It is market time in Tennessee! The market opened on Saturday, May 4 in historic downtown Bristol at 810 State Street. Since 1999 the market has been hosted in the Downtown Center where there is the availability of hot coffee and fresh baked morning biscuits along with restroom facilities and entertainment most mornings. The State Street Farmers Market opens at 8:00 AM and goes to 12 Noon each Saturday through October. Check out the market webpage at www.statestreetfarmersmarket.org and see what is going on at the market throughout the year.

Amercian Cancer Society Bark For Life (A Canine Event To Fight Cancer) Festival and walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for American Cancer Societys fight against cancer will be held on Saturday, May 18th from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. @ the Lebanon Ball Park (behind Lebanon Police Dept). There will be activities, food, special events and many vendors. So bring your best canine friend and join in on the fun. Choose your donation. Call 276-889-5515 to purchase tickets and for more information.

On Saturday, May 18th, five of Nashvilles leading songwriters will gather on the Virginia Highlands Community College Campus to honor the work of Grammy Award Winner Richard Leigh who received the love and support to follow his dreams from an adopted parent. Richard will headline this event which benefits the Great Expectations Program for foster care students @ VHCC. Program starts with a 5K Walk to Foster Hope @ 9:00 a.m, Songwriter Contest @ 12:00 p.m., Songwriters Jam @ 2:00 p.m. Richard Leigh & Friends @ 6:00 p.m. & Closing Concert @ 9:00 p.m. Go to www.vhcc.edu/songwriters for tickets and detailed information.

Chilis located @ 3108 Lee Hwy in Bristol, Va will be having a fundraiser to support the Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department. Someone from the Goodson Kinderhook Fire Department will be available on Monday, May 20th, Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. @ Chilis to give out flyers to be used to purchase a meal from Chilis. With each flyer presented on these dates, Chilis will donate 10% of the sales to the Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department. Let Chilis do the cooking and support Goodson Kinderhook Volunteer Fire Department @ the same time. Flyers can also be picked up @ the Fire Station. Go to www.chilis.com or call 276-466-1088 for more information.

Natural Tunnel located @ 1420 Natural Tunnel Pkwy in Duffield Va would like to invite everyone to the following events in May 2013: May 18-19th--Birding Weekend from 8:30a.m. - 6:00p.m. starting @ Cove Ridge parking lot. May 18th--National Kids to Parks Day from 8:30a.m. - 6:00p.m. May 18th--Fern Frenzy starting @ 10:00a.m. @ Visitor Center. May 25th---Lighting The Tunnel from 7:00p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Call 276-940-1643 or go to www.virginiastateparks.gov for more information.

National Emergency Services Week is promoted as a time to bring together communities and emergency medical personnel in an effort to publicize safety, educate the public about their local EMS system, and to honor those who dedicate their lives providing emergency services on the front line. The national theme for 2013 is EMS: One Mission. One team. The City of Bristol will recognize its hometown EMS providers in a celebration on Saturday, May 25, 2013. The event will take place at Anderson Park, 341 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. For more information contact Asst. Chief Jack Spurgeon at 423-989-5701 or e-mail at jspurgeon@bristoltn.org.

Saturday, May 25 at 7pm, Kody Norris and the Watauga Mtn. Boys, will be @ Heritage Hall in Mountain City, Tn. Known for his diversity, Kody not only sings, he also plays several instruments including guitar, mandolin, and banjo. He and his band travel around the country giving audiences a professional show they wont forget. They have established a hard driving blend of bluegrass music along with a unique lonesome mountain sound. Although young, their sound and stage presence have been rated highly among veteran musicians. Adv $10/Door $12, Youth $5. Go to www.heritagehalltheatre.or for more information or call 423-727-7444 for ticket reservations. (leave message).

2013 Border Bash downtown summer concert series, Believe in Bristol will have free concerts on May 17th @ 6:30p.m.--Lizzy Ross Band, Rivery Whyless concert will be held on the 700 block of State Street. June 1st, 6pm-Concert @ Big Glades in Wise, Va. Earth By Train, St. Paul & The Broken Bones. June 6th, 6 p.m. - Concert @ Big Glades in Wise, Va. Jon Stickley Trio & L Shape Lot. June 7th, 6:30 p.m. Border Bash on State Street, Paul Burch, Woody Pines. June 21st, 6:30 p.m. Border Bash on State Street, The Tillers and more. You can Go to Border Bash Line-up 2013 for more information and future events.

Cruise for a Cure is a motorcycle run around the Tri-Cities on June 1st at 9:00 am. The run will start at Walgreens on State St in Bristol, and end at Walgreens on Vol Pkwy in Bristol. We will be stopping at 3-4 other stores around the Tri-cities area. This will be a "poker run", with riders drawing a card at each location. We will also have fun activities and refreshments at each stop. We will have prizes for the highest poker hands at the finish. This is open to the public. It is also open to all styles and makes of motorcycles. Proceeds go to Relay For Life.

The 2nd Annual ROCK The Block is hosted by The ROCK Church in Kingsport, TN. Their goal is to give back to the Tri-Cities Community. The event will take place on Saturday, June 1st, from 2:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. @ Memorial Park in Kingsport, Tn, located across the street from Dobyns-Bennett HS. Hamburgers, chips and water will be provided free. There will also be inflatables, kids game session, pony rides, cake walk, a magician and much more. (3) different musicians will be performing from 6:00p.m. - 9:00p.m. Everyone is invited to join them for a day of fun and fellowship. Go to www.irockdou.com for more information.

Russell County Fairgrounds in Castlewood, Va will be having two exciting bull riding events on Wednesday, June 5th & Thursday, June 6th. The event will start @ 7:00 p.m. on both days. Dont miss this great bull riding action and a fun time for the entire family. Admission prices for each night are: $10.00 for Adults & $5.00 for children (age 12 and under). Parking is free. Concessions will be available. These are two of three events (first event is in Wise on Tuesday, June 4th). Go to russellcountyfair.com or facebook for more information.