Fun this weekend in downtown Elizabethton isn’t just limited to adults.
While the daily schedule for the 51st annual Covered Bridge Celebration received a facelift for this year, additions are in full abundance for the event’s youngest attendees.
The new attraction for this year’s event is the “Got the Kids Covered!” free kids’ play area located in downtown, sponsored by the Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition.
Jilian Reece, director of CCDP, was one of the key cogs in the creation of the new area, along with support of multiple agencies and organizations.
CCDP rewarded local youth Aubrey, Ava and Jerimiah Bowling for coming up with the name of the event with different presents Thursday as work was finalized for the weekend of activities.
One interesting component of the kids’ activity area is the inclusion of the Bonnie Kate Theater, Reece said. During each day, the Bonnie Kate will feature a variety of activities on the main stage. Events in the Bonnie Kate will be free, but donations are encouraged to help with the restoration of the building for the future.
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
Down the road at Kids Island, Sycamore Shoals State Park is offering their annual “Kids Island Celebration” which features inflatables and other games and treats available for children. The activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. during Friday and Saturday.
Elizabethton/Carter County Chamber of Commerce Director Tonya Stevens thanked all entities involved with putting on the activities at both locations.