With A Farmer's Market, Weekly Music, And Seasonal Festivals, There's Nothing Like A Summer Weekend In This Tennessee Town
By Chris Dodge|Published June 21, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
Johnson City and the whole Tri-Cities area started making some serious headlines. People from all over the country have started flocking to this little section in East Tennessee; the secret is out: our lovely little city nestled into the foothills of the Cherokee Mountains has become *the* hot spot in the state! So if you are new to the area you might be looking for fun things to do in Johnson City, Tennessee, and you’re in luck: summertime in this charming town is full of activities and events!
Johnson City hits that sweet middle spot when it comes to cities: it’s not too big that you experience traffic and overcrowding, but it is big enough that you still have everything you could want in one area.
There are amazing restaurants, unique local shops, and plenty of hiking trails to keep you busy for a long time. Not every city can claim a mountain within the town’s limits, but in Johnson City, Buffalo Mountain is a great place to stretch out your legs and get out into nature. All of these things make Johnson City a wonderful place to visit all year-round, but when summer comes around, the city is positively bursting at the seams with events and activities.
The first event you should know about is more of a party than an event.
"Fridays After 5" is a free concert series taking place in the heart of downtown Johnson City. Live music, vendors, and so much more can be found with thumping music spanning several genres and it is always a great time. Even though this region is gaining popularity, the community remains loyal to each other and you can always find a true sense of community at events like these.
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Every Saturday morning the Johnson City Farmers Market is the place to be.
Kicking off around April and running 'til October, you will have plenty of weekends to join in on the fun. Dozens of vendors come together to sell homemade goods and local produce. Sample some tasty treats and marvel at homemade creations. My family always enjoys a trip to a Tennessee farmers market, and this is one of the best of the best! One stop we always make is the Werth Cookie Co. booth to partake in the best-tasting cookies in Tennessee.
This weekend-long celebration brings in live music, a plethora of vendors, a graffiti tagging competition, bounce houses for the kids, and so much more. People from all over come to join in the fun.
My personal favorite Johnson City event is Meet The Mountains, which happens annually in the summer.
This two-day event is dedicated to celebrating the amazing natural resources we have right here in East Tennessee. Separating outdoor recreation areas into three elemental categories of air, earth, and water. Guests can zipline, try out paddle boards, learn about the various hiking trails, and so much more. It is also a great opportunity to just meet like-minded individuals who love the outdoors just as much as you do.
As a bonus, lots of the places where events take place are already located in typical gathering spots around the city.
If you find yourself at one of these festivals or events make sure you make your way to places like the park in front of the Johnson City Library. This astroturf playground is filled with natural elements like musical instruments, wooden logs, and a hill to slide down. There is seriously no end to the kind of fun you can have in Johnson City.
So when you are looking for fun things to do in Johnson City, Tennessee, trust me when I say the sky’s the limit! The community rallies together and creates amazing events throughout the year, and during the summer season that’s when some of the best events happen. So make sure you come to visit this booming city and find some great activities to do while you visit.
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