Elizabethton City Council approves several events over the coming months

Published 3:25 pm Friday, March 11, 2022

BY NIC MILLER

STAR STAFF

nic.miller@elizabethton.com

On Thursday, the Elizabethton City Council began preparing for warmer weather, approving several community events over the coming months during their March meeting.

With Elizabethton Mayor Curt Alexander unable to make the Thursday meeting, Mayor Pro-Tem William Carter led the agenda, kicking things off by hearing about several races hoping to take place, starting with the Assistance and Resource Ministries Double DQ Event.

The event, which is a fundraiser for the ministry, was unanimously approved and will take place on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Participants can either walk, run, or ride a bike from the Tweetsie Trail locations near both the Johnson City Dairy Queen and continue on the path until reaching the Elizabethton Dairy Queen location. Funds will be raised by a $25 entry fee, and participants will receive a T-shirt and ice cream cone from Dairy Queen upon the completion of their quest between Dairy Queens.

The next item on the agenda, which was unanimously approved by the council, was a more competitive event for members of the community — the second annual Music and Miles Half Marathon, hosted by The Goose Chase. The company that hosts several marathons across the area asked for this year’s half marathon to take place on Saturday, May 7, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The course for this event will remain the same as 2021, with some of the race taking place in Downtown Elizabethton and some taking place on the Tweetsie Trail.

Also approved by the City Council was another race, this one hosted by Main Street Elizabethton, and being the second annual Firefly 5K Run/Walk.

In a press release from Main Street Elizabethton shortly after the approval of the event, Director Courtney Bean stated, “Main Street Elizabethton invites the community to participate in the second annual Firefly 5K Run/Walk on Friday, July 1, at 8 p.m. Participants can run or walk throughout Downtown Elizabethton to support downtown revitalization. The Firefly 5K will take place during First Friday Celebrations, where live music will be performed at Covered Bridge Park from 7-9 p.m. Participants can enjoy the tunes at pre-race check-in and at the finish line after running/walking through the Historic Covered Bridge.

“Proceeds for the Firefly 5K Run/Walk support Main Street Elizabethton in the organization’s transformational strategies to grow downtown into a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment district, as well as elevate the natural resources to become a family-friendly mountain recreation hub,” said Bean. “Main Street Elizabethton’s mission is to look toward the future with the goal to preserve our culture and heritage, while striving to revitalize the heart of our downtown. Sponsorship opportunities can be made available upon request to Main Street Elizabethton.”

Registration is open at www.athlinks.com/event/firefly-5k-runwalk-353992 or can be found on the Main Street Elizabethton website at MainStreetElizabethton.com. Early-bird registration is $25 until June 3. Registration increases to $30 on June 4. Registration will also be available at race check-in. T-shirts and medals are guaranteed for the first 400 participants.

Bean added that The Firefly 5K is a pet-friendly walk/run. Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome. Strollers and headphones are also permitted throughout the course, and everyone is invited to participate. “The Firefly 5K Run/Walk will take place in conjunction with July First Friday Celebrations and will feature community activities, extended shopping, live music, local eateries, and so much more!”

For more information regarding the Firefly 5K Run/Walk, contact Main Street Director Courtney Bean at (423) 213-0090 or cbean@cityofelizabethton.org.