Rick Wagner

Hera Sims, a Johnson City ninth grader at University School and member of the Exchange Place junior apprentices, explains Christmas trees of the 1800s.

Left to right, sixth grader homeschool student Katie Ayscue of Kingsport and seventh-grade homeschool student Anna Kitching of Blountville at the annual Christmas in the County at Exchange Place Saturday.

Petty Shepard awaits buyers at her The African Hat booth at the annual Christmas in the Country event at the historic Exchange Place Saturday.

Judah Halverson pounds a piece of red-hot metal into what will become a knife in the blacksmith shop at Exchange Place. This was part of the Christmas in the Country

Exchange Place Christmas in the Country, Dec. 2, 2023

Judah Halverson, a homeschool student from Bristol, Virginia, uses bellows to get coals fired up at the blacksmith shop at the Exchange Place Saturday. This was part of the annual

Left to right, University School ninth grader Hera Sims of Johnson City, sixth-grade homeschool student Katie Ayscue of Kingsport and seventh-grade homeschool student Anna Kitching of Blountville made decorations for

of 13 KINGSPORT — In a wooden school house, three girls helped decorate a circa 1850s Christmas tree as the rain steadily increased outside.

RICK WAGNER rwagner@sixriversmedia.com of 9

of 6 KINGSPORT — Rain didn't dampen the Christmas spirit in Kingsport Saturday night, with people camping out under tents to see the rain-soaked parade downtown.