Calendar

Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the Best Friend Festival Committee and the City of Norton have made the tough decision not to have the 2020 Best Friend Festival as originally planned for June 13-20. Instead, the committee and city hope to offer some Best Friend Festival events during the city’s annual Independence Day Celebration scheduled for July 3-4. More information about this possibility will be provided in the coming weeks. The health and safety of our volunteers, the wonderful friends that attend the festival, and our community remain our top priority. Given the uncertainty right now with COVID-19, we feel the right decision is to postpone in hopes we can still have some festival activities during the Independence Day Celebration. Please follow the City of Norton’s Facebook page (@cityofnortonva) and Best Friend Festival’s Facebook page (@bestfriendfestival) for updates.

Join us for a hike on the Little Stony Falls National Recreation Trail. Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Bring snack/water. See https://highlonesometrails.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/little-stony-gorge-national-recreation-trail/ for more trail information. Distance/Difficulty: 5.4 miles/Moderate. Group Size: 10 people. Registration Required. Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for more details.

Join Instructors Madison Adams and Andrea Sturgill for a camp that teaches basic tennis skills, including forehand, backhand, and serve. Registration forms are available at the Norton Parks and Recreation office, 201 Park Avenue NE. For more information, contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, (276) 679-0754. Social distancing will be practiced. Hand sanitizer will be available. Participants must pre-register for all camps. Camp size is limited. Camps may be subject to change.

Join Norton Parks and Recreation for a monthly oil painting class. Landscape and floral paintings offered. Students will take home a finished painting at the end of class. Class size is limited. Register early. Contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, at (276) 679-0754 for more information and to register.

The Norton Friends and Farmers Market is held from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday June-September. See www.nortonva.gov/farmersmarket for more details.

Join guides Andy Mullins and Abby O’Hare for weeknight mountain bike rides on the Flag Rock Area Trails system in Norton’s Flag Rock Recreation Area. Rides will be tailored to attendees in terms of length and difficulty. All rides will start at the Norton Reservoir trailhead. See https://goo.gl/maps/oaxUbVudtCR2 for driving directions. Contact Andy Mullins, amullins@gmail.com, or Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for details.

Join yoga instructor Jen Adams for hourlong outdoor yoga classes. Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for more information and to register.

Join Norton Parks and Recreation and the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable for a monthly Trash Treasures Workshop. Each workshop has a different themed craft and demonstrates reusing materials rather than discarding them. Contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, at (276) 679-0754 to register.

Join Instructor Neil Walker for an art camp that teaches participants watercolor and acrylic painting techniques. Each child will receive his/her own supplies. Open to youth ages 10-17. Camp will be held at Flag Rock Shelter No. 2. Snacks will be provided. Registration forms are available at the Norton Parks and Recreation office, 201 Park Avenue NE. For more information, contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, (276) 679-0754. Social distancing will be practiced. Hand sanitizer will be available. Participants must pre-register for all camps. Camp size is limited. Camps may be subject to change.

The Norton Friends and Farmers Market is held from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday June-September. See www.nortonva.gov/farmersmarket for more details.

Join guides Andy Mullins and Abby O’Hare for weeknight mountain bike rides on the Flag Rock Area Trails system in Norton’s Flag Rock Recreation Area. Rides will be tailored to attendees in terms of length and difficulty. All rides will start at the Norton Reservoir trailhead. See https://goo.gl/maps/oaxUbVudtCR2 for driving directions. Contact Andy Mullins, amullins@gmail.com, or Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for details.

Join Jen Adams for hourlong outdoor yoga classes in the Upper Campground in Flag Rock Recreation Area. Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, to register. Pre-Registration encouraged.

Join Instructors Mark and Carol Caruso for an Outdoor Adventure Camp that offers a variety of outdoor activities, including canoeing/kayaking/paddle boarding, team building exercises, fishing techniques, archery, wilderness survival skills, and hiking. Camp is open to boys and girls grades 7-12. Camp will be held in Flag Rock Recreation Area, at the Norton Reservoir, and at the Norton Community Center. Lunch will be provided by Norton City Schools. Registration forms are available at the Norton Parks and Recreation office, 201 Park Avenue NE. For more information, contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, (276) 679-0754. Social distancing will be practiced. Hand sanitizer will be available. Participants must pre-register for all camps. Camp size is limited. Camps may be subject to change.

The Norton Friends and Farmers Market is held from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday June-September. See www.nortonva.gov/farmersmarket for more details.

Join guides Andy Mullins and Abby O’Hare for weeknight mountain bike rides on the Flag Rock Area Trails system in Norton’s Flag Rock Recreation Area. Rides will be tailored to attendees in terms of length and difficulty. All rides will start at the Norton Reservoir trailhead. See https://goo.gl/maps/oaxUbVudtCR2 for driving directions. Contact Andy Mullins, amullins@gmail.com, or Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for details.

Join the Upper Tennessee River Roundtable and Norton Parks and Recreation Department for an All About Bugs themed Environmental Activity Camp. The camp will feature fun-filled activities with a theme-related craft, snack, and story or game each day. Explore Clear Creek Park to see where some bugs live. Discover which bugs like trees and plants. Search for hidden bugs in an egg hunt. Open to boys and girls grades 2-5. Lunch will be provided. Registration forms are available at the Norton Parks and Recreation office, 201 Park Avenue NE. For more information, contact Michele Knox, Norton Parks and Recreation Director, (276) 679-0754. Social distancing will be practiced. Hand sanitizer will be available. Participants must pre-register for all camps. Camp size is limited. Camps may be subject to change.

Join avid backpackers Chelsea and Justin Barnes for an introductory chat about backpacking, including how to get into backpacking, the gear you’ll need, how to plan, and suggested trails to travel. Registration is required. Chelsea and Justin will be leading an optional group backpacking trip in August. Trip date TBA. Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for more details.

The Norton Friends and Farmers Market is held from 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday June-September. See www.nortonva.gov/farmersmarket for more details.

Help maintain and expand Norton’s Flag Rock Area Trails system during monthly trail worknights. Tools provided. Bring water and snack. Sturdy shoes, work gloves, and eye protection also suggested. Location of trail work evenings will be announced closer to each event. Contact Andy Mullins, amullins@gmail.com, or Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for more details.

Join Jen Adams for hourlong outdoor yoga classes. Pre-Registration encouraged. Contact Katie Dunn, katied@nortonva.org or (276) 679-1160, for details.