Apartments in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol,Tri-City, TN

Cultural and the Arts

Art in Public Places is an ongoing community arts project which encourages artists to submit designs in the hopes that the art will eventually become year-long installations in the public parts of Bristol. The program began in 2006 and has grown to be an important cultural event ever since. Professional artists as well as students participate regularly in this city-wide art exhibition.

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion

The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion is an annually occurring music festival which takes place in Bristol, TN/VA. The Festival celebrates Bristol’s musical heritage by hosting a large number of bluegrass, folk, and Americana bands over a three day period. The festival also incorporates a 5k, chili cook-off, children’s musical competition, and other activities in addition to the musical performances.

Bristol Ballet

The Bristol Ballet Studio, located in the heart of downtown Bristol, performs classic and modern ballets. The Ballet Studio began in 1948 as a dance school and became a performance group by the end of the 1950’s. It is currently a company of local dancers and is a non-profit organization with the purpose of educating the public, especially the youth, about the art of dance. Aside from professional performances, the organization offers classes and summer camps for young aspiring dancers.

Bristol Busk Stop Central

Bristol has always been known for its love of music and support for local musicians. Busking is the way many famous musicians and performers have started, and Bristol is a fantastic place for it. The town encourages this age-old tradition of performing in public, which is permitted during certain hours with a free permit provided by city management.

Theatre Bristol

Theatre Bristol is a year-round community theater project. The Theatre performs traditional plays and plays specifically for children. Theatre Bristol prides itself on its community outreach program, which focuses on the education of children in the performing arts.

Local Places of Interest

Chamber of Commerce / Visitors and Convention Bureau

Visit the Chamber of Commerce center and the Visitors and Convention Bureau to get to know Bristol and find the many ways to explore the area. Information is available on the city’s history, fun attractions, and organizations, which make this place unique.

Cumberland Square Park and Veterans Memorial

This beautiful four acre park features a memorial to veterans, a picnic area, music pavillion, children’s theater, and scenic surroundings for a perfect day outside in Bristol.

State Street Farmers Market

The State Street market is an open air market for local farmers to sell produce and goods each Saturday between May and October. The market is located in the heart of downtown, with a permanent facility dedicated to its use. Each season the market is open, it not only provides a fresh source of food for local residents, but also hosts events periodically from spring until fall.

Children’s and Family Activities

Bristol Public Library

The Bristol Library facility is a great place to learn, relax, and enjoy community events. The library offers many programs for those of all ages, especially programs for children. The library also provides adult learning and literacy courses.

Caterpillar Crawl

Inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Caterpillar Crawl is a scavenger hunt for children which takes place in downtown Bristol. Bronze caterpillar sculptures created by a local artist are hidden along State Street and can be discovered with the use of a scavenger hunt map, available at http://www.jlbristol.org/caterpillar/catcrawl_map_brochure.pdf .

Historic Bristol

Bristol Historic Markers and Monuments

Discover Bristol’s history by visiting sites highlighted by the Bristol Historical Association as noteworthy. The Historical Association makes a great effort to preserve Bristol’s historical artifacts and buildings for the education of citizens and visitors alike.

Bristol Slogan Sign

Originally erected in 1910, the Bristol slogan sign has remained an iconic symbol of the sister cities. The sign currently resides directly over State Street, which is also the dividing line for Virginia and Tennessee. It is a welcoming reminder that Bristol is a “Good Place to Live.”

Historic Bristol Train Station

Similar to many cities across the United States, Bristol was built around the railroad. The historic Bristol Train Station has been an integral part of the community for years. Now it has been renovated and is used as a meeting facility for groups and organizations.