September is lining up to be a festive month for the City of Elizabethton.
With less than a month to go, event organizers are putting the final touches on the inaugural “BBQ, Blues and Brews” festival at Covered Bridge Park on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Spearheaded by the Elizabethton/Carter County Community Foundation (ECCF), the one-of-a-kind endeavor is being used as a fundraiser to help benefit the restoration of the Bonnie Kate Theater.
ECCF is an affiliate of the East Tennessee Foundation, and the idea of presenting a festival for the community to benefit the facility was hard to pass up, according to Foundation Director of Regional Advancement Trudy Hughes.
“We thought the idea of a festival that included a fun walk/run, BBQ competition, craft beer and music would be a perfect way to appeal to the public,” Hughes said Wednesday. “All proceeds raised from the event will go to benefit the restoration of the Bonnie Kate Theater.”
Saturday’s event will feature a competitive 5K run or a one mile fun walk beginning at 4 p.m.
Tickets are available now for the festival. Individuals can visit etf.webconnex.com/eccfbbb online to order tickets. Packages include $20 for ticket to the BBQ and Blues portion of the event. $30 includes the entire festival with three beer tickets.
Registration for the race is separate from the actual event, but participants can visit the website to sign up either for the run or fun walk.
A handful of regional and local restaurants will be participating in the BBQ competition, including J’s Corner, Jiggy Ray’s, Moe’s Original BBQ, Smokehouse BBQ, Southern Craft and Wayne’s BBQ.
Attendees have the chance to sample food, local beer and listen to live music, which includes My New Favorites and This Mountain.
Hughes added the hope is to see the festival continue over the years and become a staple for Elizabethton and Carter County, much like the Bonnie Kate.
ECCF has worked alongside the City of Elizabethton over the past two years to acquire, and now restore, the popular landmark in downtown Elizabethton.
Over the past year, citizens have been able to take in the sights and sounds of the Bonnie Kate with various events, ranging from theatrical productions to musical productions.
“The Bonnie Kate is such a gem and that’s why we want to be involved with its restoration,” Hughes said. “The outpouring of support from the community for each of the different productions show what type of asset the Bonnie Kate can be. Whether it’s arts and culture, or celebrating an event with somebody special, we want to make sure we can give her a facelift so that she could be around for another 100 years.”
The Bonnie Kate has reaped the rewards of community support with different fundraisers. The facility was recently able to purchase new stage lights and has a slew of events scheduled to take place in the fall.
For more information on upcoming events at the Bonnie Kate, visit the Bonnie Kate Restoration Project Facebook page online. Individuals can also visit etf.org/carter to learn more about the ECCF.