Because this section is free of charge, community events are subject to run based on available space. Religion items are published on the Saturday church page. Email events to [email protected].
TODAY, MARCH 16
ADULT ARTS AND CRAFTS: Let creativity shine to create a cute craft or inspiring art piece from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Ruby B. Archie Library auditorium. Ages 18 and up. No fee. Registration is required by calling, 434-799-5195.
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
FAMILY GAME NIGHTS: Relax with family and come out for a fun night of board games, sports and outdoor games at Coates Recreation Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. No fee. Registration required by calling, 434-799-5150. Sponsored by Parks and Recreation.
People are also reading…
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
CARS & COFFEE: Old Dominion Classic Sports Car Club will hold Cars & Coffee from 9 to 11 a.m. at Crema & Vine, 1009 Main St. For more information, call 434-548-9862.
JAPANESE CULTURAL EVENT: George Washington High School Japanese class and club will host the third annual Japan Day free event in the GW auditorium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be Kendo, Taiko Drumming, a tea ceremony, prizes and more. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/yse2tj2z.
CLASSIC MOVIE CLUB: Enjoy a classic movie with discussion following at the Ruby B. Archie Library auditorium from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “The Adventure of Robin Hood” (1938) for ages 18 and up. Registration required by calling, 434-799-5195. No fee.
ARCHERY 101 WORKSHOP: Learn the basic safety, anchor points, draw and release, care of equipment and essential safety skills with a USA Archery certified instructor for ages 5 to 17 at Coates Recreation Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $12. Registration required by calling, 434-799-5150.
HOMESTEADING 101: Learn from local homesteaders Ben and Amber Martin at Glenwood Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon. No fee. For ages 5 and up; registration is required a week prior.
MONDAY, MARCH 20
PRESSURE CANNER LID TESTING: Virginia Cooperative Extensive Office, 19783 U.S. 29 South, Suite C, Chatham, will check pressure cooker lid and gauge used for canning at no cost from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 434-432-7770.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
THE WRITE…
, To read the original article from godanriver.com, Click here
A new retreat and adventure center opened this summer in Thaxton, breathing life into land that has sat vacant for many years.
The Peaks Retreat and Adventure Center is located at 1336 Simmons Mill Road in Thaxton. After the WoodmenLife Insurance Company closed its Woods Adventure and Conference Retreat at the site five years ago, the 66-acre property sat vacant until a new tenant, CustomEd, purchased the land in September 2021.
CustomEd, the company that owns The Peaks, is a nonprofit that designs and implements educational and outreach programs for a variety of causes and organizations.
Hunter Gilbert, program director at The Peaks, said the company wanted a place to host corporate retreats, hold summer camps and events.
He said that turned into being able to open up to do various other things, especially in the surrounding community.
People are also reading…
The Peaks Retreat & Adventure Center officially opened about two months ago and has hosted two camps, Anxious for Nothing and Bias Chana, so far this summer.
The center will mostly hold youth camps during the summer months but during the rest of the year is planned to be open for corporate events, field trips, community days and festival-type activities.
Missy Morris, center director at The Peaks, said she is excited there is a new outdoor education and adventure facility in the area.
“Specializing in camps and retreats, The Peaks also provides a great location for private events including corporate teambuilding, festivals, weddings and much more,” she said in an email. “Set in the shadows of the beautiful Peaks of Otter, not only does the facility have scenic beauty, but also the thrill of adventure.”
She said The Peaks offers a unique challenge course including climbing walls and a 400-foot gravity zipline, as well as two miles of hiking trails, a swimming pool, basketball and sand volleyball courts, archery, disc golf and a one-acre pond for canoeing.
Gilbert said the gravity zip line is a little bit different than some traditional zip lines — a person’s weight determines how far they swing down.
It’s also set up so that they’re returned back to the ground by a facilitator just above the platform and there’s a…
Johnson City has a robust variety of recreational options for residents and visitors who want to get some fresh air, and those opportunities are continuing to grow.
Hiking and biking
Tweetsie Trail: This 10-mile trail for walkers, runners and riders is a rails-to-trails project built along the former East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad right-of-way between Johnson City and Elizabethton. The railroad was known as the “Tweetsie.”
The Tweetsie Trail begins at the corner of Alabama and Legion streets in Johnson City at a trailhead that includes paved parking, benches, water fountains, a bike repair station, and a portable restroom.
Buffalo Mountain Park: Buffalo Mountain is a 725-acre mountainside park featuring nine miles of looping hiking trails of varying difficulty. The park functions as a nature preserve primarily for hiking, picnicking, and nature programs.
Pinnacle Fire Tower Trail: The 4.5-mile Fire Tower Trail goes to the top of Buffalo Mountain and provides a view of the Buffalo Valley, Unicoi and the surrounding mountains.
Tannery Knobs: Tannery Knobs is a 40-acre, wooded bike park crisscrossed with seven, professionally-designed off-road and paved trails of varying difficulty.
The park also offers scenic views and opportunities for hiking and trail running.
Parks
Winged Deer Park: The 200-acre Winged Deer Park features softball fields, batting cages, an 18-hole disc golf course, half-mile walking track and paved fitness trails.
The park’s lakefront area features two sand volleyball courts, picnic shelter with restroom, public boating access, green space, lighted handicap accessible boardwalk, amphitheater, and a Festival Plaza multi-use area with restroom.
Soon, the city will be adding a new athletic complex that will include diamond fields for softball and baseball as well as new soccer fields. The facility will help the city host large tournaments.
Willow Springs Park: This 36-acre park in southwest Johnson City includes walking trails, picnic pavilions, and the Johnson’s Depot playground that features train and village-themed play elements. Willow Springs also has a 1.6-acre enclosed dog park.
Founders Park and King Commons: These two parks feature unique green spaces in the heart of downtown Johnson City. The 5-acre Founders Park includes an amphitheater, walking paths, a creek, and a variety of public art.
King Commons is a 3-acre recreational and event space with walking paths, an amphitheater, the Wildabout mural, a playground featuring natural elements, and a history circle highlighting significant dates from Johnson City’s first 150 years.
Rotary Park: The 10.4-acre park include six covered picnic shelters, restrooms, picnic tables, multi-use playing field, and an all inclusive playground area.
Pine Oaks Golf Coure: Pine Oaks is an 18-hole municipal golf course suitable for golfers of all skill levels. The course features a learning center, league play and a pro shop.
Kiwanis Park: This 9-acre neighborhood park was established in 1949. It includes a baseball field, basketball courts and a new playground funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Foundation.
The playground includes a swing set, play areas for children ages 2 to 12, a community pavilion and fitness stations. In December, the city announced plans to build a new pavilion at the park.
Metro-Kiwanis Park: Located on Guaranda Drive, this park totals 15 acres and is used primarily for softball league games. The park includes a concession area, restrooms, two picnic shelters, a playground, two lighted softball fields and five tennis courts.
Keefauver Farm park project: Johnson City is developing a new park at the former Keefauver Farm in the Boones Creek area. The 50-acre property is at the corner of Hales Chapel Road and Shadden Road. The city has hired McGill Associates to develop a master plan for the park, and the firm has presented three concepts to city leaders derived from public feedback.