Evenings on Elk (EOE) will return tonight, starting at 5 p.m., to celebrate Elizabethton’s downtown in tandem with the Covered Bridge Festival which begins tonight and ends Saturday evening.

The popular event, which will be the second Friday of the month throughout the summer, showcases downtown Elizabethton businesses. Its first event in May drew several thousand guests and organizer Chasity Thompson of Building 520 is looking forward to growing EOE as the summer progresses. Nearly 40 Elizabethton businesses were open for last month’s inaugural party which lasted from 5 – 9 p.m. An “after party” then ensued on the third block of Elk, with the newly opened taproom, Riverside Taphouse, and Jiggy Ray’s staying open even later.

This month Evenings on Elk will focus on the children of the community, offering lots of activities for kids, live music and more, says Thompson.

“Each month we will have a separate theme,” she said. “This Evenings on Elk theme is all about giving back to the community, and kicking off the summer reading program for kids.

The popularity of the event has encouraged many in the community to offer their help for the recurring summer celebration, Thompson said.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response of people wanting to volunteer,” she added. “Their generosity literally brought me to tears.”

The Gathering Hub, located on the corner of East Elk and Elm, will be hopping with a number of free activities for kids. Dr. Becky Powers will be on hand, providing free temporary glitter tattoos and a bubble station. The Betsy Book Bus will be there as well, so kids can come and pick out their own books. Children are also being urged to come dressed as their favorite book characters to kick off the summer reading program.

Wallabee’s Gaming truck will return, and full face painting will be available by Face Fantasy.

While most of the activities for children will be free, Thompson says, some offerings that do have a cost will help benefit Kids Like Us, as a portion of the proceeds will go to that group. Kids Like Us will also have a hot dog and lemonade stand to raise money for their center which helps special needs children.

Also new to EOE will be the Princess Party, hosted by Natural Princess in partnership with local formal wear store, Dynasty. Everyone is invited to drop in at the Natural Princess shop located at 416 East Elk from 6:30 – 8 p.m. for a meet and greet with “Belle” and “Cinderella.”

There will be plenty of entertainment up and down the streets of Elk and E with live music by J. P. Mathes II and Fiddling Leona at Riverside Tap House, who will have their official grand opening and ribbon cutting tonight.

Several other live music venues include Pioneer Tattoo with Dusty Travelers; Blue River Studios As last month, there will be an after-party, starting at 9 p.m. at Riverside Taphouse and Jiggy Ray’s.

Food offerings available at the Gathering Hub will include Trucky Cheese, Mason Joe’s and Italian Ice by The Freezing Point.

Glow Cafe and the Bonnie Kate will once again offer a dinner and movie. Glow will provide their diners with tickets to see the movie “Jaws.”

Sunset Yoga will move to Building 520’s second floor, just for this event, Thompson said.