For many students, art can be a daunting subject, as not everyone necessarily has the skill. However, local organizations in Elizabethton want to make sure skill does not deter children from enjoying art as much as they would if they had made the pieces.

Grow Carter County, Carter County Drug Prevention and other organizations are pitching in to host their first Youth Art Adventure in downtown Elizabethton next weekend.

Director of CCDP Jilian Reece said the event is similar to Blue River Studio’s Art Walk last month with a few changes.

“It is also National Drug Takeback day,” Reece said. “This will be about keeping kids safe and helping families drop off unwanted medicine.”

Families who take part in the Art Adventure will first visit CCDP’s office in downtown Elizabethton to pick up a “passport.” To fill in the empty spots on the passport, participants will visit a variety of businesses and organizations and meet with local, youth artists.

“Many of [these artists] participated in the Children’s Business Fair last year,” she said.

Reece said some of these artists may even be selling their artwork during the event.

Artists will showcase their work at a variety of local businesses, including Blue River Studios, Antiques on Elk, the Elizabethton/Carter County Library, Building 520 and more.

She said she got the idea for this event based on her involvement with recent library events like the Dr. Seuss weekend.

“It was really cool for me,” Reece said. “I really saw our downtown thriving. Hundreds of kids visited our office.”

She said she hopes putting on events like this will further support downtown and its businesses.

Part of the event will highlight the drug takeback part of the day, including encouraging participants to turn in their unwanted or unneeded medications to the Elizabethton Police Department. She said this is not limited to just narcotics.

“That is a common misconception,” she said. “They will take any kind of medication.”

She said Grow Carter County was also looking for ways to get students physically involved, and this was a way to get students interested in art to get in some exercise during the day.

“We want people to learn what downtown has to offer,” Reece said. “We have a lot of cool things going on.”

The art adventure will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Starting at 11 is when participants can visit the CCDP office at 546 East Elk Avenue to pick up their passport.