Bridge Celebration kids’ area will include:
• CCDP/TNStrong Teens — prize station and goNoodle provided by Healthier Tennessee Communities inside the CCDP office
• Owl’s Nest children’s consignment
• Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library
• UT Extension/ 4 – H — toilet paper roll birdfeeders, seed bombs and snow cones.
• LifeMatters (Terri Backlund) — fruit balancing game, coloring books, nutrition tattoos
• Niswonger Children’s Hospital (Friday only)
• Pioneer Tattoo Company (Friday only)
• BABE Breastfeeding Coalition/Southern Appalachian Birth Network/Carter County Health Department — baby rest stop
• Carter County Health Department — Allison Foster helping children create sun safety bracelets
• Youth Villages
• Macaroni Kid — painting rocks
• Treadway Travel
• Camp Tap-A-Win-Go (Saturday only) — bracelet craft
• American Heritage Girls — cookie decorating
• CHIPS Domestic Violence Shelter (leaving Friday at 2 p.m.)
• Frontier Health Regional Family Intervention Program — Northeast Regional Family Intervention Program
• Lisa Lowe (Friday only) — toothbrushes/toothpaste for kids and dental activities
• Ashley Davies (Friday only) — physical activity station: jump ropes, hula hoops & beach balls
The Bonnie Kate will feature a variety of activities, including:
Friday, June 9
• 11 a.m. — Kids’ yoga with Moonlight Zen
• 1 p.m. — Exotic bird show
• 2 p.m. — Jack and the Beanstalk by Bonnie Kate Theater
• 3 p.m. — Kids’ yoga with Ascend Yoga
• 4 p.m. — ETSU Rock Identification
Saturday, June 10
• 11 a.m. — Mr. Bill & Bodie Show
• Noon — Kids’ yoga with Ascend Yoga
• 1 p.m. — Franklin taekwondo demonstration and free class passes for all kids
• 2 p.m. — East Tennessee Ballet Academy dancers
• 3 p.m. — Trinity Arts Center dancers
• 4 p.m. — Jack and the Beanstalk by Bonnie Kate Theater