 Autumn Adventures & More  As Summer Gives Way to Fall September brings that first hint of change—summer begins winding down, routines settle in, and fall is just around the corner.
Here at Blue Ridge Events, we're heading into the season with a lot to look forward to! Later this month, we're launching our first Hidden Gems Photo Hunt in Kingsport, a two-day adventure filled with challenges, discoveries, and plenty of opportunities to explore our community in a whole new way.
We're also looking ahead to our fall and Christmas events, along with some exciting things coming in 2027.
There's a lot happening, and we're glad you're here for it.
So grab a cup of coffee and let's see what's happening this September! |
More Than a Sponsor:
Summit Properties Some partnerships are about more than putting a logo on an event. They're about businesses choosing to invest in experiences that bring people together—and that's exactly what Summit Properties is doing as a Supporting Sponsor of our first Hidden Gems Photo Hunt in Kingsport.
We've had the opportunity to highlight Summit Properties before, including some of the ways this women-owned real estate company gives back to our community. This month, we're excited to feature them for another reason.
On September 25–26, Summit Properties will serve as the headquarters for Hidden Gems, helping us send teams out to explore Kingsport, complete challenges, discover local businesses and organizations, and perhaps find a few places they didn't know were right here in their own community.
Their involvement is a great example of what we love about local businesses: they're not simply located in our community—they're part of it.
We're incredibly grateful to Summit Properties for believing in this brand-new Blue Ridge Events adventure and helping us bring Hidden Gems to life. When local businesses support local experiences, our entire community benefits. |   |
Out & About This Fall Small Business Snapshot: Boomtown & Co.   | There’s something special about walking into a shop where the products feel thoughtfully chosen, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and you can discover something you didn’t even know you were looking for. That’s part of what makes Boomtown & Co. such a fun stop in downtown Kingsport.
The Kingsport location is owned by Brooke Gibson, who was already a familiar face at Boomtown before taking ownership, having previously served as the store’s manager. Today, she continues to make the downtown shop a welcoming place to discover a thoughtfully curated mix of apparel, gifts, Tennessee and Appalachian-inspired finds, and items from local makers.
This month, Boomtown & Co. is also joining us as one of the participating locations in our first Hidden Gems Photo Hunt! They’re adding a little extra excitement to our Winner Circle Celebration by generously donating a $75 Boomtown & Co. gift card for one lucky participant to take home.
Hidden Gems was created in part to encourage people to explore our community and discover businesses they may have walked or driven past without ever stepping inside. Boomtown & Co. is a perfect example of why we hope you’ll take the time to do just that.
Whether you’re shopping for a gift, looking for something that celebrates our region, supporting local makers, or simply enjoying an afternoon downtown, stop in and see what you discover!
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Pet of the Month: Meet the Miller Birds This month’s Pet of the Month comes with an entire cast of characters! Meet Rhett, Scarlett, Joy, Skye, and Coco—five feathered members of the Miller family, each with a personality and communication style all their own. Rhett, Scarlett, and Joy are cockatiels, Skye (blue) is an Indian Ringneck, and Coco (green) is an African Ringneck.
Rhett may be the chatterbox of the group. He says “Whatcha doing?”, “What?”, his own name, and even “Peek-a-boo!” He’ll play peek-a-boo, too, and apparently enjoys a good game of knock-knock.
Scarlett can say her name, “Whatcha doing?” and “What?”, although she saves her words for special occasions and only talks occasionally. Joy, on the other hand, has decided words are completely unnecessary. Her preferred form of communication is growling whenever someone gets too close!
Then there’s Coco, who has quite the vocabulary when he feels like using it. He can say his name, “Welcome,” “Thank you,” “No, no, no,” and “Yeah.”
And finally, there’s Skye. Skye doesn’t talk—but she has discovered another very effective way to express herself: she throws food.
With these five taking the stage, we have a feeling there’s rarely a dull moment in the Miller household!
Thank you to the Miller family for sharing their colorful flock—and all those wonderful personalities—with us! |   |
Noteworthy Non-Profit: SMILE Foster Closet   | Sometimes making a difference begins with something as simple as making sure a child has clothes that fit, a pair of shoes, and the everyday essentials many of us take for granted.
SMILE Foster Closet supports children entering foster care, as well as foster, kinship, and at-risk families throughout Northeast Tennessee. For children they pack for, SMILE provides a duffel filled with at least a week’s worth of clothing, underwear, socks and shoes, along with seasonal items and other necessities when needed.
Since beginning in 2018, SMILE has grown to serve families across eight Northeast Tennessee counties—helping caregivers focus on welcoming and caring for a child during what can be a time of tremendous transition.
This month, we’re excited to have SMILE Foster Closet as one of our Hidden Gems locations! As teams explore Kingsport, we hope they’ll discover not only new places to shop, eat and visit, but also organizations like SMILE doing important work right here in our community.
Sometimes the most meaningful hidden gems are the people and organizations working behind the scenes to make our community a little brighter. |
Flavor of the Month: Stir Fry Cafe If your idea of a great local find includes good food, plenty of choices, and a welcoming staff, Stir Fry Cafe in downtown Kingsport is worth discovering.
Located on Broad Street, Stir Fry Cafe offers a wide-ranging menu with everything from sushi and rice and noodle bowls to stir fry, starters and dishes from the grill. There’s plenty to explore whether you already have a favorite or like trying something different each time you visit.
Personally, the sushi is one of my favorites, but what has always stood out to me just as much is the service. The wait staff has consistently been wonderful and welcoming, and that can make just as much of a difference in a dining experience as what's on the plate.
This month, Stir Fry Cafe is also one of the participating locations in our Hidden Gems Photo Hunt, making it the perfect time to stop by, complete your challenge, and maybe stay awhile to discover a new favorite!
After all, some hidden gems are meant to be explored—and some are meant to be tasted. |   |
Meet the Maker: Les of LB Creations   | Sometimes inspiration begins far from home. For Les of LB Creations, it started with a visit to his brother in California, where he was introduced to the art of making handcrafted pens. That experience sparked an interest that Les brought home—and turned into a craft of his own.
Using a lathe and wooden or acrylic blanks, Les carefully works each piece down until the shape of a pen begins to emerge. One of his favorite parts of the process is discovering what’s hidden inside. The grain and character of a piece of wood can look completely different once it has been turned and finished, making the final result a bit of a surprise even for the person creating it.
No two pens are quite alike, and Les has recently added fountain pens to his creations—a new challenge he’s especially enjoying.
But for Les, the best part may come after the work is finished. He enjoys meeting people at events and watching as someone looks through his pens until they discover the one that seems to “call their name.”
It’s a wonderful reminder of what makes shopping handmade so different: sometimes you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for until you find it.
You can meet Les and find the pen that calls your name at Blue Ridge Artisan Days: Fall Festival, October 23–24 at the Appalachian Fairgrounds. |
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